Therapeutic Yoga: Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit

TFRD Kaohsiung Branch hosted a “Therapeutic Yoga Experience” workshop aimed at enhancing caregivers’ physical well-being and alleviating strain caused by prolonged fatigue. The event drew participation from 19 individuals, including patients and their family members.

The class began with the instructor guiding everyone through a warm-up routine, practicing abdominal breathing to help relieve stress. Participants also stretched their shoulders, neck, and waist to relax muscles that had become stiff from caregiving. The instructor emphasized the importance of core muscle strength, which is crucial for reducing back and waist problems.

The instructor then led participants in a series of resistance band exercises designed to build muscle strength. Notably, these exercises mirrored the real-life movements caregivers perform when assisting patients, enabling them to develop and apply targeted muscle groups effectively. This approach helps reduce the risk of injury while ensuring safe and efficient patient handling. In addition, the instructor guided the group through a mindfulness meditation session, encouraging slow, deep breathing to help alleviate psychological stress.

This yoga workshop provided caregivers with an opportunity to learn how to take care of their own physical health in their daily caregiving work and reduce the harm caused by long-term fatigue. It served not only as physical exercise but also as spiritual nourishment, greatly benefiting the physical and mental health of caregivers.

Translator: David Lee (Becker Muscular Dystrophy)