Yoga Therapy As A Creative Response To Pain

Supporting yoga therapists to create a programme of care for those living with chronic pain, this guide brings pain science, creativity and yoga together for the first time. It includes the emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual in its definition of pain and acknowledges there that is no simple physical 'fix'. The book offers advice on creating an environment that restores hope and meaning to clients, and on building a successful business by creating a community of support. Matt Taylor's blend of creativity and yoga came from his own chronic spine pain as a physical therapist and his discovery of yoga therapy which led to his yoga-based rehabilitation clinic.

The book takes an integrated approach to pain rehabilitation and combines pain science, rehabilitation and yoga with evidence-based approaches from respected contributors. They demonstrate how to integrate the concepts, philosophies and practices of yoga and pain science in working with people in pain. An essential and often overlooked part of pain rehabilitation is listening to, working with, learning from, and validating the person in pain's lived experience. The book expounds on the movement to a more patient-valued, partnership-based biopsychosocial-spiritual model of healthcare where the patient is an active and empowered participant, as opposed to a model where the healthcare provider is 'fixing' the passive patient. It also explains how practitioners can address the entire human being in pain, and how to include the person as an expert for more effective and self-empowered care.

While yoga was originally intended to be practiced for spiritual growth, there is an increasing interest in applying yoga in all areas of life. It is important to understand this ancient science and way of life through as many perspectives as possible (e.g., based on biomedical engineering). As its popularity and interest grows, more practitioners want to know about the proven physiological effects and uses in healthcare. The Handbook of Research on Evidence-Based Perspectives on the Psychophysiology of Yoga and Its Applications provides research exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of yoga therapy and its physiological effects from diverse, evidence-based viewpoints. The book adds in-depth information regarding the (1) physiological effects of yoga; (2) neurobiological effects of yoga meditation; (3) psychological benefits related to yoga, such as mental wellbeing; (4) molecular changes associated with yoga practice; and (5) therapeutic applications (for lymphedema, mental health disorders, non-communicable diseases, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and trauma, among other conditions). Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as pain management, psychotherapy, and trauma treatment, this book is ideally designed for yoga practitioners, physicians, medical professionals, health experts, mental health professionals, therapists, counselors, psychologists, spiritual leaders, academicians, researchers, and students.

In this book, Lee Majewski and Ananda Bhavanani define yoga and yoga therapy as a whole person practice, demonstrating how it can help the individual to heal through their own mechanisms. The authors bring yogic concepts from theory into everyday life, exploring how yoga therapy can work with all levels of a human being at the same time (physical, energetic, emotional, intellectual and spiritual) and demonstrating that, when applied correctly, it can assist healing and facilitate an improved quality of life. The book covers deep yogic work and how it applies to cancer patients, as well as a range of other chronic conditions including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. For each of these conditions the authors explore how yoga therapy can go beyond alleviating symptoms and work to heal the whole person.

Providing essential support to schools and universities that offer yoga therapy training programs, this comprehensive, edited textbook develops robust curricula, enabling them to prepare yoga therapists to integrate into healthcare settings safely and effectively. The book includes a large and international list of contributors from diverse lineages and backgrounds such as Matthew Taylor, Gail Parker and Steffany Moonaz, and is the first resource on yoga therapy that aligns with the educationl competencies of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). It covers yoga foundations (philosophical background, ayurveda, tantra), biomedical and psychological foundations, yoga therapy tools and therapeutic skills, yogic and biopsychosocial-spiritual assessments, and professional practices. As the field of yoga therapy continues to root and grow, this book is essential for both new yoga therapy practitioners, and for schools developing training programs.

Understanding Yoga Therapy offers a comprehensive and accessible perspective on yoga therapy as a complementary, integrative route to promoting whole-person well-being. Readers will come away from the book understanding how the philosophy, texts, and teachings of yoga benefit a wide range of health conditions. The book is split into three helpful sections: Part I discusses foundational texts and their interpretations; Part II outlines the biopsychosocial-spiritual and neurophysiological model of integrative health pertinent to yoga therapy; and Part III focuses on practical applications separate from the more familiar diagnosis-driven models. Experiential activities and case studies throughout the text illuminate how yogic practices can be incorporated for optimal health. Bridging the ancient and modern, philosophical and scientific, Understanding Yoga Therapy offers a clear explanatory framework for yoga therapists, physicians, allied and complementary healthcare providers, and their patients and students.

