Experiencing neck, shoulder, and arm pain, stiffness or tingling, or carpal tunnel syndrome? With this course, the 35 plus years’ expertise of an orthopedic medicine physician and certified yoga teacher makes the healing power of yoga accessible to all, particularly those with physical limitations of the hands and arms that preclude standard even beginning yoga poses. Each of four distinct yoga sequences stand alone as a balanced practice, and as a whole provide a complete program of gentle to moderate stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and most important of all, balancing the autonomic nervous system with diaphragmatic breathing.

Variations and modifications of the poses are given for different levels of ability or injury.

What You’ll learn:

The critical importance of diaphragmatic breathing and correct posture to reduce “Fight or flight” and promote the “relax and Renew” arms of the autonomic nervous system.

Safe non painful ways to practice yoga without weightbearing on the wrists or hands

The importance of the upper back- the hidden source of many neck and upper extremity problems

That yoga can be accessible to you, in spite of limitations or injury to the neck, shoulders or arms!

Requirements:

No yoga experience necessary

Those with severe thoracic outlet syndrome should exercise caution and consult with their physical therapist or other health professional

This Course Includes:

4 distinct yoga sequences, approximately 25 minutes in length, all with no weightbearing on the wrists and hands with instruction in:

Breath awareness and the importance of balancing the autonomic nervous system from overly sympathetic “fight or flight” to parasympathetic “relax and renew”

Key concepts of posture and alignment, basic standing poses, cat stretch modifications and forward bends

Opening and mobilizing the shoulders, chest, and upper back

Upper and lower back strengthening

Relaxation sequence with chest openers and gentle spinal twists and hip openers

Who This Course is For:

People with:

Repetitive stress injuries to the neck, shoulders, elbows wrists and hands

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Thoracic outlet syndrome (mild to moderate)

Pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders

Pain, numbness or tingling in the hands

Tendonitis of the shoulders or elbows

Pain in the wrist when weightbearing in traditional yoga poses (cat pose, dog pose, etc)

People who spend a lot of time on the computer or other screens