Movement is an accessible way for practitioners to cultivate mindfulness and connecting with the body is an essential skill for mindful living. The Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness is fortunate to have a community of mindfulness teachers who are also registered yoga teachers, movement coaches and/or have experience and training in teaching movement practices such as Nia, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and various martial arts.
- Recovery Friendly Ashtanga Yoga Thursdays at 5:45 pm
- Inside Out – A Body Awareness Workshop May 3, 2019
- Mindful Adaptive Yoga April 30th & June 4, 2019
- Mindful Labyrinth Walks by appointment
Recovery Friendly Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga is an ancient system of yoga in which a flowing, progressive series of postures is coordinated with breath and concentration. The Primary Series is called Yoga Chikitsa, meaning yoga therapy, because of the cleansing and healing effect it is meant to have on both body and mind. This class is appropriate for absolute beginners and is recovery friendly in that it:
- Provides a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment for people in recovery
- Rejects assumptions perpetuating stigma surrounding mental health concerns
- Incorporates trauma sensitive practices
- Prioritizes healing of body and mind
Upcoming Classes:
Starting January 3, 2019: Every Thursday from 5:45- 6:45 pm with Tracy Ochester, PsyD, RYT-200.
Pre-registration for each class is required – use our calendar to register for the dates you wish to attend.
Fees:
FREE to MAM members. $5 per class for non-members. Participants of Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention may also participate in this class for FREE throughout the course of their 8-week series.
Check Out the Trini Foundation – a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the life-changing practice of Ashtanga yoga to those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, providing yoga as a tool to aide in the recovery process and help those who are suffering maintain long-term sobriety. http://trinifoundation.org/
Mindful Adaptive Yoga for Chronic Body-Pain
Tuesdays April 30th & June 4, 2019 from 6:00pm-8:00pm with Sydney Spears, Ph.D., LSCSW
Have you struggled with chronic body pain through certain conditions such as arthritis, over-sitting, sedentary lifestyle, MS, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, low back pain, shoulder/neck muscular tightness, or other types of bodily tension? If so, this mindfulness-based adaptive yoga workshop has been specifically developed for chronic bodily-pain survivors. Participating in this experience may be helpful in managing or decreasing some of your physical discomfort as well as the stress that typically accompanies these conditions.
A recent study in the Annal of Internal Medicine found that among 313 people with chronic low back pain, a weekly yoga class increased mobility more than standard medical care for the condition. According to the Harvard Review, another study found that yoga was comparable to standard exercise therapy in relieving chronic low back pain. An analysis of multiple research studies involving more than 1,600 participants concluded that yoga can improve daily function among people with fibromyalgia osteoporosis-related curvature of the spine. Also, engaging in the practice of yoga also improved mood and psychosocial well-being.
This exploration of mindfulness and adaptive yoga will begin and end with a brief discussion about the mind-body connection, mindfulness and chronic pain. This will be followed by mindful breathing awareness exercises in order to practice relaxing your body and help free your mind of worries and distractions. Mindful breathing is a vital component of adaptive yoga and navigating chronic pain for possible tension release. The session will proceed through a series of simple yoga postures based from your choice of using a yoga mat or a chair. Adaptive” yoga forms will be offered with various options and modifications to accommodate your individual ability, strength, flexibility and pain experience. For example, most people with multiple sclerosis can participate in yoga on a chair rather than the floor.
Your instructor will contact you before the workshop to make sure this mindful adaptive yoga workshop is the best fit for your chronic pain and answer any questions you might have. During this workshop it is useful to listen to your body so that you do not push your body further than it should move. Please be aware that you are always welcome to stop or modify movements at any time within this session.
It is also highly advised that you contact your health provider to find out whether adaptive yoga might be an appropriate experience for you, especially if you have been experiencing medical problems, recent surgery, highly restricted mobility or working with a physical therapist or a psychotherapist/counselor.
Fees (click to purchase your pass – pre-registration is required):
Once you’ve purchased your pass(es) use our calendar to register for the date(s) you wish to attend.
Guided Labyrinth Walks – A Moving Meditation
A labyrinth is an ancient symbol of wholeness, combining the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meditative path. The labyrinth also can be seen as symbolic for navigating the path of life and healing. Walking a labyrinth can provide a sense of solace and quiet a distracted mind, offering space to ponder insights, clarify intentions, and source internal wisdom. Experienced as a walking meditation, the labyrinth represents a journey to our center, reflecting on intentions, and reconnecting with ourselves and others.
Individual and group facilitated labyrinth walks are now being offered as a benefit of membership in Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness. $25 for one participant and $10 for each additional participant in a group. Walks are scheduled by appointment and locations are available across the KC metro area. Contact Angie for more information at angie.hardage@mindfulness-alliance.org or (316) 640.1557.