Yoga for MS & Parkinson's
While teaching Therapeutic Yoga for the past two decades, Robin has been honored to work with many individuals with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons and other neurological conditions. In 2011 she was asked to develop a program specifically for the Multiple Sclerosis Center at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, Washington. This program includes weekly classes, quarterly workshops, and a video-class series that can be now viewed for FREE on-line for those who are housebound or unable to attend classes.
Synchronistically, the same week that Robin was offered the position at Evergreen, her husband of 33 years was diagnosed with MS. The culmination of these events initiated a crash course into the nature of the disease, the various types of MS and treatment protocols. Even more so, drawing on her 25 years of work in the field of yoga therapy and alternative health, Robin has been exploring what it means to live with MS and how yoga, diet and lifestyle can make an impact on an individual’s energy, quality of life and sense of well-being.
Scientific studies have shown that yoga addresses the two primary challenges for people with MS: stress and fatigue. The relationship between these two is clearly symbiotic; as stress goes up, so does fatigue. Robin has found that the key to yoga practice for folks with MS and Parkinson’s is to creatively adapt postures to avoid over-exertion and to pace the physical sequence with breathing and meditation so that the practice has a soothing effect on the nervous system. Students have expressed that they find the practices simple enough they can replicate parts of them at home, the breathing helps to reduce stress and promotes better sleep, and over all they feel aboost in their energy, more confidence in their bodies and greater mobility. Robin incorporates a great deal of core strengthening, proprioceptive awareness and balance into her program.
Robin very much enjoys serving both populations and has found that while the diseases have very different origins, her therapeutic orientation to yoga supports Parkinson’s equally as well as MS. Robin has had long-term relationships with several students over the years with PD and other types of dystonia. She greatly values their feedback which has resulted in her developing more refined modes for adaptation to meet their specific needs. Her students enthusiastically express how yoga has provided a crucial tool in their treatment protocol.
Classes at Village Green Yoga are safe for students with ambulatory limitation who rely on canes, walkers or wheelchairs, at the same time they will provide ample challenge to those who have more physical stamina. Please contact Village Green Yoga to register. For specific questions regarding your particular condition, please contact Robin.
“Therapeutic Yoga for MS has worked better for my body than any of the other exercise/therapies I have tried. Having a background in therapeutic horseback riding instruction myself, I appreciate Robin’s depth of knowledge and her passion for helping people on their journey towards healing. Robin is highly skilled, articulate and compassionate. I would happily recommend Robin to anyone looking for healing and /or education in the art of yoga.”