Colleen is part of a movement to apply NeuroTherapeutic Yoga to people affected by Parkinson’s, MS, post-stroke, early cognitive decline and other neurologic conditions. Although yoga has been applied therapeutically in India for thousands of years, it is a relatively new treatment modality in the West and Colleen works on the very edge of that frontier. 

Applying yoga to neurologic conditions means finding appropriate movements and breath patterns that combat the stress those particular conditions place upon the system. We know ongoing stress is harmful to the body, and any imbalance in the body causes ongoing stress. Exhausted adrenals cause a negative chain reaction of hormonal, circulatory and neural dysfunction, and these must be addressed so the body does not break down all together. Yoga regulates and calms the nervous system so that a positive chain reaction toward relaxation, healthy digestion and healthy sleep can occur. Each asana (pose) is specifically designed to gently massage and stimulate various organs that are crucial to proper functioning of all the systems of the body. By triggering the relaxation response in the body, the nervous system is reset for optimum health.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes reports that:  “In the United States, at least 500,000 people are believed to suffer from Parkinson’s disease, and about 50,000 new cases are reported annually. These figures are expected to increase as the average age of the population increases. The disorder appears to be slightly more common in men than women. The average age of onset is about 60. Both prevalence and incidence increase with advancing age; the rates are very low in people under 40 and rise among people in their 70s and 80s. Parkinson’s disease is found all over the world.”  

NeuroTherapeutic Yoga Class 2014 ~ Presenting an award to YogaWorks, Westlake Village for sponsoring NTY since 2008