Yoga for the Brain Injury Community
Donation protected
The prevalence of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in Australia is astounding. Unfortunately, it often masquerades as an invisible condition-- unless one’s life has been personally affected, very few encounter it.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 700,000 Australians have a brain injury with daily activity limitations and participation restrictions.
According to the World Health Organization, TBI will surpass many diseases as the major cause of death and disability by the year 2020. With an estimated 10 million people affected annually, and globally, the burden of mortality and morbidity that this condition imposes, indicates that TBI is a rising public health issue.
Unfortunately, I am one of the 10 million to experience how debilitating a blow to the head can be. I sustained TBI in June 2012. Before then, and despite this high incidence rate, I knew little-to-nothing about brain injuries and the devastating impact it can have on every aspect of one’s being.
For the past five years, I had to rebuild myself from the ground up. During this five-year period, I lived with a long list of symptoms, comprised of daily migraines, chronic pain and fatigue, cognitive impairment, emotional lability, insomnia, vestibular disorder (vertigo), sensory processing disorders, post trauma vision syndrome and hyperacusis (sound is amplified). In addition to the physical manifestations, it has affected my psychological, emotional, social & financial well-being.
Very few know what goes on inside my brain, as I am quite private regarding my life. Most of the time when I am out in the world, I compose myself well, and seem to have perfected the art of ‘coping’. To most, I seem 'well'. For a brief while, I can maintain this state of 'wellness', but if I go beyond my limitations, or over-extend myself by having coffee with a friend for half an hour too long, or if I read too many pages of a book, the consequence, and often, is several days spent in bed recovering.
In sharing my story, I hope to bring awareness to a reality that is experienced, but not always encountered as “real” or prevalent. What I have come to learn from connecting with individuals facing TBI, is that there is a long list of cognitive, physical, emotional and motor impairments - often resulting in social isolation - that are common among the TBI community, impairments that impact one’s quality of life-- impairments they battle with daily.
During my journey, I have been fortunate enough to have stumbled upon yoga and tai chi-- both have become fundamental to my recovery, helping to strengthen my brain, body and mind, via improving my cognition, rebuilding my vestibular system (body awareness), strengthening my emotional and mental well-being, bringing meaning to my life, and offering me a sense of community.
I retain limitations and daily challenges, and recovery days are still spent in bed, but over the past year, I have seen drastic improvements in my abilities. I have moved from surviving, to gaining a sense of how to engage with the world again.
January of this year I commenced Yoga teacher training, for personal reasons, and as a part of my rehabilitation. My experiences have led me to a sharing of the benefits yoga can offer to the TBI community. Since yoga has been integral to my recovery, it leaves me with a passion to share it with others. Had it not been for yoga, I am doubtful that I would have gotten to where I am today.
Recently, I have discovered ‘Yogavana’, and organization based in Sydney, that offers Adaptive Yoga classes to individuals with TBI and other neurological disorders. Adaptive Yoga is just ‘Yoga,’ where the classes are adapted to fit the needs of the individual living with a chronic illness or disability. To my surprise, Yogavana also offers a three day (dis)Ability yoga teacher training workshop. This is the only course of its kind in Australia, designed to equip yoga teachers with the skills and knowledge to offer Adaptive Yoga classes to individuals living with cognitive and/or physical impairments.
What I have come to discover is, that nothing of this nature exists here in Brisbane. There exists no Adaptive Yoga classes, nor teacher training, and I believe there is a great need for it here, and for the TBI community. It is also of comfort to know, that yoga and meditation, are backed by numerous research studies, proving it to be an effective treatment for brain health and TBI recovery.
To be able to personally attend this training would be critical in providing me with the skills to assist in an area within our community, where there is a critical need, and where such a therapeutic option is currently unavailable.
The next scheduled training takes place in October!
Where You Come In!
Without financial help, attending this training would be impossible, as I have not been in a position to work for the past five years, and the support income I receive, barely covers my daily needs. Your support would help to cover the course.
