Getting Into the Yoga Zone- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Getting Into the Yoga Zone- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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July 3, 2003
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In This Issue:
A Commitment to Communication
One Good Turn Deserves Another
BWHers Benefit from Innovative Training Program
Countdown to JCAHO
Congratulations to the following BWH graduates:
Getting Into the Yoga Zone
Building Bridges to The Future
New FITCORP Location in The Heart of Boston’s Financial District
Reminder: BT Cash-Out for Benefits Eligible Employees
Arks-n-Barks: Animal Giftware for People
A New Look for Security Officers
From group exercise sessions at your local gym to health and fitness magazines, yoga is becoming more and more popular as an effective method in achieving the mind/body balance, while positively impacting both physical and mental health. BWH Bulletin recently caught up with two BWHers, who not only practice yoga but are also certified yoga instructors, teaching classes for patients and employees. Andrea Soler, LICSW, director of the MindBody Center and of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center (SJPHC), has been teaching mind/body techniques – yoga and mediation – for many years. A native of Argentina, Soler would follow her mother to yoga classes as a child. Today, Soler is a certified Kripalu yoga instructor herself. Soler offers these techniques to help patients at SJPHC with chronic physical and emotional problems. “Mind/body techniques like yoga can be very effective in health management,” said Soler. “Physically, yoga improves circulation, respiration and muscular development, while stimulating all the body’s systems. Emotionally, yoga enables relaxation and self-awareness. Either way you look at it, participants just feel better.” Soler also extends her expertise to hospital employees via weekly “Yoga for Wellness” classes at SJPHC and 850 Boylston Street. Ivy Ingram of Patient/Family Relations teaches yoga on-site to employees through BWH Perks. Also a certified Kripalu yoga instructor, Ingram teaches Hatha yoga, which incorporates physical postures, breathing exercises and some aspects of meditation. “Teaching in a hospital setting like BWH really brings yoga and traditional Western medicine together, showing caregivers how yoga can work hand-in-hand with other therapies,” said Ingram. “In addition, our classes are a wonderful opportunity to relax and de-stress that employees have really enjoyed.” Ingram’s next on-site yoga sessions will begin July 7. For more information or to register, please contact Ingram (iingram@partners.org). To find out about classes at SJPHC or 850 Boylston Street, please contact Soler (
asoler@partners.org
) or call the MindBody Center at 617-983-4226.