How Can Yoga be Healing?
I offer personalized yoga sessions to both new and experienced individuals in New York City who are dealing with the physical and emotional complexities of trauma, illness, or injury. These sessions can include a combination of physical movement, breath work, and meditation practices, addressing needs and challenges in a personalized way that cannot be done in a group class.
Taking into consideration the person as a whole – mind, body, environment, stress levels, etc. – yoga can be appropriate for everyday stressors as well as many chronic conditions that persist despite conventional medical treatment such as arthritis, anxiety, depression, neurological conditions, endocrine dysfunctions, chronic pain, high blood pressure, difficulty sleeping, diabetes, arthritis, back pain, muscular imbalances, digestive issues, cancer, and side effects of treatments such as chemo therapy.
Elements of yoga can be helpful in recovering from injury, illness, or surgery as it helps to rebuild strength, increase range of motion, and calm the nervous system. A consistent practice, even if it is done for only a few minutes a day, can decrease pain and discomfort and help to develop greater breath capacity. Physiologically, the breath directly impacts the nervous and endocrine systems. Focusing on the connection between the breath and movement brings biological systems back to balance on physical, mental and emotional levels.
Yoga, breath work, and meditation are reported to:
- reduce stress
- improve quality of sleep, sometimes reducing the need for sleep medications
- improve mood
- increase strength, stamina, and flexibility
- reduce fatigue and joint pain
- improve circulation of the lymph system
- help to balance hormones
- improve clarity of mind and attention
- lessen symptoms of depression and anxiety
- teach you to be less reactive
- teach patience and acceptance
- improve self-awareness which allows you to make better choices
- calm the nervous system
- increase range of motion