{"id":4740,"date":"2011-10-15T13:00:15","date_gmt":"2011-10-15T17:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=4740"},"modified":"2012-01-01T18:47:46","modified_gmt":"2012-01-01T23:47:46","slug":"womens-empowerment-in-and-age-if-illness-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=4740","title":{"rendered":"Women\u2019s Empowerment in an Age of Illness, Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

~Breathing in this life~<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Women\u2019s Empowerment in an Age of Illness, Part 2 <\/span><\/strong>
\n What Yoga Can Do for You<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by Ginger Garner MPT, ATC<\/strong><\/p>\n


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Last month, I wrote about the health related reasons that cause women to be put at a remarkable disadvan\u001ftage in the US. Now, it is time to discuss one of the best (and most inexpensive) solutions to give women a sense of empowerment and control over their well being.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Yoga\u2019s Healing Power<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong><\/span>One of the ways that women can be empowered to take control of their health (and life) is through the ancient holistic practice of yoga. It prevents and treats injury and illness, looking at health through a preventive and not just pathophysiological lens.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have been teaching medical yoga (a blending of east and west medicine and therapies) for almost 20 years and have experienced first hand, as a clinician and as a woman, the amazing results that yoga\u2019s power yields.<\/span><\/p>\n

Medical yoga can:<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u2022 Reduce risk of CVD, cancers, stroke, and diabetes through introducing safe physical activity into your daily routine.<\/span>
\n \u2022 Improve your diet, which also reduces the risk of CVD, certain cancers, obesity, and stroke when following an <\/span>anti-inflammatory regimen<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>
\n \u2022 Reduce high blood pressure<\/span>
\n \u2022 Reduce inflammatory processes in the body<\/span>
\n \u2022 Reduce and manage stress. <\/span>
\n \u2022 Reduce self-destructive behaviors.<\/span>
\n \u2022 Help you lose and manage your weight.<\/span>
\n \u2022 Manage orthopedic conditions such as low back and neck pain or tendinitis\/sprains\/strains. <\/span>
\n \u2022 Reduce stress-related risk factors for disease.<\/span>
\n \u2022 Stabilize your mood by calming the nervous system (through decreased sympathetic nervous system activity). <\/span>
\n \u2022 Build body confidence, intelligence, and overall fitness. <\/span>
\n \u2022 Improve your respiratory\/lung health. <\/span>
\n \u2022 Reduce risk of depression and anxiety disorders and their symptoms. <\/span>
\n \u2022 In maternal health, reduce labor pains and risk of post-partum depression.<\/span>
\n \u2022 In women\u2019s health, reduce post-surgical complications such as scar adhesions, pelvic pain, and other chronic pain.<\/span>
\n \u2022 Manage current chronic pain syndromes and ones related to it such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and post- traumatic stress disorder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding A Qualified Yoga Practitioner<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

When yoga is used as medicine, it is practiced by someone with extensive training in medical therapeutic yoga and a license in medicine or other medical therapy. Currently in the US, there is no license or certification that allows you to access yoga and have it covered by insurance, unless the yoga is delivered therapeutically in a medical setting by a licensed medical professional. <\/span><\/p>\n

While there are no standards or licensing for yoga therapists or teachers in the US, there are voluntary standards set by Yoga Alliance.\u00a0 However, they do not provide certification or guarantee of a teacher\u2019s proficiency in yoga. They prepare a person to teach basic yoga to people with no existing health issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have a medical condition or illness, search for a licensed health care professional with dual training in medicine and therapeutic or medical yoga \u2013 <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you are a healthy individual with no pre-existing health conditions, search for a teacher on the voluntary YA registry <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why choose a licensed therapist for teaching yoga?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u2022 The yoga used is evidence based. It is medically and scientifically grounded making it effective and safer for people with all kinds of medical conditions, including the natural state of pregnancy and post-partum. <\/span>
\n \u2022 They are qualified to evaluate, treat, and refer to other medical specialists while looking at the entire person from both a western medical and holistic standpoint.<\/span>
\n \u2022 They can use yoga combined with medical technology and methods to treat and prevent injury and illness. <\/span>
\n \u2022 They are legally qualified and trained to work with people who have everything from minor sports injuries to serious illness and complex medical histories. <\/span>
\n \u2022 They are trained to differentially diagnose. This means that they are trained to recognize precursors, signs, and symptoms of more serious illnesses that would require more complex medical attention. <\/span>
\n \u2022 They are bound by law and their medical license \u2013 to first do no harm. They live and work by a medical code of ethics and have at least 4-6 years and in most cases 6-10 years <\/span>of formal medical and medical yoga education.\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

