New Professional Curriculum Guide and Poster

Yoga helps people identify physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. The therapeutic effect of taking deep breaths throughout the day aims to improve one’s overall perception of life, self, and circumstance. Mindfulness practices (like pausing to breathe) help participants learn to assess unsafe positions that may lead to falls and to ask for help when needed. Participants set their own goals and are respected as individuals with vast internal resources for healing, self-care, and empowerment.

Since 2005, APF has been addressing the chronic pain needs of older, disabled, underserved Baltimore residents through an innovative project utilizing yoga for pain relief and fall prevention. Residents of two rehabilitation hospitals and long-term care facilities convene to practice yoga as part of their treatment for managing the damaging effects of stress, pain, illness and institutionalization.

Thanks to a grant from the Baltimore Community Foundation, medical staff at each facility were trained in basic pain assessment and treatment, and the utilization of yoga as a tool to manage pain and increase self awareness. Two yoga therapists working with APF provide weekly therapeutic yoga classes to residents. As a result of this project, a curriculum guide was developed, allowing health professionals, therapeutic recreation staff, and other practitioners to replicate the program in healthcare settings. Additionally, a poster was created depicting yoga poses one can take while sitting. This has been an exciting project, reminding us again that complementary methods of treatment that teach mindfulness and awareness, and model caring and compassion, can be profoundly effective.