Transforming Wellness Beyond Imagination
  • About
  • Health & Wellness Blog
  • Healing Arts Blog
  • Support Our Programs
  • Contact Us

What Is Yoga?

2/22/2019

0 Comments

 

By Kelli Bethel, PT, C-IAYT, Director of Yoga Programs and Yoga Therapy

Picture
​Yoga is a philosophy that began in India about 5,000 year ago.  It is not a religion but a method for individual wellbeing.  The term “yoga” means to “bind” and its goal is to alleviate suffering.  Yoga has been used in Eastern medicine for centuries and only made its way across the seas to Western Culture in the last hundred and fifty years or so.  While many in the US view yoga as a “workout” or that you need to be a contortionist, it is in fact far from that. Yoga practices can include breath work (known as pranayama), physical poses (known as asana), meditation and lifestyle (such as honor your body and where it is today).  A yoga class may incorporate one or all four methods. In fact, some yoga may only focus on breath or mediation and may not have any movement.  To participate in a yoga class, you don’t need to be able to get on the floor or have the flexibility of Gumby!
 
Research continues to demonstrate that benefits of a yoga practice. These may include:
  1. Decreased stress
  2. Decreased anxiety and depression
  3. Decreased inflammatory markers
  4. Calmness
  5. Less rumination
  6. Improved strength and range of motion
  7. Heart health
  8. Improved quality of life
  9. Reduced fatigue
  10. Improved chronic pain
  11. Improved sleep quality
  12. Improved balance
  13. Improved breathing
 
Who is appropriate for yoga? 
 
Well actually anyone and everyone!  There are many different forms of yoga from hot power to slow and gentle to yoga nidra or sleep.  It is important to choose a yoga program that is right for you, your body and your medical history. For those individuals with chronic medical issues or are currently in active cancer treatment a referral for evaluation by a yoga therapist to develop an appropriate yoga program for you and your needs is recommended. 
 
The Therapeutic Yoga for Cancer Program at Maryland Proton Treatment Center is delivered by a Maryland licensed Physical Therapist and a Certified Yoga Therapist.  Each client is assessed prior to treatment and an individualized treatment plan is created based on the assessment and the client’s goals. Treatment sessions are modified based on the participants day to day needs and goals.  Sessions may include breath work, gentle active yoga pose and guided meditation.  Read about some of our other Specialized Yoga Therapy programs at the links below.       
  • To become a patient, visit our websites here:
    • Maryland Proton Treatment Center
    • University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center
  • To learn about becoming a Yoga Teacher or furthering your education as a Yoga Teacher, get more information here.
  • To learn about our yoga therapy programs, check out our webpage.
  • For additional questions, email Kelli at bkelli@som.umaryland.edu. 
   
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Be in the know

    Sign up to get our monthly
    e-newsletters and other information about our Center.

    Support our programs

    Learn how you can help us transform wellness.

    Learn with us!

    We have great classes for health professionals throughout the year.
    Learn more here.
    ​
    Yoga Teacher Training
    • 200-hour
    • Advanced CEUs
    • Therapeutic Yoga
    Learn more here.

    From the University of Maryland, Baltimore Graduate School: 
    • Integrative Health & Wellness graduate certificate program
    • Aging & Applied Thanatology graduate certificate program​​

    Categories

    All
    Acupuncture
    Aromatherapy
    Arthritis
    Brain Health
    Cancer
    Chiropractic
    Collaborations
    Diabetes
    Diet
    Digestion
    Eating Out
    EDS
    Essential Oils
    Exercise
    Food
    Heart Health
    Herbs
    Holidays
    Kindness
    Lifestyle
    Massage
    Mental Health
    Movement
    Nutrition
    Organization
    Pain
    Pediatric
    PTSD
    Recipes
    Research
    Self Care
    Self-Care
    Sleep
    Sound Healing
    Spine
    Stress Relief
    Success
    Support
    Sustainability
    Tools
    Wellness
    Writing
    Yoga

    Archives

    April 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    RSS Feed


This Website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or received from This site. 

  • About
  • Health & Wellness Blog
  • Healing Arts Blog
  • Support Our Programs
  • Contact Us