If you do not have medical insurance, I encourage you to still contact these therapists. Many of them will work on a sliding scale and have programs in place that work with women (and men) who cannot afford treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best news of all is\u2013your yoga treatment, when administered through a licensed medical professional, is usually covered by your insurance. You can find a therapist that is also a licensed medical practitioner <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Low Cost & Free Yoga Resources<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The base philosophy of yoga is that it should be accessible to all \u2013 just like health care. <\/span>
\n Here are a few free and low cost resources for yoga.<\/span><\/p>\n

Medical Yoga<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u2022 <\/span>Mayo Clinic Wellness Series<\/span><\/a> \u2013 a series of yoga DVD\u2019s for different ailments.<\/span>
\n \u2022 <\/span>Breathing In This Life<\/span><\/a> \u2013 a medical blog for women and mothers – download free breathing and yoga \u00a0practices <\/span>
\n \u2022 <\/span>Yoga As Medicine<\/span><\/a> \u2013 a text written by Timothy McCall, MD, which outlines postures and how they can improve your health and help treat specific health conditions.<\/span>
\n \u2022 <\/span>Ancient Yoga, New You <\/span><\/a> \u2013 a medical yoga DVD by physical therapist, Ginger Garner, MPT, ATC for anyone suffering from physical or emotional pain. It is based on a three year research study conducted with a very pleasant middle aged woman suffering from multiple chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and weight problems.<\/span>
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General Yoga<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/span>Holistic Online<\/span><\/a> – Yoga \u2013 general yoga and Ayurvedic advice <\/span>
\n \u2022 <\/span>Yoga Journal<\/span><\/a> \u2013 a popular magazine offered online giving general yoga advice <\/span><\/p>\n

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Sources<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. <\/span>American Heart Association<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>
\n 2. US Dept. of Health and Human Services 2006. <\/span>Women\u2019s Health USA 2007 report<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>
\n 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Overweight and obesity. June 2004. www.cdc.gov\/nccdphp\/dnpa\/obesity. Viewed 4\/16\/07.<\/span>
\n 4. Over my years of research, teaching, and writing in medical therapeutic yoga, I have compiled hundreds of scientific references which support the plethora of benefits yoga provides. For systemic benefits of yoga, there are 77 preliminary studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals I source. <\/span>
\nMore research on yoga and CVD<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Ginger Garner MPT, ATC \u2014 is an educator and subject matter expert in medical therapeutic yoga and women\u2019s health. As a published author and sought after speaker, Ginger pens the popular blog for mothers \u2014 Breathing In This Life (BITL \u2013which is one of the columns in Yang-Sheng magazine and network).\u00a0 Ginger is founder of Professional Yoga Therapy (PYT), the first education program for Complementary and Alternative Medicine practice in medical therapeutic yoga in the US.\u00a0 Ginger\u2019s focus is on education and activism for maternal and child health \u2013 through BITL, her school, PYT, through the organization she founded for Haiti relief in 2009, Musicians 4 Missions, and her work with the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women.\u00a0\u00a0 Ginger has spoken and performed across the US to educate people about medical yoga and to raise awareness and funds for improving women\u2019s health.\u00a0\u00a0 As a working mother of three she has learned a thing or two about finding work\/life balance through the healing arts, which she shares through BITL, at <\/span>www.gingergarner.blogspot.com<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 See Ginger\u2019s work at <\/span>www.gingergarner.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/address>\n


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