Yoga and practice with Dr. Vanika ChawlaYoga and practice with Dr. Vanika Chawla
Quick Takes: A podcast by physicians, for physicians
In this Quick Takes episode, I speak with Dr. Vanika Chawla, a psychiatrist, a registered yoga teacher, and an assistant professor at Stanford University, about her experience incorporating yoga into her practice.
19:32•26 Mar 2025
Yoga as Therapy: Insights from Dr. Vanika Chawla
Episode Overview
- Yoga can complement traditional mental health treatments.
- Breathwork and meditation are key components of therapeutic yoga.
- Yoga is adaptable to both individual and group therapy settings.
- Patients with anxiety, depression, and PTSD can benefit from yoga.
- Standardising yoga interventions for clinical use remains challenging.
“Yoga is quite a diverse practice... it's more of a holistic system in which the postures are one part of it.”
Ever wondered how yoga can fit into mental health care? Dr. David Gratzer chats with Dr. Vanika Chawla, a psychiatrist and registered yoga teacher, about integrating yoga into clinical practice. Dr. Chawla shares her journey from discovering yoga in India to incorporating it into her therapeutic work at Stanford University. She explains the diverse aspects of yoga beyond just physical postures, including breathwork and meditation, and how these can complement traditional treatments for conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Dr.
Chawla also highlights the flexibility of yoga in both individual and group settings, making it adaptable to different patient needs. Curious about how yoga can help with mental health? Dr. Chawla’s insights might just inspire you to roll out your mat and give it a try!
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