Each Breath Yoga Therapy

Compassion in action .... Such a wonderful organization!

Recent studies have shown that mindfulness meditation alleviates pain more effectively than the placebo effect or the relaxation response - and that mindfulness-based pain reduction occurs through brain processing mechanisms that are distinct from the mechanisms involved in pain reduction through the placebo effect, the relaxation response, and the body’s own opioid-producing system for pain control. Check out these summaries of the research: https://goamra.org/pinpointing...-the-unique-impact-of-mindfu/ http://www.clinicalpainadvisor.com//mechan/article/513618/

Calming the Breath Here’s a simple practice for calming your breath & settling your mind ~ sit comfortably with your spine long, chest open & shoulders relaxed down ~ rest your palms on the tops of your thighs ~ bring your awareness to your breath... ~ as you inhale, gently extend your fingers ~ as you exhale, let your fingers curl softly back toward your palms ~ focus your awareness closely on coordinating the movement of your fingers with the flow of your breath ~ the breath leads, the movement follows inhaling extend the fingers, exhaling curl the fingers inward ~ as you bring the breath & movement into sync, the breath will naturally & easily become slower & smoother ~ and the breath will lead your mind into the present moment. If it’s uncomfortable for you to move your fingers in this way, substitute a small movement that is comfortable for you, such slightly lowering your chin on the exhale & lifting it on the inhale. Choose a movement that is as effortless as possible & remember to keep it small.

One of the questions about yoga therapy I get asked most often is whether it involves the types of yoga postures (asanas) commonly associated with standard yoga classes. My answer: depending on the needs of the individual, yoga therapy may include modified forms of asanas but the movement practices I recommend for many people don’t take the form of standard yoga postures. The key is that all postures and movement sequences must be tailored to the individual. For someone... with limited joint mobility, injuries, active inflammatory conditions, high pain levels, or significant muscle weakness, yoga therapy typically involves gentle movement guided by the breath, with an emphasis on relaxation of effort and staying within a safe range of motion. And in some cases, a therapeutic program may involve only breathing, relaxation, and mindfulness-awareness practices. Asanas and movement practices are only one element of yoga therapy. The central element is cultivating mindfulness-awareness so you can access the benefits of any yoga therapy program designed for you.

What is yoga therapy? This is how two great teachers explain the essence of yoga therapy: In yoga, "the state of balance, or harmony, is called sattva. The goal of yoga therapy is to achieve a sattvic, balanced state of body and mind." ~ Mukunda Stiles... "Yoga therapy is a self-empowering process, where the care-seeker, with the help of the Yoga therapist, implements a personalized and evolving Yoga practice, that not only addresses the illness in a multi-dimensional manner, but also aims to alleviate his/her suffering in a progressive, non-invasive and complementary manner. Depending upon the nature of the illness, Yoga therapy can not only be preventative or curative, but also serve a means to manage the illness, or facilitate healing in the person at all levels." ~ T.K.V. Desikachar

Coming Home with the Breath: A Daily Practice The breath can lead us out of preoccupation with the past and anxiety about the future, back to the simplicity of the present moment. Here’s a daily practice for centering yourself in the present moment. First, set an intention to consciously connect to your breath three times every day... Then choose an activity you carry out at least three times a day that will serve as a reminder to connect to the breath. For example, you could choose the moments before you begin eating your meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) or three distinct times in your daily routine, like the moment you wake up, at sunset, and when you get into bed at night. When the event or activity you’ve chosen as your reminder occurs, sit or lie down and rest your palms on your low belly. Allow all the muscles of your abdomen to soften. Focus your awareness on your breath as you take 3 relaxed, full breaths. Notice the sensations of your belly rising as you inhale and falling as you exhale. After your last exhalation, gently return your awareness to your surroundings. You can close your eyes or keep them open. There’s no need to be concerned about how you are breathing just be mindful of the breath as it is. As best you can, let go of any judgments you might have about your experience. Trust that as you continue this practice, your breath and your mind will naturally begin to settle into greater calmness.

Wondering about the difference between what a yoga therapist does and what yoga teachers do? Here’s a helpful explanation by Gary Kraftsow, Founder & Director of the American Viniyoga Institute: The therapist’s job is less about teaching yogic techniques and more about helping clients to overcome their challenges and gain independence. Hence, the job of the therapist represents a different focus, a different type of education, and a different skill set. Yoga therapists focu...s on their clients’ needs: "Their job is to understand why their clients have come to see them and determine what they can do to support them. To help them in their work, therapists are trained to assess clients through listening, questioning, observing, and appropriately touching. Therapists look for ways to help their clients reduce or manage their symptoms, improve their function, and help them with their attitude in relation to their health conditions. After assessing clients, therapists establish appropriate goals, develop a practice intervention, and then teach clients to practice that intervention. In this sense, therapists choose yoga techniques in relation to how they will specifically benefit individual clients." In contrast, yoga teachers focus on teaching yoga practices in a correct and appropriate way: The intention in classes is to teach students how to practice yoga while respecting their health conditions. Some teachers focus primarily on instruction, guiding students through their practices and helping them to practice correctly. The scope of instruction can range from asana to pranayama to meditation, but fundamentally, instructors using this style will guide the students in their practice. Other teachers seek to educate their students in how to practice, rather thanor in the midst ofguiding the practice itself.