Yoga for Caregivers

Yoga and meditation can provide many physical and mental benefits to young and old alike. Practicing yoga can have a very calming, balancing effect on your body and mind. There is scientific evidence that yoga can help lower stress and improve the capability to cope during anxious times.

As a caregiver, you give of yourself daily. Taking time to take care for yourself in a way that promotes your own inner strength will not only improve your quality of life, but will have a ripple effect on those around you. Many people find that yoga helps them manage stress and keep a positive attitude throughout the day. Assisting Hands Home Care provides a few options for caregivers. We hope you find them helpful.

Join us each month, as Marie leads our clients, their family members and caregivers, through a delightful session of Respite Care. No prior experience in Yoga is necessary. Wear comfy clothes, have a blanket, mat or towel to stretch out on, or use your couch or bed! We will adapt to your abilities. See our Events Page for time and day of Marie’s next Zoom session.

Marie Daly has played with yoga most of her life, but it wasn’t until she moved to Maryland in 2014 that she incorporated yoga into her daily life. It was a natural progression that led her to complete her 200RYT certification at Opus Yoga Studio to become a teacher of yoga. It has been a magical and joyous journey of sharing and self-discovery. She finds joy in sharing the compassion, courage and strength found in yoga. She found the perfect work community when she became a volunteer at Caring Matters, and three months later joined the staff as the Manager for Volunteer Helping Hands. Working with people with life-threatening illnesses has given her a higher purpose and goes hand in hand with yoga. Marie offers a weekly yoga class for volunteers, staff and the Caring Matters community.

Jane Stelboum, yoga teacher/trainer, Certified Brain Longevity Specialist through the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation®, founded Sarasvate in 2012 after she lost her own mother to Alzheimer’s. Her mission is to prevent memory related diseases like Alzheimer’s and help those already impacted maintain quality of life as long as possible. You can follow Jane at Facebook.com/sarasvate and learn more about her at sarasvate.com.

Jane offers these helpful hints to stay energized, focused, and calm during stressful times. These techniques can help you, as well as those you may be caring for. You may access them on her YouTube page.

1. 3-Part breath. Learn to focus on your breath, breathe more fully and completely, and exercise your lungs as we battle this respiratory virus.
2. Brain stimulators. Two techniques to sharpen your focus and wake up your mind.
3. Sun breaths. Activating breaths to provide a boost of energy and improve mental clarity.

Yoga improves flexibility, respiration, cardio health, and even provides a bit of protection from injury. The following 16-minute video from Adriene may be helpful. Please do only the poses as they are comfortable for you.

• Chair Yoga with Adriene

Consider bookmarking this page for future reference as various yoga practices may be added.