Editor's Choice Main Category: Back Pain Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness Article Date: 17 Aug 2012 - 1:00 PDT

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The specially-developed 12-week group yoga intervention program was observed and compared to conventional general practitioner (GP) care alone.

In order to decide if this was an appropriate use of NHS resources, the cost of the program needed to be checked out. There are currently no available yoga classes through the NHS which is why the team wanted to find the likely cost of a program.

After much examination, the experts, from the University of York's Department of Health Sciences and the Centre for Health Economics, and the Hull York Medical School, concluded that there was a high chance (around 70%) of the yoga intervention being cost effective if the cost remained below 300 per patient (for a cycle of 12 classes).

Results also showed that participants in the control group had more days off work than those in the yoga program. After reporting back pain, a control group participant took an average of 12 days off. The cost associated with this control group participant's time off was 1,202, as opposed to 374 for a yoga group member.

Professor David Torgerson, lead author and Director of York Trials Unit, in the University of York's Department of Health Sciences, said: "Back pain represents a significant burden to the NHS in the UK and to society as a whole. As well as the associated health care costs, it is also a major cause of work absenteeism which leads to a productivity loss to society."

He continued to explain how there has been little research on yoga's cost effectiveness, even though evidence has shown the benefits for people with chronic and low back pain. "In our study we evaluated a specially-designed yoga class package by using individual-level data from a multi-centred randomized controlled trial. On the basis of the 12-month trial, we conclude that 12 weekly group classes of specialised yoga are likely to provide a cost-effective intervention for the treatment of patients with chronic or recurrent low back pain."

Back pain is one of the most common medical conditions treated in primary care in the U.K., costing the NHS about 1.37 billion and the health care sector 2.10 billion a year. Each year, an estimated 2.6 million people suffer with back problems and turn to their GP for advice.

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Yoga Could Be A Cost-effective Treatment For Back Pain

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According to a recent study published in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke, group yoga can be beneficial to people who have had strokes, helping them to continue improving their balance after their formal rehabilitative care has ended.

"For people with chronic stroke, something like yoga in a group environment is cost-effective and appears to improve motor function and balance," said the study's lead researcher, Dr. Arlene Schmid, a rehabilitation research scientist at Roudebush Veterans Administration-Medical Center and Indiana University.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted. Depending on the severity of it and what part of the brain is affected, patients can suffer temporary or permanent disabilities that include a loss of balance and coordination among other impairments.

Typically, natural and acute rehabilitation ends after six months or a year, Schmid said. But the brain can still change - in ways a medical facility would no longer be measuring or treating once the patient is discharged.

"The problem is the health-care system is not necessarily willing to pay for that change," she said.

In what one local doctor called a Cadillac type of scenario, a patient who has suffered a stroke - depending on its severity - will receive in-patient care at the hospital for a month, then be discharged and get out-patient treatment for several more months, "but it's very rare to be in therapy more than four or six months."

A stroke patient needs to continue some sort of regimen, if not to further rehabilitation then to maintain any gains that are made, said Dr. John Carment, an assistant professor of geriatrics at the OU School of Community Medicine in Tulsa.

Last year, Carment partnered with the Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Center to look at what impact yoga, tai chi and strength training had on older adults. The study, which included groups of 20 to 30 healthy people, found both tai chi and yoga improved the balance of the participants, but strength training had no real effect, Carment explained.

So it wouldn't be far-fetched to think tai chi and yoga would have the same effect on stroke victims, he said. Although neither are proven, he said, they would be beneficial.

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Study: Group yoga can benefit people who have had strokes

ScienceDaily (Aug. 16, 2012) Specialised group yoga classes could provide a cost-effective way of treating patients with chronic or recurrent low back pain, according to the UK's largest ever study of the benefits of yoga.

Led by the University of York, and funded by Arthritis Research UK, the study provides an evaluation of a specially-developed 12-week group yoga intervention programme compared to conventional general practitioner (GP) care alone.

The results published in Spine, show that the yoga intervention programme -- 'Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs' -- is likely to be cost effective for both the UK National Health Service (NHS) and wider society.

