Across the world, communities and individuals are struggling with health on every level—biological, emotional, social, and physical— and research shows yoga can, and should, be used as part of the solution. During this 4-part series, we’ll explore different ways of integrating yoga in healthcare systems and hear success stories from around the world.

In Part 2 of this series, we explore findings from the Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States, who has adopted a “Whole Health” approach within their healthcare system and how the program can be applied in other settings. This model supports greater inclusion and implementation of Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) practices. Yoga is one of the evidence-based approaches the Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) makes available, whether on-site, via telehealth, or through community care.

In this session, Alison Whitehead and Marlysa Sullivan will discuss the impact yoga has had within VA’s Whole Health system. They’ll share insights on implementation and support strategies, as well as lessons learned from obstacles they met along the way.

Join us for this exciting conversation. You’ll learn:

· What “Whole Health” means at the VHA and how this system supports a focus on overall well-being
· Important research findings and therapeutic benefits that helped support the growth of yoga as a complementary and integrative health intervention, especially within the Veteran community
· Support strategies for yoga program implementation and learnings from obstacles along the way that can support you, no matter what community you’d like to encourage yoga in

In the United States, 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical health conditions that can affect people of all genders, ages, race and ethnicities, body shapes, and weights. There is a credible scientific rationale for the potential benefit of yoga practices in preventing and treating eating disorders.

This webinar is hosted by Sat Bir Khalsa, Yoga Alliance’s Director of Yoga Research and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Special guest speakers include yoga researcher Catherine Cook-Cottone, a Professor of Counselling at the University of Buffalo, and yoga teacher and therapist Chelsea Roff, the Founder and Director of Eat Breathe Thrive. During this session we’ll explore the published research on studies demonstrating the efficacy of yoga for eating disorders and hear real life experiences of the characteristics and challenges of applying yoga for eating disorders.

Join us for this informative discussion. You’ll learn:

· The definition, prevalence, and characteristics of eating disorders
· How yoga practices are relevant for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders
· The important published research findings supporting the use of yoga for eating disorders
· The characteristics of the application of yoga practices for eating disorders