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Bridging the Gap between Yoga and Mental Health | A Cross-Sector Community Conversation

Misa Kishi, Justin Ifill, Ruth Rosenbaum, & Laura Staton

Yoga is widely known as a healing practice and has been long called upon as a non-pharmaceutical solution to many health conditions. Often, new yoga practitioners come to the practice to relieve chronic illness, depression, anxiety, and many other ailments, including mental health conditions. At the same time, many may not recognize yoga as an option for mental health support or emotional relief.

Given the heightened challenges we're experiencing in society today, many are wondering what we can really do to support mental health in the United States.

This event brings together leaders from caring professions for a candid conversation on unique and creative approaches to mental health care. Join them as they explore cross-sector collaborations and opportunities to remove barriers to accessing effective mental and emotional support.

Centering Mental Health | Understanding and Combating Mental Health Stigma Around the World

One of the greatest barriers to receiving quality mental health care for individuals around the world is the pervasive stigma associated with mental illness. Join Richard Lui as he hosts a discussion with two leaders in the fight against mental health stigma: Mme. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and Jessi Wolz of the organization RefuSHE. We will examine:

· What mental health stigma looks like around the world, and within various communities
· How de-stigmatizing mental illness can support individuals' decision to seek help
· How yoga professionals can de-stigmatize mental health in their classes and daily lives

YAF | Teaching For Equity Program Info Session

All around the world, yoga is making a positive difference in the health and well-being of individuals and their communities. Yoga teachers take their practice beyond studios and into parks, community spaces, health care facilities, senior centers, refugee camps, social programs, and beyond—and the Yoga Alliance Foundation seeks to amplify and support expansion of this work.

The Teaching for Equity program provides financial support, business-building resources, and community connection for yoga teachers serving for little or no pay in communities experiencing marginalization. In this panel discussion, Yoga Alliance Foundation Program Director Kady Lafferty will lead a conversation with Teaching for Equity alumni from around the world about their work offering yoga in communities that have faced barriers to access. This conversation will include:

· An overview of the Teaching for Equity program and what it offers
· Program details and eligibility
· Information about the upcoming application period

Teaching for Equity is funded and directed by the Yoga Alliance Foundation, with Ivy Child International and Synergy Yoga as implementing partners. For details and information on how to apply, visit yogaalliance.org/Foundation/Teaching_for_Equity_Program.

CE Workshop | A Journey in Sanskrit, Part 1: Understanding the Basics

Deepen your understanding of the language of yoga—Samskrutam, or Sanskrit. Whether you are new to yoga or an experienced teacher, this workshop series is for you. We will discuss the relevance of Samskrutam for both yoga teachers and practitioners, as well as how to grow in your own practice and teaching. In the first of this 3-part journey, you will learn:

· The historic evolution of Samskrutam and why it is an integral part of yogic learning
· The rich vowels and consonants of Samskrutam
· Structure and correct pronunciation

IAYT Symposium on Yoga Research

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Stockbridge, MA

Presented by the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), the Symposium on Yoga Research (SYR) is a single-track academic research meeting that includes keynote speakers, invited presentations from senior researchers, poster sessions, and opportunities to interact with other scientists, experts, and professionals in the field. This conference is also a unique learning opportunity for yoga therapists, clinicians, integrative healthcare professionals, and psychology and education professionals interested in yoga research.

CE Workshop | Self-Regulation, Part 2: Dissecting Law of Action

Lean into the wisdom from The Bhagavad Gita to implement emotional, physical, and cognitive self-regulation tools to improve your daily life both as a teacher and student. In Part 1 of this series, we focused on how to create a healthy foundation of detachment to support a thriving physical, personal, and professional life of non-attachment. In Part 2, we will focus on the Law of Action and explore how you can successfully apply these life skills in your daily life, during your practice, and as a teacher.

