Yoga for Dementia


Book Description

Proven to enhance wellbeing, posture, breathing and sleep, and reduce anxiety and agitation, this programme shows how yoga can be adapted to benefit people with dementia. Based on the findings of a pilot therapeutic yoga programme for people with dementia in care homes, this book offers substantial yoga sequences, breathing exercises, meditations and mindfulness exercises for improving symptoms associated with dementia. It offers an innovative Reminiscence Yoga approach, which uses sounds, music, guided imagery and familiar actions to stimulate memories. The book demonstrates the many benefits of yoga for people with dementia, and describes the ways that each yoga exercise can be adapted for people of different abilities.




The Physiology of Yoga


Book Description

While many people practice yoga simply because it helps them feel good, the physiological basis for yoga’s effects on the body and mind is often unknown or misunderstood. Understanding these physiological concepts can help to deepen your yoga practice. The Physiology of Yoga separates speculation from fact by examining how the body responds and adapts to yoga within many systems of the body: musculoskeletal, nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, endocrine, reproductive, and digestive. Straightforward explanations guide you in sorting through conflicting information about what yoga really can help you achieve and in evaluating whether certain yoga methods provide benefits to any or all of those systems. You can experiment with concepts through Try It Yourself sidebars, which focus on mindful movement, meditation, and breathing. The 14 Myth or Fact sidebars explore popular claims about yoga, such as whether a shoulder stand can stimulate the thyroid or if twists can detoxify the liver. You’ll get the most current research to determine the validity of various claims so you can avoid practices that could be harmful or counterproductive and can decide for yourself what works for your practice. Finally, experience firsthand how yoga affects your physiology by exploring specific yoga poses and four sequences. Each sequence explains which of the physiological principles from the earlier chapters may be most prevalent in that sequence. With The Physiology of Yoga, you or your students can navigate all the conflicting views and opinions about the impact of yoga and learn to practice yoga while fully enjoying the benefits of mindful movement.




Brain Longevity


Book Description

In the tradition of Andrew Weil's bestseller Spontaneous Healing, this is a physician's breakthrough medical program for the brain designed to diminish the effect of memory impairment caused by stress, aging, and Alzheimer's disease. As we grow older and experience the stresses of life, at about age 40 many of us begin to have trouble remembering things, concentrating, and generally staying mentally sharp. This book contains a four-part program including nutritional, stress-relieving, pharmacological, and mind-body exercise therapies to help people overcome the undesirable effects of normal brain "aging". By controlling cortisol, a hormone that is toxic to the brain and present in excessive levels as we age, Dr. Khalsa's plan can help improve memory and emotional zest. This is the first book to: Describe a program that may diminish age-associated memory impairment Feature a clinical method that can promote memory functioning impaired by Alzheimer's disease Detail the physical damage done to the brain by stress, how it adversely affects memory and our other mental abilities, and what can be done about it.




Loving Someone Who Has Dementia


Book Description

Research-based advice for people who care for someone with dementia Nearly half of U.S. citizens over the age of 85 are suffering from some kind of dementia and require care. Loving Someone Who Has Dementia is a new kind of caregiving book. It's not about the usual techniques, but about how to manage on-going stress and grief. The book is for caregivers, family members, friends, neighbors as well as educators and professionals—anyone touched by the epidemic of dementia. Dr. Boss helps caregivers find hope in "ambiguous loss"—having a loved one both here and not here, physically present but psychologically absent. Outlines seven guidelines to stay resilient while caring for someone who has dementia Discusses the meaning of relationships with individuals who are cognitively impaired and no longer as they used to be Offers approaches to understand and cope with the emotional strain of care-giving Boss's book builds on research and clinical experience, yet the material is presented as a conversation. She shows you a way to embrace rather than resist the ambiguity in your relationship with someone who has dementia.




The Principles and Practice of Yoga in Health Care, Second Edition


Book Description

This fully updated compendium of research, history, scientific theory, and practice amalgamates various evidence-based research findings and their practical implications for professionals who use yoga or refer patients to yoga practice. Chapters cover the implementation of yoga for various illnesses and conditions from paediatrics to geriatrics. The expanded second edition includes updated contributions from leading biomedical researchers and therapists, brand new research on telemedicine, chronic pain, and mental health conditions, and a new chapter specifically on the implementation of yoga therapy in medical systems and healthcare with a focus on international perspectives and public perceptions. This second edition now includes a more narrative tone, a 'How to Read the Book' section, and a significantly expanded index to increase accessibility.




Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia


Book Description

Societies around the world are concerned about dementia and the other forms of cognitive impairment that affect many older adults. We now know that brain changes typically begin years before people show symptoms, which suggests a window of opportunity to prevent or delay the onset of these conditions. Emerging evidence that the prevalence of dementia is declining in high-income countries offers hope that public health interventions will be effective in preventing or delaying cognitive impairments. Until recently, the research and clinical communities have focused primarily on understanding and treating these conditions after they have developed. Thus, the evidence base on how to prevent or delay these conditions has been limited at best, despite the many claims of success made in popular media and advertising. Today, however, a growing body of prevention research is emerging. Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Way Forward assesses the current state of knowledge on interventions to prevent cognitive decline and dementia, and informs future research in this area. This report provides recommendations of appropriate content for inclusion in public health messages from the National Institute on Aging.




Neuroscience of Yoga


Book Description




Yoga: Unlocking the Secrets of Preventive Health and Optimal Living


Book Description

In "Yoga: Unlocking the Secrets of Preventive Health and Optimal Living," embark on a transformative journey that reveals the profound impact of yoga on preventive health and overall well-being. This enlightening book delves into the depths of yoga's ancient wisdom, presenting it in a modern context to empower readers with the knowledge and tools to lead a vibrant and balanced life. Through a harmonious blend of traditional yoga principles and contemporary scientific insights, this book unveils the secrets of how yoga can serve as a powerful preventive practice. It explores the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit, illustrating how yoga can nurture these aspects and create a solid foundation for lifelong health. Delving into the physical realm, readers will discover a wide range of yoga postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques that strengthen the body, improve flexibility, and promote overall physical well-being. The book also offers guidance on aligning the breath, fostering mindfulness, and developing a deep connection to the present moment. The mental and emotional benefits of yoga take center stage as well, with insights into how yoga can alleviate stress, reduce anxiety, and cultivate a calm and focused mind. Through mindfulness practices and meditation techniques, readers will uncover the power of self-reflection and inner exploration, unlocking the potential for personal growth and emotional resilience. More than just a physical or mental discipline, yoga is a way of life. This book explores the broader aspects of yoga, such as ethical principles, conscious living, and the integration of yoga philosophy into everyday experiences. By embracing these principles, readers can create a sustainable lifestyle that supports their well-being and fosters harmonious relationships with others and the world around them. With its comprehensive approach, "Yoga: Unlocking the Secrets of Preventive Health and Optimal Living" serves as a valuable resource for both newcomers and experienced practitioners. It offers practical guidance, inspiring insights, and a wealth of knowledge to help readers unlock the transformative potential of yoga and embark on a path towards preventive health, inner balance, and optimal living. Immerse yourself in the profound wisdom of yoga and unleash the power of preventive health with "Yoga: Unlocking the Secrets of Preventive Health and Optimal Living."




Open Every Window


Book Description

When Jane Munro’s husband is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the Griffin-award-winning poet must chart a path through the depths of grief, learning to live with loss and to take solace and find freedom in the restorative powers of writing. Open Every Window is a genre-bending prose account of the unravelling of a life—two lives—when Jane Munro’s husband, Bob, is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Evoking Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking, this memoir charts a path through sorrow—the pain of seeing a partner age and approach death, the exhaustion of caretaking, and the regret in seeing life’s scope narrow and diminish. Writing with courage and love, Munro grapples with what it means to care for a husband who is gradually but devastatingly deteriorating while her own identity is eclipsed by a single word—caregiver. Even a doctor admonishes, “What job could be more important than caring for your husband?” In this portrait of the myriad lives contained in a single life, Munro ultimately finds respite in the power of writing, Iyengar yoga and in the rhythms of the moon—not to heal but to face grief without breaking. A poignant evocation for anyone who has experienced loss, Open Every Window reveals the pain and power inherent in loving and being loved. Framed with short observations of the moon—from a New Moon in Pune, India to the following New Moon in Vancouver, Canada—this memoir will entrance with its lyricism and comfort with the writer’s hard-won warmth and wisdom.




Yoga for Fibromyalgia


Book Description

Eight simple and relaxing yoga sequences for fibromyalgia patients looking to manage their pain, alleviate their fatigue, and improve their overall well-being Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain in muscles, ligaments, and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points (places on the body where slight pressure causes pain). Although mainstream medicine has yet to devise a successful plan for treating fibromyalgia, yoga offers sensible strategies for managing—and sometimes overcoming—the pain. Written by a yoga teacher and suitable for both yoga novices and veterans, this book is grounded in simple movements, breathing techniques, and guided visualization and relaxation sessions. Readers learn to reduce stress and manage fibromyalgia through eight sequences: four for pain relief, one to diminish fatigue and improve sleep, and three for maintaining body awareness and general flexibility. The author’s simple, supportive language and mixture of theory, practice, and the latest scientific data offer hope for one of today's most challenging health conditions.