Why Doctors Recommend Yoga

Students in Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana (High...

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Yoga is more than a fitness trend. It’s more than cardio exercise or stretching, too. Why? Because yoga is good for your mind, and it can help you cope with stress.

Stress can severely effect your health and mood. People under stress for long periods of time will react by becoming “distressed” which can cause physical symptoms. Distressed persons may have chest pain, stomach problems and elevated blood pressure.

Some people drink to or use drugs to combat stress, which makes the problem even worse. Stress is widespread and blamed for many health problems. In fact, some estimates state that up to 90% of all visits to the doctor’s office are stress related.

Given the impact of stress on the body, it’s no wonder that doctors may recommend yoga to their patients. Some doctors even say that yoga is as important as medicine.

Yoga includes breathing practices which calm the body and mind. It also encourages practitioners to become more in touch with their bodies. It may alleviate problems with self-image, obsessive compulsive disorders, and many other anxiety-related issues.

If you suffer from migraines, for example, yoga can definitely help. But that’s not all: yoga has also helped individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, depression, arthritis and other kinds of physical and mental pain.

Yoga isn’t just for ailments, though. Regular practice can prevent all kinds of health issues and help slow the aging process. As people age, they tend to lose flexibility in their bodies, and stiffness causes pain as well as injuries. In a nutshell: your doctor may recommend yoga, because it’s good for you!

 

 

 

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Steps to Become an Optometrist

An optical refractor (phoropter) in use.

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Becoming any type of doctor is going to take a lot of work. Optometrists are your common eye doctors that give exams, diagnose problems, and prescribe corrective lenses. If you’re considering becoming an optometrist, you should be familiar with the steps you need to take. Achieving your degree usually takes 7 to 8 years, and you will be studying a lot of science—particularly biology.

In high school, take as many science courses as you can. This will give you a background into the classes you will be taking in college. Apply to a college that has a pre-optometry degree program. Usually, you will be working toward a bachelor’s of biology with an emphasis on optometry, so be prepared for plenty of biology.

While in college, you will want to take the Optometry Admissions Test when you are in your second or third year. Research optometry schools and apply to as many accredited ones as you can. The competition is very high, so you will have to keep your grades up in college and apply to as many optometry schools as you can.

After you finish your schooling you will have to take a state exam. Once you have completed this, you must  apply for a license. If you want to become a specialist, you should apply to a postgraduate program.

If you dedicate yourself, you should have no problem completing your schooling, passing the exam, and getting your license. It takes a long time, but once you start working, you may start out making a salary of $80,000. The average amount optometrist make is around $100,000 a year, and some optometrists make even more.

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