Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that interferes with the transmission of nerve signals between the brain, spinal cord and other parts of the body. This disruption of nerve signals causes a wide range of symptoms including problems with mobility, balance and coordination. According to the MS Society, it affects more than 400,000 people in the United States today.

The goals of this seminar are to help people who have multiple sclerosis (MS) build a healthy relationship with their bodies and minds, and to enable health care practitioners to help their patients. The seminar will introduce yoga and meditation as practical tools for managing common symptoms of MS, such as muscle weakness, spasticity, loss of balance, fatigue and depression. Participants will learn breath work as a means for calming the nervous system and a variety of poses to help minimize fatigue, increase strength, build stability, and obtain inner calm.

The yoga postures will target the feet, ankles, calves, thighs and hip flexors as common areas of concern. Participants with limited mobility will learn how to access the benefits of yoga with props and modified poses. Students will come away a greater sense of confidence and well-being through the time-tested integrated modalities of yoga.

Instructor

Maria Hamburger, E-RYT 500, Certified Yoga Teacher

Maria has more than two decades of experience exploring the interconnection between body and mind in movement. Her passion for the benefits of yoga, no matter what the physical ailment or limitations, is infectious. She believes in living a spirited life and inspires her students to do the same. As a former dancer and director of a company, she's taught movement to people of all ages and abilities. Maria teaches with a playful heart and focus on alignment. She’s shared the therapeutic benefits of yoga at numerous venues in the Washington metro area, including Dance Place and Georgetown Hospital, and is a longtime member of the teaching staff at Willow Street Yoga, giving regular classes, leading workshops, and participating in the Teacher Training Program. Maria also works with the MS Society to share the therapeutic benefits of yoga, including workshops and private lessons for people with MS.

Yoga as Medicine Class Schedule

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