Support Yoga Program at Gouverneur
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Community Based Yoga Therapy Program at Gouverneur Hospital
“The Yoga Therapy class has helped me feel more centered and balanced. The meditation has helped me lower my blood pressure by 30 points. I have found the group to be very relaxing and beneficial to my healing”
“The group has helped me to identify anxiety before it gets out of control. I can stand and take a breath instead of raising my voice and lashing out”
Yoga/meditation therapy has helped me to manage my fibromyalgia pain. It helps me to relax and cope with anxiety and depression associated with chronic pain. I love coming here and talking with people who understand my condition”
“This (group) has helped me immensely, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”
These are actual quotes from patients in our Yoga Therapy groups. The most important thing is that they have all mastered the hardest Yoga pose: the “get out of the house” pose!
Wendy Barron, PhD, is a Clinical psychologist at Gouverneur Health and Janice Sloane, a visual artist and Certified Yoga Instructor in New York City. They are working together to bring a combination of yoga and therapy to community health patients in a safe therapeutic environment:
Dr. Barron: For the past 17 years I have worked in a city hospital with patients who are living with chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Seven years ago I started collaborating with yoga instructors, creating a program combining psychotherapy with yoga movement, meditation, and other relaxation techniques. I have been fighting to keep it going because of the results I see everyday. Members tell us it is the highlight of their week, they feel it helps them to cope with stress and anger and feel connected to others. They are learning to do what they can on their own, from meditation while on line at the doctor’s office to finding time to breathe during chaos at home. Many of them live highly stressful lives and they know that no matter what else is going on they can count on feeling supported and get emotional and physical relief the day they come to the group.
Our patient population is ethnically diverse and of low socio-economic background. Most of the patients could not afford a yoga class and would not feel comfortable going to a yoga studio. Moreover a typical yoga class would not allow for the therapeutic discussion that happens in the group. It has been inspiring and amazing to see how their relationship with their bodies and their self-esteem have evolved from feeling broken and useless to the confidence they feel when balancing in tree pose. There is a large body of research that bears out what we have been witnessing – the profound impact that yoga therapy and meditation has, mentally, emotionally, and neurobiologically.
Janice Sloane, CYT, recently joined our yoga therapy program. She has brought with her the knowledge and benefits of her years of practice and teaching yoga. She is dedicated to working with our population of patients in the mental health setting.
“ I know how much practicing yoga and going to therapy helps in my daily life yet never imagined how much talk therapy, meditation and yoga combined in a class could help people involved in programs at the hospital. It could probably help everyone! “
Janice’s classes are challenging and structured according to how the patients feel at each session and by the mood in the room. Keeping it light yet deep and with a sense of humor is most important. She often reminds them that as well as relaxing and moving their bodies.. that this is supposed to be fun!
Unfortunately, while insurance covers the cost of psychotherapy, the Yoga instructor is not covered. Your funding contributions go directly and solely to paying her salary. Please help us to pay Janice to be able to keep this vital program alive!
“The Yoga Therapy class has helped me feel more centered and balanced. The meditation has helped me lower my blood pressure by 30 points. I have found the group to be very relaxing and beneficial to my healing”
“The group has helped me to identify anxiety before it gets out of control. I can stand and take a breath instead of raising my voice and lashing out”
Yoga/meditation therapy has helped me to manage my fibromyalgia pain. It helps me to relax and cope with anxiety and depression associated with chronic pain. I love coming here and talking with people who understand my condition”
“This (group) has helped me immensely, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”
These are actual quotes from patients in our Yoga Therapy groups. The most important thing is that they have all mastered the hardest Yoga pose: the “get out of the house” pose!
Wendy Barron, PhD, is a Clinical psychologist at Gouverneur Health and Janice Sloane, a visual artist and Certified Yoga Instructor in New York City. They are working together to bring a combination of yoga and therapy to community health patients in a safe therapeutic environment:
Dr. Barron: For the past 17 years I have worked in a city hospital with patients who are living with chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Seven years ago I started collaborating with yoga instructors, creating a program combining psychotherapy with yoga movement, meditation, and other relaxation techniques. I have been fighting to keep it going because of the results I see everyday. Members tell us it is the highlight of their week, they feel it helps them to cope with stress and anger and feel connected to others. They are learning to do what they can on their own, from meditation while on line at the doctor’s office to finding time to breathe during chaos at home. Many of them live highly stressful lives and they know that no matter what else is going on they can count on feeling supported and get emotional and physical relief the day they come to the group.
Our patient population is ethnically diverse and of low socio-economic background. Most of the patients could not afford a yoga class and would not feel comfortable going to a yoga studio. Moreover a typical yoga class would not allow for the therapeutic discussion that happens in the group. It has been inspiring and amazing to see how their relationship with their bodies and their self-esteem have evolved from feeling broken and useless to the confidence they feel when balancing in tree pose. There is a large body of research that bears out what we have been witnessing – the profound impact that yoga therapy and meditation has, mentally, emotionally, and neurobiologically.
Janice Sloane, CYT, recently joined our yoga therapy program. She has brought with her the knowledge and benefits of her years of practice and teaching yoga. She is dedicated to working with our population of patients in the mental health setting.
“ I know how much practicing yoga and going to therapy helps in my daily life yet never imagined how much talk therapy, meditation and yoga combined in a class could help people involved in programs at the hospital. It could probably help everyone! “
Janice’s classes are challenging and structured according to how the patients feel at each session and by the mood in the room. Keeping it light yet deep and with a sense of humor is most important. She often reminds them that as well as relaxing and moving their bodies.. that this is supposed to be fun!
Unfortunately, while insurance covers the cost of psychotherapy, the Yoga instructor is not covered. Your funding contributions go directly and solely to paying her salary. Please help us to pay Janice to be able to keep this vital program alive!
Organizer
Janice Sloane
Organizer
New York, NY