The cost assumed for yoga intervention is important in determining whether this is an efficient use of NHS resources. As yoga classes are not currently available through the NHS, the researchers examined a range of possible costs. They conclude that if the NHS was to offer specialist yoga and managed to maintain the cost below 300 per patient (for a cycle of 12 classes), there is a high probability (around 70 per cent) of the yoga intervention being cost effective.

Researchers also found that those taking part in the yoga programme had far fewer days off work than those in the control group. On average, a control group participant reported 12 days off due to back pain, whereas those in the yoga group had four days off. The cost associated with taking time off was 1,202 for a control group member, compared with 374 for a yoga group member.

The study was carried out by researchers from the University of York's Department of Health Sciences and the Centre for Health Economics, and the Hull York Medical School.

Chief Investigator Professor David Torgerson, Director of York Trials Unit, in the University of York's Department of Health Sciences, said: "Back pain represents a significant burden to the NHS in the UK and to society as a whole. As well as the associated health care costs, it is also a major cause of work absenteeism which leads to a productivity loss to society.

"While yoga has been shown as an effective intervention for treating chronic and low back pain, until now there has been little evidence on its cost effectiveness. In our study we evaluated a specially-designed yoga class package by using individual-level data from a multi-centred randomized controlled trial. On the basis of the 12-month trial, we conclude that 12 weekly group classes of specialised yoga are likely to provide a cost-effective intervention for the treatment of patients with chronic or recurrent low back pain."

Back pain is estimated to cost the NHS 1.37 billion and the health care sector 2.10 billion a year. It is also one of the most common conditions treated in primary care in the UK with about 2.6 million people seeking advice from their GP about back pain each year.

Professor Alan Silman, Medical Director of Arthritis Research UK, said: "We welcome the fact that not only has yoga been found to help people manage their back pain, but that it is also cost effective, and results in fewer sick days. It is another option for people who are struggling to manage their condition, and one that encourages the move to self-management. Yoga is an intervention that has been proven to make their everyday lives easier and their pain more manageable.

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Yoga: a cost-effective treatment for back pain sufferers?

By Amanda Gordon - 2012-08-15T15:23:37Z

The yoga mat is gaining traction as a fundraising tool in the Hamptons.

A private yoga session with Hilaria Baldwin went for $10,000 at Guild Halls benefit on Aug. 10, auctioned by her husband, Alec, to hedge-fund-manager-turned-entrepreneur Nick Lobaccaro. (The package also included a night with Alec Baldwin in his box at Guild Halls theater.)

On Aug. 24, Hilaria Baldwin will lead a class to benefit the Child Mind Institute Inc., organized by the Southampton- based studio Yoga Gives. Tickets are $250, which goes to the institute to improve mental-health care for children. Baldwin is once again donating her services.

Yoga Gives has organized several similar events alongside its for-profit offerings. Kelly Morris, a popular instructor in New York, led one to benefit the Retreat, an East Hampton shelter for victims of domestic violence. Heather Mnuchin, whose husband, Steven T. Mnuchin, runs OneWest Bank Group LLC, went to the mat for the Sag Harbor Food Pantry.

Mnuchin has also taken classes, along with Julia Koch, wife of David H. Koch of Koch Industries Inc., and Christine Mack, wife of Richard Mack, North American chief executive officer of Apollo Real Estate Advisors.

To me its a natural pairing, said Amanda Taylor, founder of Yoga Gives. The idea of yoga is to be of service, to be present to other people, to be aware, awake and alive.

Taylor got the idea after hearing about the one-hour SoulCycle spin class that raised more than $35,000 for Baby Buggy.

If they can do that with bikes, I thought, I can do that with yoga mats, she said.

Taylor sees the classes as a welcome alternative to the evening gala. Theyre certainly cheaper: Yoga Gives has been charging $50 a class or less.

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Hilaria Yoga, Mnuchin; Fischl on Tennis, Caro: Scene

An Indian yoga guru has ended a six-day hunger strike against corruption but vowed to use his popularity to pile pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Baba Ramdev, a maverick 'holy man' who heads a wealthy international yoga organisation, sipped juice to break his fast on Tuesday as several thousand supporters cheered him in New Delhi.

Ramdev had tried to lead an anti-corruption march to parliament on Monday but was corralled by police at a sports stadium in the Indian capital.

