What comes to mind when you hear the word “yoga?” Do you imagine a group of young and athletic women folded up like pretzels? The chair yoga video below may change your mind: Yoga is for EVERY BODY, and can help you to be flexible, balanced and calm.

That’s especially important for Veterans who have experienced PTSD.

According to Dr. Louanne Davis, a clinical research psychologist at the Indianapolis VA and an associate scientist in clinical psychology at the Indiana University School of Medicine, “Yoga is very meditative and emphasizes being aware or mindful of your breathing and how your body feels moment to moment. This type of practice stimulates the calming branch of the nervous system and helps to reduce the hyperarousal that is one of the symptoms of PTSD.”

Want to see how yoga is for everybody? How it can help you to become flexible, balanced and calm? Join yoga instructor (and health and wellness program manager) Mandie Johnson from Central Arkansas VAMC for this 9-minute chair yoga practice.

For more information

Read more about how yoga can help with PTSD symptoms.

https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/February/Can-Yoga-Ease-Your-PTSD-VA-Wants-to-Find-Out.asp

For more information on yoga and the Moving the Body component of Whole Health visit: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/circle-of-health/moving-body.asp

In addition to practicing yoga, there are many ways to improve your day-to-day life and help you move forward during uncertain times. Check out the “Moving Forward, Overcoming Life’s Challenges” course. This course was developed specifically for Veterans and features worksheets, videos, games and more that can help Veterans.  It is available for your computer, tablet and smart phone. https://www.veterantraining.va.gov/movingforward/


Andrea Young is a Field Implementation Team Consultant with the VHA Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation

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3 Comments

  1. Carol L May 1, 2020 at 07:53

    Thank you So beneficial for those of us living from our chair ♿️

  2. Lea Andersen April 27, 2020 at 21:57

    Thank you. I enjoyed this

  3. Susan April 22, 2020 at 22:24

    Love this—so much yoga and exercises are for people that are mobile enough to get on and off the floor—thanks for this

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