Yoga and practice with Dr. Vanika Chawla

“Does depression care include the downward dog?” Mindfulness, acupuncture, yoga. These were all once considered alternative treatments – favoured by some patients but lacking in evidence. Times have changed. Mindfulness, for instance, is a psychotherapy mentioned in the depression guidelines. What about yoga? In today’s Quick Takes episode, I speak with Dr. Vanika Chawla, a psychiatrist, yoga therapist, and assistant professor at Stanford University, about her experience incorporating yoga into her practice. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:Common misconceptions about yogaThe three key components of yoga-based interventionsThe optimal duration, and frequency of yoga interventions for different diagnosesRecent research findings on yoga’s effectiveness THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.