The prime minister 'should show political will and honesty, and if he does not show it, he will be deemed as corrupt', Ramdev, half naked and wearing saffron-coloured robes, told the crowds.

'If he cannot remain politically honest then he should leave the post,' Ramdev said, claiming that the fast had achieved its aims and calling for the downfall of Singh's ruling Congress party at

general elections due in 2014.

'Next time in the elections, we should ensure that not a single Congress leader gets elected to parliament,' he said.

Pranab Mukherjee, India's newly elected president, in a customary address on the eve of Independence Day, said he had sympathy with Ramdev's cause but warned against random protests.

'Anger against the bitter pandemic of corruption is legitimate, as is the protest against this plague that is eroding the capability and potential of our nation,' he said, without referring to the yoga guru.

'There are times when people lose their patience but it cannot become an excuse for an assault on our democratic institutions,' said Mukherjee, who quit as finance minister in June to run for the largely ceremonial post.

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Indian yoga guru ends hunger strike

By Harmeet Shah Singh, CNN

updated 7:23 AM EDT, Tue August 14, 2012

Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev climbs onto the roof of a car to address his followers in New Delhi on Tuesday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi (CNN) -- India's famed yoga guru, Baba Ramdev, ended his hunger strike Tuesday, a day after he was briefly detained at a New Delhi stadium for protesting alleged government corruption.

Ramdev's anti-corruption fast started on August 9 and ended Tuesday at the same stadium where he had been detained. The end to the fast was televised as many watched the bearded yoga teacher sip what appeared to be lemon juice.

Ramdev, whose yoga television programs have been watched by millions, is seeking repatriation of Indian money he says is stashed in foreign banks. He has also criticized the ruling Congress party, blaming it for chronic graft.

On Monday, police briefly detained Ramdev after he tried to lead an anti-corruption march toward the national parliament building, police said.

He was transported to the stadium, where he was detained for hours. Ramdev and his supporters stayed overnight at the venue despite being released.

He ended his protest fast and left the stadium with his supporters Tuesday after police told him to leave because of security concerns ahead of India's Independence Day on Wednesday.

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Yoga guru ends hunger strike

Location: 422 McIntire St., Eagle.

Date opened: 2008 (new ownership Aug. 1).

Owner: Yvonne Schwartz, MT-BC, RYT.

Contact info: yogaoffbroadway@gmail.com, 970-328-YOGA

What goods or services do you provide? We provide all levels of yoga classes to the community as well as yoga mats and clothing. We are proud to have nine different instructors at our studio each providing a different yoga style and experience. We host a range of classes from Yoga For Stiff People (perfect for athletes and people recovering from injuries) to Level II-II Prana Flow (a 75-minute practice full of inversions, arm balancing, and advanced postures).

What's new or exciting at your place? Wow, there is a lot exciting happening these days at YOB. Yoga Off Broadway is under new ownership. After managing the studio for previous owner Kelly Western, Yvonne Schwartz is proud to continue a tradition of providing yoga for every body. We have lots of exciting events coming up at the studio. On Aug. 17-19, Yoga Off Broadway is excited to host guest instructor Jim Keegan from Yoga Nirvana Studio in Tempe, Ariz., Aug. 25, the studio will celebrate its grand re-opening with free yoga classes all day, Jala Yoga Clothing Trunk Show, giveaways, a raffle for a Free Manduka Eko Mat, and we will be offering new students an eight-punch card for only $50! We will also have a beginner yoga forum with Yvonne from 1-1:30 p.m. on Aug. 25. This is your opportunity to ask questions about starting or continuing a yoga practice.

What strategy do you use to differentiate your business from your competition? We like to think of ourselves as the neighborhood yoga studio in Eagle. We are strictly a yoga studio and yoga retail store. Our studio hosts many community events and has a great sense of community. We regularly host guest instructors, open houses, service days, and other opportunities for the students and teachers to get together after class. Yoga Off Broadway also strives to be of service to others. We are involved in Yoga Aid (raising money for Off the Mat Into the World), Yoga Votes (campaign to increase voter registration), and we will continue to provide support for local charities and community members.

