Strength in Resilience
A brain injury changes the thought processes, actions, personality, and, sometimes, the physical abilities of an individual. These changes can be lifelong and affect daily functioning to varying degrees. Both the person with the brain injury and her/his caregivers are impacted. Because it isn’t realistic to anticipate that all the effects of a brain injury will completely resolve, it is important for both the brain injury survivor and the caregiver(s) to develop resilience. Resilience allows an individual to acknowledge the changes that have occurred and choose to move forward into the unknown future with a positive mindset. One way to build resilience is through the practice of yoga and mindfulness.
“A twig with a fresh, green living core. When twisted out of shape, such a twig bends, but does not break; instead, it springs back and continues growing.”
-George Vaillant, Harvard University psychologist
Yoga and Brain Injury
Brain injury, including concussion, can cause:
· Anxiety
· Poor emotional control
· Stress
· Difficulty with memory and learning
· Executive dysfunction (difficulty with attention, lack of self-awareness, and impaired decision-making)
· Problems with balance and coordination
· Negative thoughts
· Loss of social skills
One of the beauties of the human brain—beyond its complex, yet integrated, systems and networks of neurons—is something that we call neuroplasticity. This is a big word to describe the ability of one area or network of neurons within the brain to assume some new responsibilities for brain functioning when a neighboring area of the brain has been injured. This is a critical part of the brain injury rehab process. It is also why yoga and mindfulness are an important part of a wholistic approach to post-brain injury care.
Neuroplasticity relies on:
· Repetition
· Emotional arousal
· Novelty
· Attention/Awareness
· Challenge
Yoga and mindfulness provide each of these components for the participant and, so, have the potential to facilitate positive functional changes within the brain following brain injury.
“In a way, both yoga and meditation are ‘brain exercises’ that engage different parts of the brain on the components of practice…and can help the brain form new connections and recover from injuries.” -Dr. Helen Lavretsky, MD, MS, UCLA
What is Adaptive Yoga?
For the brain injury survivor, certain head and neck positions can trigger symptoms like dizziness or pain. Additionally, brain injury can cause sensitivity to light—especially flickering light from candles—sounds, and scents. For these reasons, a traditional yoga class is often not an option for someone who has sustained a brain injury.
Adaptive yoga is performed with the specific needs of the brain injury community in mind:
· No music
· No candles
· Accessible to participants of all abilities—all poses and transitions can be performed from either chair level or floor level
· Modifications for poses and transitions to accommodate all levels of ability
· All movements and transitions are performed slowly
· Instructions are provided using a variety of cues (verbal, visual, etc.)
Most importantly, adaptive yoga is an invitation for you to gently move your body within your own comfort level and individual limitations, while celebrating your own unique strengths. No movement or pose will ever be forced. Adaptive yoga does not focus on having you perform a pose accurately. Rather, it empowers you to take charge of your own journey to wholeness by mindfully moving your body through a yoga flow that is personalized to your needs.
What Do I Need?
· Calm, quiet environment
· Straight-back chair without armrests (participants in wheelchairs will be offered appropriate modifications) for chair-level participation
· Yoga mat (for floor-level participation)
· Yoga blocks
· Pillow or blanket for positioning
· Computer or tablet
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