Yoga Off the Mat
On this webpage, you will find a list of very interesting and up to date "Yoga Off the Mat" research regarding how our yoga practice transforms our everyday experience.
Many of us would love to experience more happiness. If we feel trapped by fear, however, or some traumatic occurrence in the past, this becomes difficult. According to yoga, trauma, is defined as anything which feels overwhelming to the limbic system.
We very often may repeat the past, in order to repair the trauma. If frightening sensations are not given the time and attention they need to move through the body, according to yoga, the individual will continue to replay the past and act upon it as if it is still representative of the present, this moment now.
Practicing yoga, we may begin to allow the sensations to speak to us and come more into the present moment, feeling safe.
Enjoy reading these key articles which address the body-mind and spirit in more depth and take your yoga off the mat too!
http://www.wisebrain.org/ParasympatheticNS.pdf
http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/2945
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcelle-pick-rnc/unplug-and-recharge_b_834621.html
http://www.womentowomen.com/exercise-and-lifestyle/deep-breathing/
http://www.traumacenter.org/about/..%5Cclients%5CMagInside.Su09.p12-13.pdf
YOGA OFF THE MAT (ARTICLE AND HANDOUT) - the links to these materials see below please.
This article and Handout speaks to our own ability to withstand uncomfortable moments with greater ease and purpose!
When we take some time to better understand our own weaknesses for example, addictions like self-loathing, food, sex and alcohol or drug substance, we can calmly with our breath, see it and go deeper.
When we see with loving eyes, we heal. In yoga, it is believe that the roots of our own misery is ignorance of who we really are. Yoga provides us with a much needed loving, peaceful environment in which we can reteach ourself that we are love able, whole and blessed. Then, we are free to live, spontaneously, fully and more alive.
Yoga Research Findings
In the following yoga research findings part one and part two, we look at the hundreds of research findings which can be used when teaching class. By sharing with your students the results of these studies, you will want to make more conscious decisions about nutrition, lifestyle and exercise on a day to day basis!
Yoga Research Findings Part One
Yoga Research Findings Part Two
Peace on the Inside was very moving to me because it shows that Yoga isn’t just for the privileged, its for everyone to benefit from. Yoga helped teens in jail find self awareness and better prepare them for life outside the prison bars
The article “Yoga Off the Mat” by Eve Eliot really spoke to me. Using the simple metaphors and analogies which transfer and speak to her clients as well as meditation techniques in order to convey ways to endure or overcome hard and uncomfortable situations, she is able to break down internal barriers and move forward in healing processes. Having studied psychology and worked briefly in counseling myself, it is so great to see professionals in this field using ancient techniques to heal instead of just throwing more pills at clients. Well written and thoughtful article.
Dr. Bessel Van der Klok’s interview with Integral Yoga Magazine is one that I would highly recommend. Not only for yoga teachers, but anyone who may encounter someone with PTSD or who may be dealing with this disorder themselves. Dr. Van der Klok presents the topic of yoga as a therapy in a way that is easy to understand, but still manages to highlight the significant benefits. He states “Most trauma-sensitive people need some form of body-oriented psychotherapy or bodywork to regain a sense of
safety in their bodies.” He explains how the calm practice of yoga, although potentially uncomfortable at first, can bring about the physiological changes necessary in order to progress to healthier states. Yoga for psychological disorders and physical stress is so incredibly interesting, it is wonderful to see those at the top of their field like Dr. Van der Klok studying and incorporating yoga in new ways!
Yoga off the mat provide alot of practical metaphors. My favorits = if a client has some experience with yoga (even if only having seen it on TV or at the gym), using yoga as a metaphor for life itself is invaluable. Encouraging a client to view each moment of life as a yoga pose—sometimes uncomfortable, but needing to be softened into in order to allow energy to flow, instead of hardened against, which only blocks energy—makes immediate sense to the client.
The article re: hitting the pause button ties into the parasympathetic nervous system, too – proponents of tapping or EFT use the points just to the left and right of the collarbone (imagine the line of a v neck shirt) to reset the PNS. I find myself stroking that area of my neck without even being aware I’m doing it, it’s become a self soothing mechanism. Point #2 in that article, put your hand over your heart, reminded me of this wonderful Tony Robbins exercise in gratitude and emotional release:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smhzRqHkpZs
The article by Eve Elliot had many interesting points. The metaphors she provided could be very beneficial to us new teachers as they all could be applied to possible future students to help them overcome and work through instances of mental and physical discomfort. The most important idea that stuck with me was her suggestion to drop the “story line” or narrative that we attach to bad experiences. Having a story attached to an emotion only perpetuates it. So each time we are confronted with discomfort, we replay story lines that we associate with specific instances, which reignites and fuels the anger, sadness, heartache, etc. that we felt during the original experience. Dropping this habit will neutralize or even eradicate these emotions and help our minds and bodies function optimally. What an incredibly valuable idea to take on and pass on to others!
I was wondering what is the best way to find new and current research information about the benefits of yoga. Do you have recommendations?
I found the article on “Activating the Parasympathetic Wing of Your Nervous System,” to be very intriguing. It is amazing that the PNS (Parasympathetic Nervous System) can directly impact blood pressure, immunity, and mood. Having a direct pathway to monitoring these systems helps to manage and prevent larger conditions from occurring. This article does a great job of breaking down PNS and how it directly effects our body systems. Understanding that correlation makes deepening ones practice much easier. It is very motivating to find how easily we can positively influence our Parasympathetic Nervous System.
The yoga journal article about the teens in juvenile detention centers practicing yoga and meditation really got my attention. I found it insane that so many teens are put in to solitary confinement especially for nonviolent crimes. I really do believe that some of those kids just need a hug! I am glad and amazed that yoga has helped inspire kids that are not in such ideal situations. It just really proves that taking a moment out of ones day to just breathe can really help one to become more mindful of personal situations in day to day living. Most importantly, that article proves that yoga does work at all ages!