What philosophy do you follow in dealing with your customers? What can your customers expect from you? We have an open door policy with our students. They can call or email any time with questions or concerns. For many people as their bodies evolve and change their yoga practice changes. Students need to be able to express their concerns and ask questions. We love to talk to new students about yoga. One of my favorite things about teaching is watching students as they grow in their strength and flexibility. This change in energy begins to move off their mat and into their lives.

Tell us a little about your background, education and experience: Yvonne started her journey with yoga in 1999 while attending a college yoga class at Appalachian State University. She completed her teacher training with Yoga World reach and has been teaching in the valley for the last six years. She continues her education regularly through workshops, conferences, and continuing education courses. She hopes to complete a 500-hour certification in yoga in the next two years.

What is the most humorous thing that has happened at your business since you opened? I can't say we have had any humorous happenings in the last week since opening, but I can pretty much guarantee there will be a humorous happening soon. I am pretty sure if you come watch Yvonne practice one handed handstands next Sunday at the Arm Balance workshop it will be a humorous event.

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Vail Valley Bizwatch: Yoga Off Broadway

India's police detained popular Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev and thousands of his supporters for several hours after they tried to intensify an anticorruption protest. Ramdev and the others had occupied a New Delhi fairground for the past couple of days.

A popular yoga guru and thousands of his supporters were detained by police for several hours Monday after they tried to march to India's Parliament to intensify an anti-corruption protest and press for a change of government.

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As he was led away by police, Baba Ramdev shouted slogans urging his supporters to fight to end India's endemic corruption and seek the repatriation of billions of dollars in illegal money he says Indians have stashed in foreign banks.

Waving Indian flags and shouting slogans, the protesters climbed into police buses parked around the sprawling New Delhi fairground that Ramdev and his supporters had occupied for the past four days.

They were taken to a city stadium, and by evening, were free to leave, said Rajan Bhagat of New Delhi police.

However, Ramdev refused to leave and asked police to provide water and food for thousands of his supporters. He said he would end his five-day-old fast only after that.

Ramdev and his supporters are likely to spend the night at the stadium.

Before the march, the bearded, saffron-clad yogi urged his supporters to throw out the ruling Congress Party and bring in a "clean" government.

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Indian yoga guru arrested during anticorruption protest

By Harmeet Shah Singh, CNN

updated 12:23 PM EDT, Mon August 13, 2012

Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev smiles after climbing the roof of a car to address his followers before attempting a march to parliament in New Delhi on August 13, 2012.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

New Delhi (CNN) -- Police briefly detained famed Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Monday after he tried to lead an anti-corruption march toward the national parliament building, a police spokesman said.

"Remove Congress and save the country," the yoga guru said to thousands of supporters before officers took him into custody, referring to the ruling Congress Party.

The saffron-clad yoga teacher, whose televised breathing exercises are watched by millions, has been staging a demonstration since last week to demand repatriation of what he calls "black money," or illegal Indian wealth in foreign banks.

He also favors the creation of a strong anti-corruption watchdog agency to deal with endemic graft in the country, echoing a key demand raised by another veteran activist, Anna Hazare, whose hunger strikes last year galvanized huge public support.

Ramdev was released shortly after police took him into custody, New Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said Monday. An unspecified number of Ramdev's supporters who had been taken into custody also were released, Bhagat said.

There were no reports of disorder during Monday's demonstration, Bhagat said.

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Yoga guru detained during protest

13 August 2012 Last updated at 05:10 ET

Police in the Indian capital Delhi have stopped prominent anti-corruption campaigner Baba Ramdev from marching to parliament to stage a protest.

Baba Ramdev and his supporters have been detained for allegedly "violating prohibitory laws".

Known as the yoga guru, Baba Ramdev says he is campaigning for the recovery of bribe money allegedly held overseas.

He is also demanding stronger anti-corruption laws. He has millions of supporters across India.

His daily TV programme is watched by people across the country.

Last June he held a nine-day anti-corruption hunger strike before the police evicted him from Delhi.

His latest protest - attended by several thousand people - was held at the Ramlila ground in Delhi, the venue of his protest last year.

Baba Ramdev told his supporters on Monday that they should march to parliament and hold a "peaceful" protest there.

"Throw out the Congress [the governing party] and save the country," he said, before beginning his march.

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Police stop 'yoga guru' protest