In 1972, President Richard Nixon came to a renowned yoga instructor complaining of leg pain caused by a vascular condition.
The thousands of excited enthusiasts who flock to California yoga classes may be interested to know that the holistic healing regimen's stretching techniques and yoga breathing exercises have helped not a few people overcome pain – including at least one former president.
According to Bloomberg, in 1972 President Richard Nixon came to Bikram Choudhury – a renowned yoga instructor based in Los Angeles today – complaining of leg pain caused by a vascular condition.
The problem was thrombophlebitis, a condition that occurs when blood vessels in the legs swell to compensate for clotting. At the time, Nixon was embroiled in a time-consuming re-election campaign.
The instructor told the news source that he asked Nixon to do yoga in a tub full of hot water, which reportedly cleared up the president's pain and helped get him back on his feet.
Nixon was no stranger to the healing effects of yoga. In 1970, two years before he went to Choudhury for help, his wife, First Lady Pat Nixon, made headlines when she tried a little yoga at the White House with a group of urban teenagers and models.
According to an issue of the Spokesman-Review, Mrs. Nixon became enamored of yoga that day even though she rarely exercised.
"I'm sure all the yoga fans will be after me," she told the newspaper, adding that she firmly believed in the health benefits of good posture.
"If you put your tummy in, there's no place for your shoulder to go but up," she reasoned.
Similar rationales typically lie behind many of the healthiest yoga regimens. Being able to stand upright properly, stretch one's arms and legs, breathe deeply, meditate or do tai chi can be integral to maintaining one's overall health and wellness.
Today, more than 15 million Americans practice yoga, according to a survey conducted by the Yoga Journal.
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Tags: California yoga, California yoga classes, yoga breathing, yoga breathing exercises
