ABC of Yoga News Feed

Yoga Offers Benefits for Alzheimer's Caregivers

When caregivers of people with Alzheimer's use yoga to engage in very brief, easy daily meditations, they lower levels of depression, improve cognitive functioning and reduce stress-induced cellular aging, says a new UCLA study.

Currently, at least five million Americans care for someone with dementia. Over the next two decades, the frequency of dementia and the number of family caregivers who provide support to these loved ones will increase dramatically. The extreme burden on caregivers can be severe.

"We know that chronic stress places caregivers at a higher risk for developing depression. On average, the incidence and prevalence of clinical depression in family dementia caregivers approaches 50 percent. Caregivers are also twice as likely to report high levels of emotional distress,� said Dr. Helen Lavretsky, professor of psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.

Furthermore, many caregivers tend to be older themselves, leading to what Lavretsky calls an �impaired resilience' to stress and a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.

For the study, researchers recruited 49 caregivers who were taking care of a relative with dementia. Of them, 36 were adult children and 13 were spouses, with ages ranging from 45 to 91 years old.

The volunteers were randomly placed in one of two groups. The meditation group engaged in a brief, 12-minute yogic chanting meditation called Kirtan Kriya. This was performed every day at the same time for eight weeks. The other group relaxed in a quiet place by closing their eyes and listening to instrumental music on a relaxation CD, also for 12 minutes every day at the same time for eight weeks.

At the end of the eight weeks, the meditation group had significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms and greater improvement in mental health and cognitive functioning, compared with the relaxation group. In the meditation group, 65 percent had a 50 percent improvement on a depression rating scale, and 52 percent of the group showed a 50 percent improvement on a mental health score.

In the relaxation group, there was 31 percent depression improvement and a 19 percent mental health improvement.

The meditation group showed a 43 percent improvement in telomerase activity (associated with cellular aging) compared with 3.7 percent in the relaxation group.

"Although the relation between mental and physical health has been previously documented, the mechanistic links are beginning to be understood at the cellular level,� said Lavretsky, who also directs UCLA's Late-Life Depression, Stress and Wellness Research Program.

"To a varying degree, many psychosocial interventions like this have been shown to enhance mental health for caregivers,� she said.

"Yet given the magnitude of the caregiver burden, it is surprising that very few interventions translate into clinical practice. The cost of instruction and offering classes may be one factor. Our study suggests a simple, low-cost yoga program can enhance coping and quality of life for the caregivers.�

The pilot results were "striking,� said Lavretsky, given that improvements were witnessed in mental health, cognition, and telomerase activity over eight short weeks in only 12 minutes a day.

"We found that the effects on cognitive and mental functioning and telomerase activity were specific to the Kirtan Kriya,� she said.

"Because Kirtan Kriya had several elements of using chanting, mudras (finger poses) and visualization, there was a �brain fitness' effect in addition to stress-reduction that contributed to the overall effect of the meditation.�

source: http://psychcentral.com

Four Seasons Resort Maui Ashtanga Yoga Retreat

When students spend time with renowned Ashtanga Yoga master David Swenson they come away awe-inspired and not just because he's teaching them one of the more authentic forms of yoga.

For Swenson, who began his practice with the great Ashtanga master K. Pattabhi Jois in 1973, what excites him most�and what he loves to impart to his students--is the fluid, dynamic nature of the practice. "The flowing rhythm linked to the breath, it just bit me. It was like coming home," says Swenson about discovering this form of yoga. "It gave me the energy and strength I hadn't felt from other forms of yoga. It's not just about how we put our bodies into shape, it's how we interact with each other as human beings and how we interact with the environment around us."

Swenson and his wife, Shelly Washington, who also studied with K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India, return to Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea June 13-18 to teach their second retreat. This event is part of the resort's one-of-a-kind "Unforgettable Event series which gives guests the opportunity to participate in such diverse programs as viticulture and culinary events, film festival screenings and fantasy tennis and cycling camps.

The Ashtanga Yoga Retreat is open to beginners and yoga enthusiasts alike.

For "Entourage� actress Perrey Reeves, who attended last year's program, the impact of the retreat was in how all the elements came together. "The beautiful space, the location, Maui, Four Seasons, David Swenson�. this was one of the most unforgettable yoga experiences I have ever had."

The package includes: five nights in luxury resort accommodations; four morning yoga classes and three afternoon classes as well as tickets to the Maui Film Festival's Celestial Cinema screenings and the festival's "Taste of Chocolate" event. Maui Film Festival is a renowned destination for independent film screening movies outdoors under the stars while featuring special tasting events and galas. More information and film schedules can be found at www.mauifilmfestival.com.

source: www.pr.com

Fourth Annual Mind-Body Medicine CME Course on Med

The American Meditation Institute (AMI) will hold its fourth annual mind-body medicine CME course on meditation and yoga for physicians and other health care professionals, November 1-4, 2012 at the Cranwell Resort and Spa in Lenox, Massachusetts. Entitled "American Meditation: The Heart and Science of Yoga,� this comprehensive physician training is accredited through the Albany Medical College Office of Continuing Medical Education. Attending physicians will receive a maximum of 23 hours of CME Category 1 credits.

As part of AMI's "Yoga of Medicine� program, this retreat is dedicated to providing quality, comprehensive and evidence-based education to physicians and other health care providers. This CME course will offer a broad curriculum of Yoga Science as mind-body medicine. Topics will include meditation, diaphragmatic breathing, mantra science, Yoga psychology, mind function optimization, Functional Medicine, Epigenomics, Ayurveda, easy-gentle yoga and lymph system detoxification.

