Practicers of yoga know it’s good for the mind, body and spirit. For Great Care caregivers, that can be exactly what’s needed to relax, rejuvenate and replenish the senses.

The ancient practice of yoga, which originated in India, has been studied as a complementary intervention for cancer, schizophrenia, asthma, and heart disease. The American Osteopathic Association notes that the physical benefits of yoga include: Increased flexibility, muscle strength and tone; improved respiration, energy, vitality and athletic performance; a balanced metabolism; weight reduction; cardio and circulatory health; and protection from injury.

“The purpose of yoga is to create strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body,” says Dr. Natalie Nevins, a board-certified osteopathic family physician and certified Kundalini Yoga instructor in Hollywood.

Dr. Nevins says aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage stress, known to have devastating effects on the body and mind.

“Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate,” she says. “Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.”

In a recent American Osteopathic Association article on the benefits of yoga, particularly regarding lower back pain, Dr. Pierce-Talsma says practicing yoga is a more comprehensive way to stretch and strengthen the muscles and fascia of the entire body. That’s especially helpful for seniors with limited mobility and caregivers who help with lifting.

“Yoga engages all of the fascial systems that help to snug and hold everything together, providing stability to the lumbar spine, sacrum and pelvis,” says Dr. Pierce-Talsma, a registered yoga teacher and associate professor at the Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“Breathing is a doorway into you controlling your autonomics. You can’t do that in any other way. But if you slow your breath down, you can tap right into that parasympathetic relaxation response, which can decrease cortisol and calm the mind. It also alters fascial tensions.”

Relaxing through breathing exercises associated with yoga and meditation can be an outlet for the common feelings of frustration and sadness caregivers can experience. In a 2013 Yoga Journal article on the “Challenge of Caregiving,” author Katherine Griffin wrote of the challenges caregivers face in their important role, and how yoga can help.

“Too often if you’re a caregiver, you find yourself mired in a swamp of anger, resentment, and irritation. When you’re finally able to take a breath and get a little perspective, you feel guilty for having those feelings. The challenge becomes not just doing all that needs to be done, but finding a way to do it with some kindness and grace. How to cope with anger so that it doesn’t leach into your interactions with the person you’re caring for?

“How to find the stamina and patience to manage the insurance paperwork, phone calls to social workers, trips to the emergency room? How to face what sometimes feels like a black hole of needs, without getting overwhelmed and depressed?”

The article touched upon these often-heard questions, suggesting an approach to caregiving in the same spirit as yoga practice.

“You can deepen the experience and make it easier on yourself,” the article says.

And think of caregiving like a yoga pose, says one source in the story.

“There is not one right way. You’re doing the best you can — that is your right way.”

Read more about yoga at www.yogajournal.com.

The professionals at Great Care are available to talk with you and your family about all of your home care needs, including respite care. Great Care is a non medical in-home care agency providing quality and affordable elder care in Fishers, IN and the surrounding areas. Call (888) 240-9101 for more information.