About Yogavana:
Our mission is foremost to honour the ancient practice of yoga and embrace each student’s search for personal growth, wellbeing, and fulfilment by offering the highest quality yoga programs to people of all ages and from all walks of life.
http://www.yogavana.com.au/about-us.html
What is adapted yoga?
It's just yoga.
The term adapted, accessible or adaptive yoga is predominantly used in the UK and US where yoga practices for people with chronic illnesses or a disability have been flourishing for many years.
If you believe social media, you would think yoga is only for young women, wearing lycra, doing a handstand on a beach somewhere! This is so far from the truth.
Rooted in Indian Philosophy and spiritual practice, yoga has been considered a tool to quiet the mind for centuries.
I choose to use the term 'adapted yoga' so the end user (the person living with a diagnosis) may have the courage to try a class for the first time. One of the 'fathers' of yoga, Krishnamacharya, and whose lineage Lisa has studied, has said "If you can breathe, you can do yoga."
At Yogavana, we explore the essence of a yoga pose and find where that meets you (physically, mentally and spiritually).
Different. Not less.
Any donation made will cover the cost of flights, accommodation & assistance towards yoga props. All support will help to fund my commitment to expand on my knowledge of TBI and bring the benefits of Adaptive Yoga to the TBI community.
I understand that yoga is not a panacea for TBI sufferers-- brain injuries are complex. However, yoga may be a tool, that if implemented, can optimize the well-being of TBI sufferers. Yoga provides us with the space to reconnect with ourselves - our mind, body and emotions ( as well as our community) - with a simple curiosity and compassion and I want this to be available to everyone.
It is my goal to provide a pathway to recovery and hope to all TBI sufferers. Any donation, however small, would be of immense help.
If you are unable to donate at this time, another way to help, is to become educated about TBI. TBI education ensures that one understands how to protect themselves from injury—and in the small event that you may encounter someone whose life has been affected (there is an estimated 10 million of us!), you will have a greater understanding of them and know how to be of great support.
With Love & Gratitude,
Lucy
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 700,000 Australians have a brain injury with daily activity limitations and participation restrictions.
According to the World Health Organization, TBI will surpass many diseases as the major cause of death and disability by the year 2020. With an estimated 10 million people affected annually, and globally, the burden of mortality and morbidity that this condition imposes, indicates that TBI is a rising public health issue.
Unfortunately, I am one of the 10 million to experience how debilitating a blow to the head can be. I sustained TBI in June 2012. Before then, and despite this high incidence rate, I knew little-to-nothing about brain injuries and the devastating impact it can have on every aspect of one’s being.
For the past five years, I had to rebuild myself from the ground up. During this five-year period, I lived with a long list of symptoms, comprised of daily migraines, chronic pain and fatigue, cognitive impairment, emotional lability, insomnia, vestibular disorder (vertigo), sensory processing disorders, post trauma vision syndrome and hyperacusis (sound is amplified). In addition to the physical manifestations, it has affected my psychological, emotional, social & financial well-being.
Very few know what goes on inside my brain, as I am quite private regarding my life. Most of the time when I am out in the world, I compose myself well, and seem to have perfected the art of ‘coping’. To most, I seem 'well'. For a brief while, I can maintain this state of 'wellness', but if I go beyond my limitations, or over-extend myself by having coffee with a friend for half an hour too long, or if I read too many pages of a book, the consequence, and often, is several days spent in bed recovering.
In sharing my story, I hope to bring awareness to a reality that is experienced, but not always encountered as “real” or prevalent. What I have come to learn from connecting with individuals facing TBI, is that there is a long list of cognitive, physical, emotional and motor impairments - often resulting in social isolation - that are common among the TBI community, impairments that impact one’s quality of life-- impairments they battle with daily.
During my journey, I have been fortunate enough to have stumbled upon yoga and tai chi-- both have become fundamental to my recovery, helping to strengthen my brain, body and mind, via improving my cognition, rebuilding my vestibular system (body awareness), strengthening my emotional and mental well-being, bringing meaning to my life, and offering me a sense of community.
