Mindful Yoga Therapy is a collection clinically-tested yoga practices adapted specifically by the authors experiences working with veterans recovering from Post Traumatic Stress and other psycho-emotional stress.
The second book in the Yoga Service Best Practices Series, created by the Yoga Service Council in collaboration with the Omega Institute, this work is the product of an innovative 18-month project involving leaders in various fields: yoga, mindfulness, veterans' affairs, military operations and culture, traditional and integrative medicine, clinical psychology, trauma therapy, social work, social research, nonprofit management, and more. Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans synthesizes this wealth of knowledge to gather over 100 Best Practice guidelines for teaching yoga to veterans in ways that are safe, effective, sustainable, socially equitable, and responsive to the particularities of the military experience. Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans is designed is to help not only yoga teachers wanting to work with veterans, but also individuals in the medical field working with veterans and veteran family members, as well as VA administrators, and veterans' organizations. Hear from our community: "Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans is truly a remarkable resource for those teaching yoga to veterans. So much practical expertise is extraordinarily well presented. Before reading this book, I had no idea of how much I didn't know about working with veterans and families. Now I see this book as a must-read for those working in the field, and as a model for best practices in other fields as well. - John Kepner, Executive Director, International Association of Yoga Therapists "It is with great pleasure that I give my highest endorsement to Best Practices of Yoga for Veterans. Warriors of all backgrounds will benefit from the skillful recommendations provided, which are designed to help yoga teachers meet the individualized needs of warriors, while respecting the specialized set of norms and values that distinguish them from the general civilian population. It's clear that an immensity of loving care and attention to detail have gone into making this an invaluable resource for yoga and meditation teachers alike, as well as for all who are working with first responders, from firefighters and police, to emergency medical technicians. I will be recommending this to all the teachers I train as a necessary handbook in their work with warriors from all professions. - Richard Miller, Ph.D.; Author, The iRest Program for Healing PTSD; President, Integrative Restoration Institute; Co-Founder, International Association of Yoga Therapy "Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans is a must-read manual for any yoga teacher interested in working with veterans, as well as veterans interested in engaging with yoga. As research continues to validate the use of yoga as tool to build resilience and cope with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, we'll need more guides like this one. Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans provides the building blocks to running a successful "Yoga for Vets" program while reminding us that working with this dynamic group requires "a high level of personal maturity," dedication, creativity, and the same "can do" attitude that military personnel share. In a ready-for-action package, the authors share their depth of expertise in a convenient, all you need, one-stop shop." -Janessa Wells, MPH, author of Redress Your Stress: A Yoga Program for Anxiety and Depression "I am thrilled to see the Yoga Service Council's second Yoga Service Best Practices book. This is a high quality, comprehensive guide that will empower teachers to have the necessary tools to work with veterans. The Editors did a great job of compiling the work of many Contributors and creating a well organized and thorough document that I will be recommending to anyone interested in this work." -Hala Khouri, M.A., SEP, E-RYT; Somatic Counselor, Yoga Teacher, and co-founder of Off the Mat, Into the World
Mindful Yoga Therapy is a collection clinically-tested yoga practices adapted specifically by the authors experiences working with veterans recovering from Post Traumatic Stress and other psycho-emotional stress.
Survivors of trauma—whether abuse, accidents, or war—can end up profoundly wounded, betrayed by their bodies that failed to get them to safety and that are a source of pain. In order to fully heal from trauma, a connection must be made with oneself, including one’s body. The trauma-sensitive yoga described in this book moves beyond traditional talk therapies that focus on the mind, by bringing the body actively into the healing process. This allows trauma survivors to cultivate a more positive relationship to their body through gentle breath, mindfulness, and movement practices. Overcoming Trauma through Yoga is a book for survivors, clinicians, and yoga instructors who are interested in mind/body healing. It introduces trauma-sensitive yoga, a modified approach to yoga developed in collaboration between yoga teachers and clinicians at the Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute, led by yoga teacher David Emerson, along with medical doctor Bessel van der Kolk. The book begins with an in-depth description of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including a description of how trauma is held in the body and the need for body-based treatment. It offers a brief history of yoga, describes various styles of yoga commonly found in Western practice, and identifies four key themes of trauma-sensitive yoga. Chair-based exercises are described that can be incorporated into individual or group therapy, targeting specific treatment goals, and modifications are offered for mat-based yoga classes. Each exercise includes trauma-sensitive language to introduce the practice, as well as photographs to illustrate the poses. The practices have been offered to a wide range of individuals and groups, including men and women, teens, returning veterans, and others. Rounded out by valuable quotes and case stories, the book presents mindfulness, breathing, and yoga exercises that can be used by home practitioners, yoga teachers, and therapists as a way to cultivate awareness, tolerance, and an increased acceptance of the self.
