|
I believe we all have the capacity to relieve discomfort and build resilience so we can move through life able to meet the challenges that come our way.
Having earned my 200hr Yoga Teacher certification in Integrative Yoga Therapeutics in 2013, my experience since then in teaching yoga includes populations of all ages and abilities, ranging from those training for athletic competitions to those whose health has been compromised by disease. My style of teaching includes intentional movement to build physical awareness, strength and resilience, focused attention to build strength of mind, breath practices to manage energy levels with a process of inquiry so that you can learn from experience what is best for you. In 2020, I completed the Beaumont School of Yoga Therapy program to become a Certified Yoga Therapist, which included over 1000 hours of classroom and in-person clinical training. As a certified yoga therapist, I share tools which can be used to reverse discomfort for all conditions. My areas of specialty include applications of yoga therapy for aging, anxiety, cardiovascular health, arthritis and stress. Currently on staff at Michigan Heart and Cardiovascular Center's Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program, I lead interactive Stress Educations workshops, including Stress and Health, Managing Moods and Relationships and New Thoughts, New Behaviors. At the Ann Arbor YMCA, I offer Yin Yoga and Mindful Vinyasa classes. In addition, I teach and counsel future yoga therapists as faculty of the International Institute of Yoga Therapy (www.iiyogatherapy.com). |
About Yoga and Yoga Therapy
What is yoga therapy?
Yoga therapy, as a part of the system of integrative healing modalities, is becoming an increasingly effective role in patient well-being. Yoga therapy can help patients learn effective ways to reverse pain and discomfort and self-activate their own sense of comfort, restfulness, strength and composure through breathing, meditation and, if possible, some easy movement. This helps calm our mind which helps us relax our body. As a lifestyle component yoga therapy techniques serve people who wish to be involved in their own healing. Yoga therapy can be offered individually or in a group setting. It is adaptive to most age groups, cultural heritages and traditions.
How is ‘regular’ yoga different from yoga therapy?
‘Regular’ yoga: Commonly situated in a studio-type environment it offers varying styles of movement-based yoga classes to the general public, referred to as students or clients. Depending on the curriculum of a regular (200 hours) yoga teacher training program, a yoga teacher might or might not have basic training or experience in common disorders or preexisting physical conditions relative to any student attending a yoga class at any given time. Representative organization: Yoga Alliance (YA) www.yogaalliance.org
Yoga therapy: Generally working within a clinical environment the yoga therapist meets with individuals, referred to as patients, on a one-to-one or small group/symptom specific basis. A yoga therapist is able to enter information re the patient encounter into an electronic medical recording system. Standards of curriculum in yoga therapy certification includes over 1000 hours of advanced training, clinical experience and exposure to research and adheres to an academically based model that emphasizes the integration of yoga therapy techniques with health and wellness environments as well as research protocols.
Representative organization: International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) www.iayt.org
What about the background training and experience of a yoga therapist?
A yoga therapist is cognizant of the scope of practice and boundaries within the clinical environments in which they work. A yoga therapist is able to substantiate academic and experiential training in safe, responsible and effective patient centered healing specific to the clinical applications of yoga therapy. The yoga therapist is able to communicate meaningfully with health care professionals within the health care environments in which they work.
Reference: "About Yoga Therapy," International Institute of Yoga Therapy
Yoga therapy, as a part of the system of integrative healing modalities, is becoming an increasingly effective role in patient well-being. Yoga therapy can help patients learn effective ways to reverse pain and discomfort and self-activate their own sense of comfort, restfulness, strength and composure through breathing, meditation and, if possible, some easy movement. This helps calm our mind which helps us relax our body. As a lifestyle component yoga therapy techniques serve people who wish to be involved in their own healing. Yoga therapy can be offered individually or in a group setting. It is adaptive to most age groups, cultural heritages and traditions.
How is ‘regular’ yoga different from yoga therapy?
‘Regular’ yoga: Commonly situated in a studio-type environment it offers varying styles of movement-based yoga classes to the general public, referred to as students or clients. Depending on the curriculum of a regular (200 hours) yoga teacher training program, a yoga teacher might or might not have basic training or experience in common disorders or preexisting physical conditions relative to any student attending a yoga class at any given time. Representative organization: Yoga Alliance (YA) www.yogaalliance.org
Yoga therapy: Generally working within a clinical environment the yoga therapist meets with individuals, referred to as patients, on a one-to-one or small group/symptom specific basis. A yoga therapist is able to enter information re the patient encounter into an electronic medical recording system. Standards of curriculum in yoga therapy certification includes over 1000 hours of advanced training, clinical experience and exposure to research and adheres to an academically based model that emphasizes the integration of yoga therapy techniques with health and wellness environments as well as research protocols.
Representative organization: International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) www.iayt.org
What about the background training and experience of a yoga therapist?
A yoga therapist is cognizant of the scope of practice and boundaries within the clinical environments in which they work. A yoga therapist is able to substantiate academic and experiential training in safe, responsible and effective patient centered healing specific to the clinical applications of yoga therapy. The yoga therapist is able to communicate meaningfully with health care professionals within the health care environments in which they work.
Reference: "About Yoga Therapy," International Institute of Yoga Therapy