I retain limitations and daily challenges, and recovery days are still spent in bed, but over the past year, I have seen drastic improvements in my abilities. I have moved from surviving, to gaining a sense of how to engage with the world again.
January of this year I commenced Yoga teacher training, for personal reasons, and as a part of my rehabilitation. My experiences have led me to a sharing of the benefits yoga can offer to the TBI community. Since yoga has been integral to my recovery, it leaves me with a passion to share it with others. Had it not been for yoga, I am doubtful that I would have gotten to where I am today.
Recently, I have discovered ‘Yogavana’, and organization based in Sydney, that offers Adaptive Yoga classes to individuals with TBI and other neurological disorders. Adaptive Yoga is just ‘Yoga,’ where the classes are adapted to fit the needs of the individual living with a chronic illness or disability. To my surprise, Yogavana also offers a three day (dis)Ability yoga teacher training workshop. This is the only course of its kind in Australia, designed to equip yoga teachers with the skills and knowledge to offer Adaptive Yoga classes to individuals living with cognitive and/or physical impairments.
What I have come to discover is, that nothing of this nature exists here in Brisbane. There exists no Adaptive Yoga classes, nor teacher training, and I believe there is a great need for it here, and for the TBI community. It is also of comfort to know, that yoga and meditation, are backed by numerous research studies, proving it to be an effective treatment for brain health and TBI recovery.
To be able to personally attend this training would be critical in providing me with the skills to assist in an area within our community, where there is a critical need, and where such a therapeutic option is currently unavailable.
The next scheduled training takes place in October!
Where You Come In!
Without financial help, attending this training would be impossible, as I have not been in a position to work for the past five years, and the support income I receive, barely covers my daily needs. Your support would help to cover the course.
About Yogavana:
Our mission is foremost to honour the ancient practice of yoga and embrace each student’s search for personal growth, wellbeing, and fulfilment by offering the highest quality yoga programs to people of all ages and from all walks of life.
http://www.yogavana.com.au/about-us.html
What is adapted yoga?
It's just yoga.
The term adapted, accessible or adaptive yoga is predominantly used in the UK and US where yoga practices for people with chronic illnesses or a disability have been flourishing for many years.
If you believe social media, you would think yoga is only for young women, wearing lycra, doing a handstand on a beach somewhere! This is so far from the truth.
Rooted in Indian Philosophy and spiritual practice, yoga has been considered a tool to quiet the mind for centuries.
I choose to use the term 'adapted yoga' so the end user (the person living with a diagnosis) may have the courage to try a class for the first time. One of the 'fathers' of yoga, Krishnamacharya, and whose lineage Lisa has studied, has said "If you can breathe, you can do yoga."
At Yogavana, we explore the essence of a yoga pose and find where that meets you (physically, mentally and spiritually).
Different. Not less.
Any donation made will cover the cost of flights, accommodation & assistance towards yoga props. All support will help to fund my commitment to expand on my knowledge of TBI and bring the benefits of Adaptive Yoga to the TBI community.
I understand that yoga is not a panacea for TBI sufferers-- brain injuries are complex. However, yoga may be a tool, that if implemented, can optimize the well-being of TBI sufferers. Yoga provides us with the space to reconnect with ourselves - our mind, body and emotions ( as well as our community) - with a simple curiosity and compassion and I want this to be available to everyone.
It is my goal to provide a pathway to recovery and hope to all TBI sufferers. Any donation, however small, would be of immense help.
If you are unable to donate at this time, another way to help, is to become educated about TBI. TBI education ensures that one understands how to protect themselves from injury—and in the small event that you may encounter someone whose life has been affected (there is an estimated 10 million of us!), you will have a greater understanding of them and know how to be of great support.
With Love & Gratitude,
Lucy
Organizer
Lucy Juretic
Organizer
Pinjarra Hills, QLD