Lynn Stoller, OT, MS, OTR, C-IAYT, RYT500, E-RYT200 and outstanding expert contributors skilfully synthesize theoretical concepts and research findings from the fields of occupational therapy, trauma psychology, neuroscience, and traditional Eastern yogic philosophy to produce a Transdisciplinary Model for Post-Traumatic Growth for healing symptoms of combat stress, PTSD, or other unresolved trauma or anxiety disorders. The model is informed by the highly successful yoga treatment protocol used with U.S. military personnel deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq, which the author co-developed (Stoller et al, 2012) and by her experiences teaching yoga to veterans in her local community. Sensory-Enhanced Yoga (R) is designed to help meet the following goals: Decrease hypervigilance and overreaction to sensory input (e.g.visual, crowds, touch, noise, movement). Improve quality of sleep and energy level to support wellness and enhance daily productivity. Decrease intrusive thoughts by learning to become present through breath and body awareness. Enhance one's sense of self-worth and personal empowerment. Whether you are a therapist looking for effective treatment tools for your clients or are seeking healing for yourself, this insightful book will provide you with effective strategies to help promote peace of mind and full engagement in life. Lynn's website: www.sensoryenhancedyoga.org
Grounded in research and accumulated clinical wisdom, this book describes a range of ways to integrate mindfulness and other contemplative practices into clinical work with trauma survivors. The volume showcases treatment approaches that can be tailored to this population's needs, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and mindful self-compassion (MSC), among others. Featuring vivid case material, the book explores which elements of contemplative traditions support recovery and how to apply them safely. Neurobiological foundations of mindfulness-oriented work are examined. Treatment applications are illustrated for specific trauma populations, such as clients with chronic pain, military veterans, and children and adolescents.
Approximately 4 million U.S. service members took part in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Shortly after troops started returning from their deployments, some active-duty service members and veterans began experiencing mental health problems. Given the stressors associated with war, it is not surprising that some service members developed such mental health conditions as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use disorder. Subsequent epidemiologic studies conducted on military and veteran populations that served in the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq provided scientific evidence that those who fought were in fact being diagnosed with mental illnesses and experiencing mental healthâ€"related outcomesâ€"in particular, suicideâ€"at a higher rate than the general population. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the quality, capacity, and access to mental health care services for veterans who served in the Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn. It includes an analysis of not only the quality and capacity of mental health care services within the Department of Veterans Affairs, but also barriers faced by patients in utilizing those services.
Yoga for people with multiple sclerosis? Absolutely! Today, people with a wide range of medical problems use yoga successfully. Because of its emphasis on relaxation, breathing, and deliberate movement, it can be especially beneficial for individuals dealing with a neurologic disease like multiple sclerosis. Yoga and Multiple Sclerosis, coauthored by Dr. Loren Martin Fishman and Eric Small, a yoga teacher who first embraced these techniques as a way to manage his own symptoms of multiple sclerosis, is a comprehensive guide to applying the principles of yoga to the management of MS. The first section is a straightforward but gentle introduction to yoga - a therapeutic approach to the practice itself. The second part is functionally oriented. Different yoga poses that work toward a common goal, such as combating fatigue, reducing spasticity, and increasing range of motion, are included and illustrated. This user-friendly guide Describes how yoga works Includes photographs and descriptions of each pose Explains effects, advantages, and contraindications Contains starter poses that will help the uninitiated or physically challenged to gently achieve a posture Yoga and Multiple Sclerosis: A Journey to Health and Healing is an excellent guidebook and tool for people with MS, people who undertake yoga on their own, and for all members of the medical and yoga communities.