Facing cancer calls for skilled, equitable, and compassionate support. Yoga therapists are part of an evidenced-informed health care team uniquely qualified to support whole-person community care throughout the continuum of the cancer experience, professionally and with tender-hearted humanity. Yoga Therapy Across the Cancer Care Continuum: - Describes the unique emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual experiences of people at each stage of the cancer care continuum (including diagnosis, acute treatment, no evidence of disease or living with chronic disease, cancer recurrence, and end of life) and the responsive support offered by the breadth of individualized yoga therapy care. - Explains the biology of cancer and the challenges associated with type and stage of malignancy, as well as adverse side effects of conventional treatment (surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and hematopoietic stem cell transplant), comorbid health conditions, and their impact on the whole person: mind, body, and soul. - Shares the unique perspective of 40 oncology yoga therapists with exceptional expertise working with diverse cancer populations in academic medical centers, hospitals, clinics, studios, in-home, and via-telehealth; includes clinical experience and scientific research that highlights relative contraindications and clinical "pearls". - Explores a unique model of yoga therapy that is informed by ancient yoga philosophy and modern biomedical research, reinforced by skillful and compassionate therapeutic relationship, intelligent yoga practice, and the tender-hearted humanity of co-regulation and resourcing for both patient/client and therapist. - Highlights practical and professional considerations for yoga therapists and yoga teachers working in cancer, including scope of practice, informed consent, safety considerations and contraindications, liability insurance, waivers, clinical notes, co-assessments, and essential referrals to allied health care professionals; integrating yoga therapy into healthcare. - Acknowledges disparity and inequity in cancer care worldwide and advocates for inclusive, safe, and accessible yoga for all people impacted by cancer. - Calls for the integration of yoga therapy into standard oncology care; discusses barriers, obstacles, and suggestions for the way forward. - Recognizes Yoga as a time-honored mind-body science originating in ancient India. Yogic teachings presented in this book are shared with gratitude and utmost respect. Yoga Therapy Across the Cancer Care Continuum is essential reading for all oncology professionals interested in yoga as an evidence-informed therapeutic intervention to improve the lives of people with cancer and for self-care, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, acupuncturists, yoga therapists and yoga teachers, and all allied health professionals - as well as people with cancer and survivors, their families, and caregivers. List of Contributors: Karen Apostolina, Marsha D. Banks-Harold, Cheryl Fenner Brown, Marianne Woods Cirone, Amelia Coffaro, Nischala Joy Devi, Christa Eppinghaus, Teri Gandy-Richardson, Chandrika Gibson, Sandra Susheela Gilbert, Sadie Grossman, Suveena Guglani, Kate Holcombe, Sharon Holly, Kelsey Kraemer, Tonia Kulp, Johanne Lauktien, Jennie Lee, Annette Loudon, Lee Majewski, Smitha Mallaiah, Sanmay Mukhopadhyay, Bhavani Munamarty, Lórien Neargarder, Charlotte Nuessle, Maryam Ovissi, Miriam Patterson, Tina Paul, Tari Prinster, Lois Ramondetta, Kiran Shenoy, Stella Snyder, Doreen Stein-Seroussi, Michelle Stortz, Jennifer Collins Taylor, Robyn Tiger, Satyam Tripathi, Tina Walter

Yoga therapy is commonly used for the management of arthritis, but often focusses exclusively on adaptation of the physical poses and on structural solutions. This book moves beyond the traditional routines to present yoga as a lifestyle designed to improve quality of life and overall well-being for individuals living with arthritis and rheumatic conditions. By incorporating the ancient practices of yoga as both physical and mental exercises involving a model of 5-koshas or sheaths (physical, energetic, mental/emotional, wisdom, and spiritual), the yoga therapy practice presented here will help reduce pain and shift the perspective of the individual living with arthritis. This therapy uses a whole-person approach that employs a broad range of tools to address the biopsychosocial effects of arthritis through the application of yoga practices and philosophy. Useful as a guide for people living with arthritis, this book is full of inspiration for self care along with instructions for yoga teachers and medical professionals to guide their clients using this whole-person perspective.