Yoga for aging gracefully and for healing
MANILA, Philippines - While many people come to yoga for an active, physical practice, coming to your mat can also mean taking your body through deep rest, healing, and preparing your mind and body for a lifetime of vitality. Urban Ashram Manila brings in certified yoga therapist Leslie Kazadi for a 50-hour intensive training that takes practitioners and teachers alike through this important aspect of yoga on Oct. 18-27.
Older adults are the fastest growing segment of our population and they are increasingly turning to yoga to improve quality of life. They are subject to unique challenges, including balance and posture, as well as longevity and vitality. In order to move gracefully through this stage of life, older adults can practice poses that help build confidence, strength, and flexibility —factors that can take them through the years with stamina and grace. The program discusses and demonstrates how yoga can be an effective and fun way to transform this important phase into one that is ultimately rewarding and fulfilling.
Coupled with a powerful yoga practice is the need to rest deeply and completely. Stress factors into the daily lives of most people, and restorative yoga is a natural way to remedy the consequences that tension brings into life. Leslie teaches how to invoke the relaxation response to decrease anxiety, insomnia, and stress-related illness; how to alleviate fatigue, chronic pain, and stress by resetting the nervous system; and how to support the immune system as an antidote to autoimmune conditions. The workshop will also explore yoga sequences to target specific stress-related conditions and how to use props to create the greatest sense of ease and support for optimal relaxation and rejuvenation.
Many injuries can act as obstacles hindering asana practice. Working with modifications and adjustments can promote healing for injuries to the back, shoulders and wrists, hips and knees. Through this workshop, teachers learn how to quickly identify structural imbalances and dysfunctional movement patterns that contribute to these injuries, determine the appropriate modifications to provide stability and freedom in the body that restore balance, and learn how to clearly communicate via language and hands-on adjustments that empower students with increased awareness, vitality, and strength.
Certified as a yoga therapist by Loyola Marymount University, Leslie has experience in working with adults of all ages with many complex medical conditions. She believes in the healing power of yoga, community, and laughter. She has designed and implemented several yoga research studies, co-authored research articles in peer-reviewed medical journals, developed a year-long internship program for new yoga therapists, and taught small group and private sessions in several physical therapy clinics in addition to teaching advanced teacher trainings, classes, and privates.
Urban Ashram Manila (www.urbanashrammanila.com) is located at Suite 301, 3 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City and 3rd floor, Active Fun Building, 9th corner 28th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City. Call 661YOGA or 869YOGA for more information or e-mail trainings@urbanashrammanila.com; visit www.lesliekazadi.com.
