Yoga Outreach at Sunrise Mental Health
Today was the last of four yoga sessions organized by Vancouver Coastal Health’s Older Adult Rehabilitation Program. Also called Bright Spot, the program is designed to help older adults who have been diagnosed with clinical depression, anxiety, dementia, or other major mental health conditions. Research has demonstrated that yoga can help improve the health and well-being of older adults with these conditions.
Over the course of the program, participants learned breathing exercises, gentle asanas (poses), balancing exercises, and savasana (relaxation). Most popular today seemed to be the shoulder massage at the end of the 60-minute session!
I’m grateful for the honorarium I received for leading the yoga classes, although the best gift was a small prayer book given to me by Margaret, one of the participants. To Margaret and all the other ladies, please remember yoga and me by taking the time to breathe deeply and practise your poses!
Shalom and namaste to everyone. I hope to return next year!
