How Chair Yoga in Group Settings Benefits the Mind (and Body) for Chronic Pain, Neurodivergence, Disabilities and Dementia: An Interview with Special Yoga Therapist Maria Jones

Mind Vox

Maria Jones is a Special Yoga Practitioner and Therapist and mother to a teenage son.

Maria teaches chair yoga to adults and children with special needs, including physical disabilities, Autism, ADHD and mental health conditions.

She talks about the benefits Chair Yoga offers to the body and mind, and how practising within a group setting is the most powerful part of it.

Maria has Systemic Lupus, and has had dialysis and a kidney transplant, so hasn’t always been able to move her body the way that can help.

She was attracted to chair yoga to discover ways to manage her symptoms through the practice.

As she practised this form of yoga, Maria discovered other benefits for her mental health, particularly when working in groups, and how powerful this was for her wellbeing.

This episode explores:

What Special Yoga is, and the benefits it has as a particular yoga speciality for SEN.

The physical and mental benefits of Chair Yoga for those with chronic pain, disabilities, SEN and mental health conditions (includes mobility, bilateral coordination, helps memory processing and poses can create new neurological pathways).

How yoga within a group or communal setting can also benefit the nervous system, social isolation, communication and self-confidence.

The positive impact for people trying to process their newly diagnosed conditions.

The benefits of dynamic movements and how breathing techniques can encourage endorphins, similar to the effects if a high-impact cardio workout.

Examples of Chair Yoga poses.

Maria’s personal journey with chronic pain and how using Chair Yoga and Special Yoga has helped her.

The benefits of Yoga Therapy.

*Trigger warning*

Contains conversation about Multiple Sclerosis, Special Educational Needs (SEN), Chronic Pain, ADHD, Autism, Depression, Extreme Fatigue, Disabilities, Anxiety, Systemic Lupus, Dementia, Cognitive Impairments, Fibromyalgia, Sciatica and Alzheimer’s.

Links

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Maria can be found on her website and across socials, Facebook and Instagram.

Maria’s Book- The Chair Yoga Handbook.

Maria's Pod- The Chair Yoga Podcast.

Special Yoga website.

Music by Lesfm from Pixabay

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