DURHAM, N.C., Aug. 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. David Leidich, the Raleigh Durham chiropractor who runs the Chiropractic and Wellness Center, has teamed up with a certified yoga instructor to offer yoga classes to his patients. According to Dr. Leidich, the yoga classes have helped many back pain patients and patients struggling with knee pain, shoulder pain and many stress-related health problems. Yoga instructor Ajay Bhatt was trained and grew up in India and is certified to teach Sivananda yoga. The classes are held every Monday evening from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the center and cost $15 for drop-in students.
Dr. Leidich says patients who are in Mr. Bhatt's yoga class are seeing an improvement in their overall health. "Many of my Durham and Raleigh back pain patients are experiencing pain relief, improved core strength and flexibility. Yoga is a wonderful complement to chiropractic care because it helps people focus intently on their posture, breathing and movement. It's a great stress reliever too; Ajay's students report sleeping better, some have lowered their blood pressure, and our headache sufferers have been feeling better too."
Various forms of yoga have been practiced throughout India for thousands of years and it has become widely popular in the west over the last few decades. According to yoga instructor Bhatt, yoga focuses on bringing the mind and body together to improve overall health. He teaches Sivananda yoga, which is a form of hatha yoga. Each pose focuses on strengthening and increasing the flexibility of a particular area of the body, with an overall concentration on spinal and abdominal strength, as well as improved breathing, relaxation and mental focus. Aside from the traditional yoga poses he teaches, he also incorporates elements of tai chi. He also frequently works with individual patients on exercises adapted to their particular conditions.
Dr. Leidich says that modern research on yoga shows its overall health benefits are extensive. "Often, people who practice yoga have better success with pain management, better balance and flexibility that help them avoid injuries, increased energy levels, improved cardiovascular health, and lowered stress levels. As nearly 90% of doctor visits are about stress-related illnesses, stress reduction helps people in many areas of their lives."
The current season of yoga classes will go through the end of August, and then break for about a month, and resume again in the fall. Dr. Leidich adds, "I love what Ajay is doing here. As a chiropractor heavily involved in promoting natural pain relief and recovery as well as the fitness and overall health of my patients, I recommend yoga to practically everyone."
The Chiropractic and Wellness Center has treated patients with back and neck pain, sciatica and other musculoskeletal problems since 1997. They provide spinal adjustments, therapeutic exercises, yoga classes and massage therapy; their website is http://www.cwcofnc.com.