Yoga Teacher Training: Thyroid Health

By Shahid Mishra

During the course of a Yoga teacher training many interns discover that shoulder stand (Sarvangasana) is a good asana for thyroid health, but the reasons why might not be explained. The reason is actually quite simple: Gravity encourages good blood flow toward the neck.

The thyroid, a tiny gland weighing less than one ounce, is located just below the larynx in the front of the throat. Associated with the throat chakra, the butterfly-shaped organ produces hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism. Thyroid disorders frequently result from exposure to environmental toxins, emotional stress, or an imbalance in hormones and nutrients. The use of Yoga as an adjunct to traditional medical care in the treatment of thyroid problems is becoming increasingly more popular.

Symptoms of disorders include irregular heartbeat, problems with sleep, fluctuations in weight, mood swings, and pain in the muscles and joints. Yoga, in general, calms the body and improves the flow of oxygen and nutrients, both of which help to reduce stress. Some exercises, however, target areas that specifically affect the condition and stimulate the closely related pituitary and pineal glands.

Exercises for Students 

• Yogic breathing techniques calm the nervous system, improve circulation, and increase lung capacity. They also lower the pulse rate and reduce levels of cortisol.

• Meditation helps to stabilize erratic moods, lower heart rate, and balance the autonomic nervous system. It also supports a healthy lifestyle and reduces inflammation caused by stress and toxins.

• Some Yoga poses directly affect the endocrine system. Inversions, such as shoulder stands and Viparita Karani, massage and increase blood flow in the neck area, and Boat and Fish Poses strengthen neck and shoulder muscles. Bridge Pose forces blood to the neck area and stimulates the thyroid gland.

Notes for Yoga Teachers

Although more research is needed to determine the effect of Yogic exercises on thyroid function, preliminary case studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that a regular practice not only keeps the thyroid healthy, but it can also be useful in managing thyroid disorders. Nevertheless, each person who suffers from a thyroid disease should continue medication after starting a Yogic exercise practice with the approval of his or her medical professional.

As with all new endeavors, our should consult a doctor before undertaking a new exercise practice. An experienced Yoga instructor can ensure optimal benefit and help students avoid injuries or activities that aggravate existing conditions. The question is not whether Yoga can help. It is, instead, a matter of knowing what to do and how to do it.

Lastly, as we have learned in Yoga teacher training sessions, inversions are often advised for thyroid problems, but may not be advised for high blood pressure.  This is one more reason why a student should consult with his or her doctor.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Calming Benefits of Yoga for PTSD

By Faye Martins

In a 2010 study conducted at Harvard and Brigham Young University and funded by the U. S. Department of Defense, researchers found that after only ten weeks of a regular Yoga practice, veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) experienced a marked difference in their symptoms.

PTSD forces the mind to disassociate from the body, leaving a person feeling disconnected from their surroundings. Even if the event happened years ago, the mind replays it as if it were happening right now, releasing the body's reaction to stress.

Doctors add that trauma often causes people to feel terrified of physical sensations in their bodies. Often they simply do not feel safe inside of their own bodies. This will cause them to feel unsafe due to the physical sensations that certain asanas evoke in them.

Yoga's meditative nature and its attention to the present, work to break the cycle of suffering, while focusing on posture and body awareness. The body and mind become less reactive and stop pulling a person back to the past and into an uncertain future. In a sense, Yoga is the perfect treatment for PTSD.

When working with PTSD suffers, a gently flowing Vinyasa can help the person place and keep their attention on the present while moving through the poses. Yoga instructors should remember that the stress level a person is under from the PTSD can lead to moments of anxiety and judgment, so this is an ideal time to remind students that a Yoga class is not the time for judgment of one's ability. The judgment is likely due to the hyper vigilance that comes with the flashbacks of the trauma that caused the PTSD, so by teaching students a non-judgmental approach to the practice of Yoga will help with their high anxiety level.

How Yoga can Relieve PTSD Symptoms

Yoga is an ideal way to challenge the fight or flight response that powers many PTSD related reactions. The meditative aspect of Yoga allows students a safe way to explore their emotions without being controlled by them. The movement of the body helps relieve physical tension by lengthening, stretching and relaxing muscles.

Conclusion

Yoga is an effective way to treat the core arousal system of the body and promote body awareness and a focus on the present. Regular practice can help lessen or alleviate the symptoms of PTSD, including depression, anxiety, anger, and paranoia.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Chair Yoga for Stroke Recovery

By Faye Martins

A stroke by definition is when a blood clot interrupts blood flow to the brain, causing brain cells to die. This results in a number of impairments to movement, speech, and memory. A stroke changes the world of its victims overnight, forcing them to relearn movements and abilities that once came naturally. The effects of a stroke can vary widely, depending on where it has occurred in the brain. Patients recovering from a stroke can benefit from the gentle postures and breathing of yoga. Most standing yoga poses can easily be adapted, since stroke victims must remain in a sitting or lying position. As they gain strength and dexterity, they can stand next to or behind the chair for balance.

Benefits

Yoga is naturally a gentle form of exercise that isn't jarring on the joints. People recovering from a life-altering injury such as a stroke aren't able to perform rigorous exercises, but can still perform a number of yoga poses that will improve with time. Studies on stroke victims who practice yoga on a regular basis show improvements in coordination, strength, balance, fine motor skills, and overall dexterity. Patients should practice on a regular basis with a trained professional yoga instructor, preferably one with a focus on rehabilitation.

Adaptations

Any of the yoga poses can be adapted for sitting in a chair, leaning against a wall, or lying on the floor. The students will stain gain the benefits that will help them heal, such as increased blood flow throughout the body, increased strength and flexibility, better coordination, and improved dexterity. Students should remember to always keep the neck in line with the spine, and to keep the head above the hips. A gentle practice is best at first, until the student gains more strength and balance. Yoga instructors should always be gentle and patient with students who are recovering from a stroke.

Breathing and Meditation

How to become a yoga instructor for stroke victims requires study, practice, and compassion.  The process of healing from a stroke is mental as well as physical. Stroke victims often go through a type of grieving process over the loss of their abilities and their lives as they once knew them. This can result in anger, frustration, fear, and uncertainty. Deep belly breathing and meditation can relieve many of these issues. Teach stroke patients to breath deeply, filling up both the right and left sides of the body. Teach them to practice mindfulness by focusing on the present moment, and letting go of negative thoughts and emotions.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To find courses about how to become a yoga instructor, please visit the following link.

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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!