Therapeutic Yoga: A Path to Physical Harmony and Pain Relief

Therapeutic Yoga: A Path to Physical Harmony and Pain Relief by Bill Rodowsky, PTA Yoga has been practiced for over 5,000 years, and is a living and ever-evolving art.  One of the more recent outcroppings of traditional yoga is an emerging branch called Therapeutic Yoga.  Simply stated, Therapeutic Yoga adapts the practice of yoga to people with specific or chronic health challenges and focuses on healing the whole person.  By providing the right tools, including yoga poses, yogic breathing, and mindful focus, Therapeutic Yoga helps restore balance and harmony to the body so that it can heal.  Therapeutic yoga is suitable for persons of all ages and fitness levels, including those with no previous yoga experience. Therapeutic Yoga is most often offered by a medical professional, such as a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, who also has advanced yoga training.  Some of the most reputable certifications in Therapeutic Yoga require a 200 hour base certification in addition to a health care degree. In all cases, programs are designed to accomodate the specific needs and physical limitations of the participants.    So what should you expect in a therapeutic yoga class?Typically, you will be asked to complete a health questionnaire so that the instructor will be aware of your health history and current conditions, as well as any previous yoga experience.  The instructor will also spend some time getting to know you and your goals in taking the yoga class.  Yoga poses are chosen based on their therapeutic value for the members of the class, and thechnique is monitored and guided by your instructor.  Blankets, bolsters, yoga straps, yoga blocks and chairs may be incorporated to support more challenging poses and help participants to more readily relax into a pose rather than struggling with it.    When the series of classes is completed, the options are to continue your practice at home, repeat the series or move on to a more challenging or independent yoga practice.  Whatever your path, yoga practice is a wonderful low impact way to work past pain and stiffness into a life of greater ease, balance, body awareness, and enjoyment.    As we say to each other at the end of each class, "namaste", meaning "the divine in me honors the divine in you". Bill Rodowsky is a licensed Physical Therapy Assistant, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a 200 hour certified yoga instructor with over 15 years experience.  He practices physical therapy and teaches therapeutic yoga at Back to Health Physical Therapy on 2840 Oakland Park Blvd. Reprinted from Natural Awakenings Magazine

Yoga Classes at Back to Health!

Yoga Classes at Back to Health- see our Yoga Page on our website 1)Therapeutic Yoga: New session June 18th, Saturdays at 11:00. Series of 6 classes. $90 if paid in advance for whole series, or $19/session. 2) Yoga with Amy Kirsner, Certified Yoga Instructor: Wednesdays at 5:45 p.m. 3) Yoga with Vanessa Jagusztyn, DPT, and Certified Yoga  Instructor: Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.

Call to Book Your Place in Class!

Call to Book Your Place in Class!  Call 954-565-0075 or email: info@backtohealthpt.com  www.backtohealthpt.com 2840 Oakland Park Blvd. Fort Lauderdale Florida, 33306