The power of yoga may be best medicine for busy doctors

Your work as a physician can be taxing to your body and mind. Your days require repetitive movements in less-than-ideal postures, such as during surgery, while examining a patient, sitting in front of a computer, or driving to the office or the hospital. And the stress of caring for others can compound physical strain and discomfort.

Mary Pullig Schatz, MD, a practicing surgical pathologist at Associated Pathologists, PLC, in Nashville, can attest to this experience.

For years, she suffered back pain as a result of countless hours of examining microscope slides. But by practicing yoga and various relaxation techniques, she found a way to manage the problem.