Show notes
In this episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour, host Amy Wheeler delves into the transformative world of yoga therapy and therapeutic yoga, and their integration into modern healthcare settings, educational institutions, mental health programs, and addiction clinics. Amy Wheeler, an expert in the field and former President of the Board for the International Association of Yoga Therapists, offers an invaluable roadmap for practitioners aiming to introduce therapeutic yoga programs into diverse environments.Key Highlights:· Yoga Therapy in Healthcare: Amy explores the burgeoning role of yoga therapy within healthcare settings. She identifies where therapeutic yoga programs are currently making significant impacts, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and specialized clinics, offering listeners insights into existing successful models.· Educational Environments: The discussion moves to the integration of therapeutic yoga in educational settings, highlighting its benefits for both students and educators in managing stress, enhancing focus, and promoting overall well-being.· Mental Health and Addiction: Amy discusses the critical role of therapeutic yoga in mental health programs and addiction clinics. She sheds light on how yoga therapy can serve as a powerful tool in these contexts, aiding in the regulation of the nervous system, reducing stress responses, and supporting recovery processes.· Finding and Utilizing Research: A guide to locating research and evidence supporting the efficacy of therapeutic yoga is provided. Amy shares valuable resources and strategies for practitioners to educate potential employers and stakeholders about the benefits of incorporating yoga therapy into their services.· Physiological and Mental Health Benefits: The episode delves deep into the physiological changes brought about by yoga therapy, such as improved nervous system regulation, decreased allostatic load, and enhanced heart rate variability. Amy explains how these changes positively affect mental health and various bodily systems, including the cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, and immune systems.· Community Engagement: Amy provides a step-by-step guide for yoga therapists to engage with their communities and identify individuals and groups who can most benefit from their services. This section is packed with practical advice on networking, building partnerships, and effectively communicating the value of therapeutic yoga.· Success Story: The episode culminates with Amy sharing her personal success story of creating and sustaining a therapeutic yoga program at a university for 25 years. She highlights the program's impact on students and athletes, emphasizing the broader implications of her work on campus wellness culture.Conclusion: Amy Wheeler's call to action is clear—there's an urgent need for yoga therapy in today's world to address a wide array of health challenges. This episode is a treasure trove of information, inspiration, and practical advice for yoga therapists and anyone interested in the intersection of yoga and healthcare.A Must-Listen For: Yoga therapists, healthcare professionals, educators, mental health practitioners, individuals in the recovery community, and anyone passionate about the integration of holistic practices into mainstream health and wellness paradigms.List of Current Therapeutic Yoga Programs: https://yogatherapy.health/for-health-care-providers/clinic-systems/Comprehensive Review of Yoga Research 2020: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jicm.2021.0420?utm_campaign=JICM+FP+March+7+2024&utm_content=Read+more&utm_term=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Adestra2016 Yoga in America Study by Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal: https://www.yogaalliance.org/2016YogaInAmericaStudyIf you would like to receive the free infographics and handouts that correspond to each episode on the Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast, please subscribe to our segmented email list. You will have the opportunity to determine the Infographic Topics that you would like to receive. When The Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast has a topic that corresponds to your choices, then you will receive an email for that week with the PDF’s for download.Topics you can choose from include: Yoga Therapy & Mental HealthYoga Therapy & Physical HealthSocial Justice in yoga & Yoga TherapyYoga/Ayurveda ToolboxYoga & Indian PhilosophyGlobal & Trending Yoga Therapy TopicsClick the link below to subscribe. It takes 10 seconds total.https://amywheeler.com/subscribe Check out Amy's website Visit Amy’s training section on her website to check out the courses belowYoga therapy training courses 865-certified-yoga-therapist-program www.optimalstateyoganidra.comwww.TheOptimalState.com University of Minnesota Therapeutic Yoga Series:Online Therapeutic Yoga Series webpage: https://csh.umn.edu/for-community/wellbeing-workshops/online-therapeutic-yoga-series Polyvagal Institute Mighty App with Amy Wheeler and Marlysa Sullivan and the hosts of the Yoga and Yoga Therapy Group within the Apphttps://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/pviapp 7-Week Course on Yoga, Yoga Therapy & Polyvagal Theory offered by the Polyvagal Institutehttps://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/items/therapeutic-yoga-tools%3A-a-polyvagal-informed-certificate-for-body-mind-practitioners Optimal State Mobile App for iPhone and AndroidDownload the App for the respective App Store for free! New Moon and Full Moon Meditations with Optimal State in June, July and August 2024 (Free)Use this same Zoom Link for all session and join us! Join via Zoom: Meeting ID 817 6064 3575June 5th at 7:30-8:30pmCST- New Moon Celebration and MeditationJune 8th at 8:00-9:00amCST- Yoga Nidra for Working with High Blood Pressure June 20th at 7:30-8:30pmCST- Summer Solstice Celebration and MeditationJune 21st at 7:30-8:30pmCST- Full Moon Celebration and MeditationEmail [email protected] for details for July and August 2024 meditations Optimal State and Yoga Therapy Hour Patreon link:https://www.patreon.com/yogatherapyhour