The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, issued an advisory in August indicating that caregivers are overwhelmed and we must do more to support them. The advisory states, “Raising children is sacred work. It should matter to all of us.” 48 percent of parents indicate that their daily stress is overwhelming. Parents are stressed about finances, time demands, children’s health and safety, technology and social media, and loneliness (lack of time for other important relationships). The advisory asserts that the well-being of caregivers should be a public health priority and offers recommendations different stakeholders can take including fostering community and prioritizing preventative care.
There is significant mental and physical labor involved with caregiving. Iyengar yoga has been shown to reduce pain associated with chronic low back issues. Yoga can also be a tool in addressing anxiety and has been shown to reshape neural connections in the brain and boost mood.
What makes Iyengar Yoga a supportive practice?
The founder of Iyengar Yoga, and one of the foremost yoga gurus in the world, B.K.S. Iyengar said that there is a relationship between relaxation and awareness. As a caregiver and a human, things don’t always go according to plan. Parents are in a constant whirl of activity. The greatest gifts we can give ourselves and others is present-moment-awareness and the ability to “respond, not react.” The intelligent use of props helps us to cultivate alignment, extension, and stability in our yoga practice.
Props act as a self-help tool. They build up confidence, help us gain control over the body, and embrace the stillness that comes from an extended hold in an asana (posture). It is best to learn how to use them under the guidance of a trained teacher. However, it is not necessary to have specialized yoga props in your home to practice. With the support of regular classes and instruction, you can use walls, windowsills, counters, sinks, tables, corners, chairs, rolled blankets and other furniture for your home practice. Props can help people continue to practice yoga over their lifetime. They make it accessible to practice while aging, pregnant or menstruating, or recovering from injury. Props also “initiate actions that are considered beyond one’s imagination.”
“Students who go for mediation are asked to close their eyes. Many become nervous and feel as if they are lost. Asana practice done with the help of props gives a sense of direction creating courage to face the space.” B.K.S. Iyengar
Interested in learning more about how Iyengar Yoga can support you? Visit www.hiddenwisdomyoga.com or email hiddenwisdomyoga@gmail.com. Use code SUPPORT for 10% off your first class. We also have equity pricing available. Please email us to access this program.
Alison Lintal. J.D., RYT-200, has been a Level 1 Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher since 2015. She has practiced Iyengar yoga since 2010 and continues to study regularly with Senior Iyengar teachers. Her yoga practice has helped sustain her through life’s physical and mental challenges including scoliosis, multiple surgeries, pregnancy loss, and childbirth. Prior to opening Hidden Wisdom Yoga, she worked as a law school administrator and professor. Previously, she was a practicing attorney in Chicago. Alison resides with her husband, two children, and dog in Gettysburg.