THE GIFT OF YOGA
ACCESSIBLE YOGA
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ACCESSIBLE YOGA
As an Occupational Therapist, as well as a person who has lived with her own disability when Fibromyalgia and knee injuries put her on crutches for over a year, Sarah is deeply committed to the principle of accessibility. She is working to make yoga accessible to everybody. The following accessible practices (for various needs) are included in “Yoga for Healing”.
Captioning: The entire DVD is closed-captioned for the deaf and hearing-impaired—this is the first-ever Yoga video to be accessible to the deaf population.
“Breathing”: This simple practice of yogic breathing is done lying on your back with knees bent. Breathing well is important, to supply oxygen to the entire body, especially for people whose mobility is limited due to pain or other reasons. One of Sarah’s students, who suffers from both Lupus and Fibromyalgia says: “Last time I was in the hospital, the breathing really helped me.”
“Bed/Mat Yoga”: This beginning practice of moving, stretching and alignment can be done on a mat on the floor, on top of a double or wider bed, or a mat table in a rehab clinic. This is the first practice Sarah teaches to new students with Fibromyalgia in her Santa Monica Class,"Living Well with Fibromyalgia through Yoga.".
“Restoratives": Restorative Yoga consists of restful, supported poses that require no effort other than getting into the pose in the first place. These poses are accessible for people with Chronic Fatigue, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, who may need deep relaxation. Sarah teaches restoratives the last Saturday of every month.
“Chair Yoga”: This 30 minute combined stretch and strength practice can be done on any sturdy straight chair. Sarah developed this practice as an alternative to classical yoga standing poses, when she was disabled by Fibromyalgia and knee injuries.