Polyvagal Institute - Theraputic Yoga Tools with Marlysa Sullivan and Amy Wheeler - Webinar

Below is a link to an introductory webinar let by Amy Wheeler, PhD and Marlysa Sullivan's, DPT: Therapeutic Yoga Tools: A Polyvagal Informed Certificate for Body-Mind Practitioners  https://polyvagalinstitute.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=10b30dc15c74935cf1fec7bf0&id=aa4c0504a5&e=5ad796c885

Synopsis: In the fields of pain care and mental health there is a need to identify ways to address the complexity of physical, psycho-emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. In addition, healthcare providers often experience burnout because of the workload and demands of the job which can be extreme. It can be difficult to keep your passion for your work to help others and you may find decreased presence with your client or yourself. Yoga therapy provides a holistic and embodied approach to practitioner self-care and client care. Polyvagal Theory provides a neural foundation for these practices which aligns well with the yoga therapeutic framework of the gunas. This relationship between Polyvagal Theory and yoga philosophy can create a shared language for yoga and healthcare/research professionals to understand the unique role of yoga in whole-person health and wellbeing. This course will cover the basic foundations for assessment and application of practices using the gunas and Polyvagal Theory as well as other yoga principles. 

Their life-changing full live course (via ZOOM) begins on October 6 (teachers can earn CEs) and continues for a total of seven sessions. Read more and register at this link:

https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/items/therapeutic-yoga-tools%3A-a-polyvagal-informed-certificate-for-body-mind-practitioners

Pratipaksha Bhavana - Cultivate the Opposite - and PPOTD

At a workshop/conference/seminar I attended at Univ. of CA, SD the other weekend one of the recurring themes (for healing) was Partipaksha Bhavana, or "cultivate the opposite."

In the Sutra 2.33, Patanjali stated:
Vitarka badhane pratipaksha bhavanam.

“When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite [positive] ones should be thought of. This is pratipaksha bhavana.”

In other words, if you are feeling blue/down, you might be best served by getting up and being a bit social, having some warm comforting foods and interactions. If you are overstimulated and overheated, then a cool dip either physically (think - a pool!) or emotionally (deep breaths, a nap) might serve you well.

You can check into one of many articles are this in detail here: http://layogamagazine.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&id=355

But I want to comment on something topical and personal when it comes to this concept of cultivating the opposite. Our political climate is rife with distress. It's equal parts distracting, depressing, and irritating and very difficult from which to disengage. In fact, if you completely disengage you lose track of what's happening and you may feel even more lost. So, how do you stay cool headed, but informed. How do you follow your instinct about taking action with your local government but also not let negativity seep into every aspect of your life? How do you save energy for your family, your yoga practice, when you've been "fighting the good fight" all day, on phones, on line, or in other ways, especially if you job requires it.

I suggest, just briefly, take a time out and cultivate the opposite with a positive thought. Not a snarky positive one, but a truly decent, calm, pleasant, uplifting reflection on something GOOD in your life.

I am going to start posting Positive Posts of the Day (PPOTD) on facebook.com/byomyoga which will automatically post them on my byom_jackie Twitter feed. I welcome everyone to join in to the trend, not for "hits" and fame, but to spread a bit of good will and gratitude as quickly as we can spread frustration, outrage and bad news.

Use #PPOTD or #PositivePostoftheDay and feel free to tag me on Facebook as @byomyoga or @jackiegadd or @byom_jackie on twitter - I want to see the good things happening in your life. Because that will help ME cultivate the opposite when I"m feeling like the world is a bit out of control.

Extremely humble thanks to Amy Wheeler, PhD at amywheeler.com for the inspiration.