Yoga Therapy for Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Jean Danford

      

      Yoga

      Therapy

      FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE AND

      MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

      Jean Danford

      LONDON AND PHILADELPHIA

      Contents

       PREFACE

       1.My Experience

       What is Parkinson’s disease?

       Treatment of Parkinson’s disease

       What is multiple sclerosis?

       Comparing Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis

       Cautionary note

       How yoga makes a difference

       Research into the effects of yoga for Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis

       2.An Exploration of the Holistic Yoga Approach and How It Can Help

       Looking after the whole person

       How we might support and balance the koshas

       Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and the chakra system

       Yoga Therapy

       The case for creative experimental modification of asana

       3.Therapeutic Practices

       Planning yoga for Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis

       Considerations in planning for one-to-one or group work

       Safety and the environment

       Equipment

       Points for teachers

       Posture and the spine

       Core strength and stability

       Strength and stability

       Shoulders and upper back

       Hips and pelvis

       Strengthening and mobilising the lower body

       Balancing

       Superstretches

       Restorative practices

       Digestion

       Chair work

       Flow sequences

       Breathing

       Relaxation and visualisation

       Relaxation and the stress response

       Managing pain the yoga way

       Orthodox view of pain and its treatment

       Pain gate theory

       Managing pain the yoga way

       Chakra practices

       Meditation

       4.Sample Lesson Plans

       Sample lesson plan 1

       Sample lesson plan 2

       Sample lesson plan 3

       5.Class Experiences and Personal Stories

       Spring 2015: The group work their hips and knees

       Yoga Therapy group: floor work

       A restorative session

       Personal stories

       RESOURCES

       REFERENCES

       INDEX

       ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

       DISCLAIMER

      Preface

      At a small conference for people with Parkinson’s in our local area, all of the health professionals were in unison in promoting exercise as a way of maintaining health and quality of life for people with Parkinson’s, and the importance of relaxation and activities to help with stress levels and anxiety. Thus, at my ‘stall’ I had many visitors asking about yoga. They were eager to join a group and to begin to practise. Alas, my county is huge and mine is the only specialised class, miles away from most of the population. However, most were aware that there may be a yoga class nearby that they could join, and asked me whether that would that work for them. I had to hesitate, knowing the wide range of different types of yoga on offer, and questioning in my mind whether their particular yoga class in the village hall would be okay, whether the teacher would have the skills to adapt postures for them and to understand the condition enough to provide what they need.

      I found myself saying ‘I would avoid Ashtanga, and Flow classes… Talk to the teacher first. Make sure that your teacher has a good yoga training.’ But what does that mean for the average member of the public, when there are so many training schools out there? Many yoga teachers have only done a limited amount of training with very little taught about modifying postures, or even safe practice.

      There are many people out there longing to find out what yoga has to offer, and for whom a suitably adapted practice could bring many benefits.

      I hope that this book will help yoga teachers to feel that they can teach people