Yoga and Wellness

“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.” – B.K.S. Iyengar

 
 

Meet Annette


I have been practicing yoga for more than 30 years and have been teaching since 2009. I have deep compassion for those who have experienced trauma. Trained with the Veterans Yoga Project and Yoga Psyche Soul, I learned mindful resilience techniques to help those who are experiencing PTS and/or moral injury as well as anyone who has experienced trauma in their lives.

500 + hours of certifications. My training includes a 200-hour yoga instructor certification from the Pacific Yoga Teacher Training and Advanced Studies Program with Theresa Elliott and Katherine Payne; a 300-hour certification in Yoga Psychology with Ashley Turner. 

I also have 50+ hours of training in anatomy and therapeutic yoga practices and believe that anyone can do yoga regardless of limitations. Honoring your body and celebrating its capabilities is key to an injury-free yoga practice. 

 
 

YOGA BENEFITS FOR BOTH CLIENTS AND CAREGIVERS

Benefits for People with Neurological Conditions

Neurological disorders—like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, and dementia—can affect movement, balance, mood, and thinking skills. Yoga helps by addressing multiple areas at once.

Physical

  • Improves balance & coordination, lowering fall risk

  • Increases flexibility and reduces muscle stiffness

  • Strengthens muscles for daily activities

  • Enhances breathing capacity and oxygen flow to the brain

Cognitive

  • Stimulates brain plasticity through mindful movement

  • Improves focus, attention, and memory

  • Supports better sensory processing

Emotional

  • Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression

  • Helps manage chronic pain

  • Builds confidence and independence

Benefits for Caregivers

Caring for someone with a neurological condition can be rewarding, but also physically and emotionally demanding. Yoga provides a way to recharge and maintain health.

Stress Relief

  • Calms the nervous system, reducing chronic stress

  • Improves emotional resilience

  • Supports better sleep and rest

Physical Well-being

  • Reduces back, shoulder, and joint strain from caregiving tasks

  • Boosts energy levels

Connection

  • Creates shared moments of peace and joy when practiced together

  • Offers opportunities for social support in group classes

Adaptations for All Abilities

  • Chair Yoga – For seated mobility or balance challenges

  • Restorative Yoga – Fully supported poses for deep relaxation

  • Breathwork & Meditation – Can be done anywhere, anytime

  • Partner Yoga – Caregiver and client work together to build trust and connection

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?

Parkinson’s disease (PD)

  • Systematic review & meta-analysis: Yoga improved motor symptoms, balance, functional mobility, mood, and quality of life versus controls. PMC

  • Trial in PD: 12-week Hatha yoga improved static balance (not gait), suggesting a targeted benefit. ScienceDirect

  • 2024 meta-analysis (exercise types): In PD, Tai Chi showed the largest balance gains, but yoga also improved balance relative to controls. Frontiers

Stroke (post-stroke rehab)

  • Systematic review (Cochrane-style): Mixed/insufficient evidence overall; pooled balance outcomes were not statistically significant. PubMed

  • Recent non-inferiority RCT: A structured yoga program (YOG’AVC) was not inferior to a conventional stroke exercise program (FAME) for balance, mobility, and strength—supporting yoga as a viable adjunct/alternative in supervised rehab. PubMed

  • Pilot trial: Within-group balance improved with yoga, suggesting potential but needing larger confirmatory trials. AHA Journals

Cognitive impairment / brain health

  • RCT in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Kundalini yoga improved memory and executive function versus memory training, with mood/visuospatial gains reported in related studies. PubMedPMCLiebert Publishing