CAMH, Dr. David Gratzer: Physician and Educator at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Quick Takes: A podcast by physicians, for physicians

newmedia@camh.ca (Dr. Vanika Chawla: Assistant professor at Stanford University and yoga therapist, Dr. David Gratzer: Physician and Educator at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)

  • Yoga and practice with Dr. Vanika Chawla

Yoga and practice with Dr. Vanika Chawla

Wednesday 26th March 2025

Dr. Vanika Chawla discusses integrating yoga into mental health care, offering insights on its benefits for anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
20 minutes
Informative
Supportive
Encouraging
Compassionate
Educational

About this podcast

Quick Takes: A podcast by physicians, for physicians
Author:
CAMH, Dr. David Gratzer: Physician and Educator at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Overview:
Categories:
Body & Mind
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Mindfulness & Technology in Health
Mindful Recovery
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
53 (View all)
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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!