The dedication, enthusiasm, and teaching methodology of the AMI faculty combine to create a dynamic and interactive course for their students. Each faculty member is committed to the advancement and training of Yoga Science as holistic mind-body medicine. Presenters will include Leonard Perlmutter, AMI founder, meditational therapist and award-winning author; Mark Pettus MD, Chief of Medicine at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, New York; Susan Lord MD, lecturer and holistic health consultant for Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health; Beth Netter MD MT, medical acupuncturist; Anita Burock-Stotts MD, board certified in Internal Medicine and Functional Medicine; and Leonide Gabrilovitch RN LMT, anatomy and physiology instructor for the Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage Therapy.

Since 1995, Mr. Perlmutter has lectured extensively on the health benefits of yoga and meditation as mind-body medicine, including talks at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Albany Medical Center, Stratton VA Medical Center, University of Colorado Medical School, University of Wisconsin School of Nursing, Washington University Medical School and the Commonwealth Club of California. He also served on a distinguished New York Times panel of Yoga experts with Dr. Dean Ornish. Noted physicians Mehmet Oz, Dean Ornish, Bernie Siegel and Larry Dossey have endorsed Mr. Perlmutter's treatise on Yoga Science, which serves as the primary curriculum for the course.

The National Institutes of Health report that approximately 38% of adults in the United States aged 18 and over, and nearly 12% of U.S. children 17 years and under use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. Significant among these therapies are deep breathing exercises, meditation and yoga��all of which are offered in "The Heart and Science of Yoga� course. "We are grateful to the Albany Medical College for their continued dedication to AMI's teaching of mind/body medicine for physicians," Perlmutter said. "This course will provide doctors and other health care professionals a personal experience that will enable them to confidently recommend meditation and gentle yoga to their patients.� According to recent attendee, Joel M. Kremer, MD, who is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology in Albany, New York, "This teaching has been an enormous benefit in my personal and professional life. I have less stress, more focus, and am able to serve my patients with greater clarity. It becomes surprisingly easy now to recognize the many clinical situations in which patients with somatic manifestations of 'dis-ease' could greatly benefit from Yoga Science.�

The "Heart and Science of Yoga,� American Meditation Institute's comprehensive training in holistic mind/body medicine course provides an in-depth study of the historical, philosophical and scientific nature of meditation and yoga as taught in both the East and West. Practical skills are taught which positively enhance the making of health-affirming lifestyle choices.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Albany Medical College and the American Meditation Institute. Albany Medical College is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

source: www.pr.com

Yoga and Wellness Studio Honor Firefighters

Mainline Yoga and Wellness Studio, HeartCentered Wellness Honors Firefighters during National Firefigher week. Firefighter face such trauma and stress and owner, Celia Pardue wanted to honor and acknowledge their committment and dedication in the face of extreme stress, crisis and adversity during National Firefigher week by offering free yoga classes to Firefighters and also a discounted rate for massage therapy sessions.

Busy professionals and active men and women have found a home at HeartCentered Wellness for all of their de-stressing and healing needs. Whether they are interested in bodywork blending massage, plant medicines, and energy healing, or seekinga deeper sense of awareness through self exploration, HeartCentered Wellness provides the utmost care, knowledge and respect to help guide students to a better sense of ease with an array of bodywork and healing options.

Whether you are in need of general relaxation, feel more comfortable in your body, support to reduce your stress load, reduce anxiety, improve mental focus or work through injuries in the body, HeartCentered Wellness is your partner on the path to better health and well-being.

HeartCentered Wellness serves the communities of King of Prussia, Wayne, Devon, Malvern, Mainline, Paoli, Conschohocken , Radnor, and Valley Forge.

HeartCentered Wellness has classes and workshops about the following topics:

Whole food nutrition
Infant massage
Yoga
Arthritis
Back pain
Aromatherapy
Body muscle testing
Meditation
Tower garden
hydroponic
Aeroponic
Plants wellness
Energy healing
Qigong

Visit www.celiapardue.massagetherapy.com for more details.

Yoga Fitness Expert Hits Amazon Best Seller List

Michael Coleman, health and exercise coach, recently joined with a select group of the world's leading health and fitness entrepreneurs to co-write the best-selling health and fitness book titled, The Wellness Code: Your Ultimate Guide to Health, Fitness and Nutrition. The book was released by CelebrityPress� - a leading fitness and health book publisher.

The Wellness Code: Your Ultimate Guide to Health, Fitness and Nutrition was released on Thursday, April 12th, 2012 and features top advice from health, fitness and wellness experts from across the globe on the subjects of total body health, fitness and nutrition. The authors offer proven strategies to help people achieve the level of wellness they have always desired � and feel better than they ever have. Michael Coleman contributed a chapter titled "Balance � The Secret to Lasting Fitness.�

On the day of release, The Wellness Code: Your Ultimate Guide to Health, Fitness and Nutrition reached best-seller status in two Amazon.com Exercise and Fitness categories. The book reached #1 in the "Injury Prevention� category and the "Quick Workouts� category.

Michael Coleman is a world-renowned expert of Asian movement, exercise and meditative arts. Starting his training in early childhood, Mr. Coleman is now one of the most highly regarded practitioners in the United States.

His wealth of teaching experience gives his readers an advantage in achieving their personal goals. - He's traveled and taught extensively in Europe, South America and Asia, as well as conducted seminars in over 20 States in the US. For over two decades, Mr. Coleman has initiated thousands of people in the benefits of ancient health exercises - including yoga, breathing and vitality maintenance - in cities as diverse as Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, and New York.

Learn more about Michael Coleman and how his life's work can help you. Go to www.About.Me/Michael_Coleman for more information.