Yoga

• Yoga

Description:
The word yoga means “union” in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga originated. We can think of the union occurring between the mind, body and spirit. What is commonly referred to as “yoga” can be more accurately described by the Sanskrit word asana, which refers to the practice of physical postures or poses.  To see how military medicine is expanding to include yoga, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTkDzWhYHKU

In addition to practicing the poses, yoga classes may also include instruction on breathing, call and response chanting, meditation, or an inspirational reading by the teacher. The variety and amount of this will depend on the individual teacher and the yoga tradition in which he or she has trained. Typically, a yoga class at a gym will be more focused on the purely physical benefits of yoga, while one at a yoga center may delve more into the spiritual side. Some people find that the physical practice of yoga becomes a gateway into a spiritual exploration, while others just enjoy a wonderful low-impact workout that makes them feel great.

Who It may Help:
Yoga is for all ages and may help with the following:

· reduced stress
· sound sleep
· reduced cortisol levels
· improvement of many medical conditions
· allergy and asthma symptom relief
· lower blood pressure
· smoking cessation help
· lower heart rate
· spiritual growth
· sense of well-being
· reduced anxiety and muscle tension

Who May Perform Yoga:
It is best to find a Certified Yoga Instructor. This does not require formal education, but you should always ask for credentials when seeking any form of training to indicate the level of the practitioners’ expertise.

Where to find a Yoga class:
You may find yoga classes at reputable places like the YMCA, YWCA, Community Colleges, Gyms and Yoga studios. This is as easy as looking in the yellow pages and making a few calls. Additionally, many locations are adding Yoga Warriors classes.  You may inquire more at www.yogawarriors.com.  Another resource can be found at www.warriorsatease.com.

Veterans Yoga Project – https://veteransyogaproject.org/vyp-classes/ – Veterans Yoga Project is on a mission to support recovery and resilience among our veterans, active duty military members, their families, and communities. We envision a future where all those affected by trauma have access to a full range of mind-body practices to facilitate recovery and resilience. We are committed to providing these tools and training in Safe, Predictable, and Controlled environments (SPaCe).

There are also Yoga videos/DVD’s that can be purchased for you to use at home. Some examples of websites in which you can buy videos are at www.gaiam.com , www.veteransyogaproject.org, www.connectedwarriors.org  and www.yogajournal.com, www.mindfulyogatherapy.org.

Will insurance cover Yoga:
No, therefore it might be more helpful to buy a video first and try it at home. Video’s start at $15.00 and can be used time and time again. Yoga classes often start at $10.00 per lesson, but the personal instruction and time spent with others learning yoga is often beneficial.

Note: VFU provides this comprehensive view of healing techniques for your convenience, but does not endorse nor recommend any specific technique. VFU does not guarantee results or outcomes from any of the materials listed on this website.