The Posing Panacea: Yoga and Science

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, when Hindu priests first developed yoga, they weren't setting out to find a magic bullet — just a ritual to invigorate the mind and body in their quest for spiritual enlightenment. So, they would probably be quite surprised to see what's on tap for the National Institutes of Health's first annual Yoga Week (May 19-23): Five full days devoted to the science behind the practice.

"This idea came out of the desire to create something free to learn about the benefits," says organizer Rachel Permuth-Levine, who's presenting the public event through a partnership of several institutes and offices. In particular, the aim is to showcase recent data about yoga's ability to treat various ailments.

"Part of it is palpable. Try it for two minutes and you'll feel it even if you have no experience or don't believe in it," promises Timothy McCall, a physician who serves as the medical editor of "Yoga Journal" (he'll be speaking Wednesday).

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