In this workshop, you'll learn:

· The meaning of Law of Action and how you can apply this concept in your daily life
· How to introduce Law of Action as a yoga teacher plus how to connect it with poses and meditation
· Why you don't need to be a scholar to teach yoga philosophy
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Recommended Reading for Workshop: Bhagavad Gita by Stephen Mitchell*
It is not necessary to watch Part 1 of this series prior to attending.
*This is the translation that will be used to lead discussion

CE Workshop | Yoga for Grief

Grief is a natural emotion that needs to run its course, and as a teacher you can use yoga to provide support to your students who are grieving. In this session, you’ll learn five different ways to help these students, both in group classes and in one-on-one sessions. We'll discuss topics like:
· How to hold space for grief · Ways to help reduce stress associated with grief · Addressing the fatigue grief can cause · Providing a “yoga break” for times when grief is overwhelming · Helping students “move though” grief through gentle movements that can release held emotions
This session will include discussion, practice, and time for Q&A.

CE Workshop | Media Consumption & Your Mental Health

In 2019, the National Institute of Health (NIH) wrote an article, “Can you get PTSD/Trauma by watching TV?” They concluded that “TV viewing following trauma exposure may be a marker of vulnerability for developing PTSD and also a consequence of having PTSD. High TV viewing levels may be linked with ineffective coping strategies or social isolation, which increase risk of developing PTSD” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6428392/).
With information at our fingertips, we can watch what’s going on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our exposure to war is constant, but how does the body handle it? Seeing horrific things on the news can cause significant anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress—which impact us in many different ways. Yoga is one tool available that can help mitigate these symptoms.
In this workshop you’ll learn the signs of over-exposure and tools to help protect your mental wellness during these challenging times, plus:
· Understand the history & impact of media on your mental health · Identify symptoms through a simple checklist approach · Learn solutions to combat stress using proven tools such as: yoga, meditation, EFT/Tapping, breathwork, and affirmations

CE Workshop | Does Yoga Come From the Vedas?

What does it mean to say that yoga has Vedic roots? The Vedas are India's oldest sacred texts, but their earliest mantras don't mention yoga as we've come to know it. The first description of yoga as a meditative discipline is found in the Upaniṣads; these philosophical texts are also part of the Vedic tradition, but they share a new worldview. In this workshop, Daniel Simpson will explore this distinction and why it matters. In the process, you will learn:
· How yoga began outside the Vedic mainstream, yet drew on Vedic ideas · Why early yoga was not about action, but focused instead on renunciation · What links the liberating insights of early practitioners to modern forms yoga

Yoga Alliance Office Hours

Yoga Alliance Office Hours are designed to help you get the most out of your membership. Join the Community Engagement team live* to learn more about the benefits and resources available to you as a member, including the Member Assistance Program and YA CommUnity, setting up your professional profile, accessing benefits, and more. Bring any and all questions—we're here to help! *This event will not be recorded.

Centering Mental Health | Understanding the Barriers to Accessing Mental Healthcare in the U.S.

In the United States, accessing mental health care can be challenging for many reasons. For some, simply the cost and time of speaking with a professional is enough to keep them from seeking support. For many more, the negative stigma surrounding mental health remains a huge, unfortunate deterrent to getting help.
Join series host, Richard Lui, and special guest, Dr. Kevin Waldorf-Cruz, DSW, LICSW, E-RYT, LMT, for the third conversation in the Centering Mental Health Series as they discuss barriers to accessing quality mental health care in the United States and what action can be taken to support those seeking these services.

CE Workshop | Chair Yoga for Older Adults

Increase your knowledge and skills on teaching chair yoga for older adults. During this session, Maria Jones will cover age awareness, take a look at some of the benefits of yoga in the lives of older adults, and share best practices for facilitating yoga classes for this demographic. You will leave with practical tips for teaching safe and effective yoga classes to older adults, like:

· The challenges of an aging population and how yoga can support
· What makes chair yoga a positive intervention in the lives of older adults
· How to facilitate effective and accessible chair-based yoga classes for older adults