Mindfulness Yoga
Mindfulness yoga mixes yoga with meditation and controlled breathing. It is different to many traditional yoga practices in that there is less of a focus on the exact posture achieved and more focus on body/mind awareness rather than the ‘perfect’ pose.
Bringing mindfulness to any form of activity brings an alert focus to what is actually happening in the moment and how you respond to it. This mindfulness transforms movement and yoga into a form of meditation. In a mindful yoga class you will be encouraged to work within your body mind limitations, accepting yourself today with compassion and applying yourself within that framework.
A recent controlled trial in Hong King has shown that intervention with mindfulness yoga can ease anxiety and depression in people with Parkinson’s, in addition to movement symptoms. Anxiety and Depression are very common symptoms in people with Parkinson’s and they can worsen movement symptoms. Anxiety, for example, can bring on a freezing episode.
Paying attention to the mind-body connection through Mindfulness Yoga may be a way to treat mood and impact movement.