Harnessing the Power of Therapeutic Yoga in Modern Healthcare Yoga Therapy Hour with Amy Wheeler

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=Adestra
2016 Yoga in America Study by Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal: https://www.yogaalliance.org/2016YogaInAmericaStudy
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