Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care (Jan 2022)

A perspective of yoga on smartphone addiction: A narrative review

  • Chaitanya K Putchavayala,
  • Deepeshwar Singh,
  • Rajesh K Sashidharan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1765_21
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 6
pp. 2284 – 2291

Abstract

Read online

Evolution in technology is drastically becoming automatic and making life easier. Among those technologies, smartphones are fast-changing technology that is equipping humans to work from anywhere. Frequent usage and dependency on smartphones have increased, which in turn contributes to changes in psychosocial behavioral aspects. Addiction plays an important role in modifying the healthy habits of individuals. Problematic usage of smartphones affects both physical and psychosocial health and emerges as a cornerstone of psychosocial disorder. However, there is a dearth of data to understand the core concepts of smartphone addiction and there is a need to understand from the broader perspective. Yoga is considered one of the viable protocols to provide the way for digital detoxification from technology and smartphone addiction by promoting self-regulation. Yoga brings back a healthy living style, which allows individuals to have enough physical activity through asanas, emotional stability, and awareness through meditation and breathing practices. We hypothesize that a holistic approach to yoga can regulate the symptoms associated with smartphone addiction by increasing the stability of the body and mind and promoting emotional detachment and self-regulation, which play an important role in the de-addiction process.

Keywords