What is it about yoga that makes such a significant difference in well-being for people with ADHD? Today, host Rachel invites guest Emily Mariola to help answer that question. Emily is a Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist and studio owner who recently completed her 1000-hr research project on Yoga for ADHD.

In this episode, Emily shares yoga practices that help those with ADHD learn to self-regulate both on and off the mat—from asana, to breath work, meditation, and use of drishti. She also encourages yoga teachers and practitioners to view disruptive behavior with more compassion.

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• Describing ADHD, its challenges and opportunities [4:22]
• How Emily’s thesis project came about [10:56]
• Yoga practices for ADHD [16:49]
• Sun salutations: discipline & patterned behavior [21:52]
• Suggestions when struggling with stillness [25:31]
• Fixed gaze: focus & impulse control [31:14]
• Yoga for emotional regulation [33:27]
• Breath work for regulation, and a cue to internal state [38:34]
• Recognizing ADHD behaviors with compassion [44:23]
• Key outcomes of Emily’s research project [49:45]
• Final takeaways [54:37]

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• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Connect with Emily Mariola:

Facebook | Instagram | Flex Yoga Wooster

You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-134.

And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com.

To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today host Rachel dives deep into Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with returning guest Dr. Nikki Tugnet FRACP. We discuss common symptoms, what distinguishes RA from other inflammatory and auto-immune conditions, the role Western medicine can play, and – most importantly – how yoga can help.

Listen in to learn how yoga teachers best serve students with RA, how to sneak more mindfulness and body awareness into your classes, and the vital importance of making space for rest.

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• The background on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [2:22]
• Common symptoms [10:50]
• Uncontrolled RA versus remission [14:32]
• Western medical interventions [16:00]
• How yoga can help: stress release [19:28]
• How yoga can help: breath work & visualization [26:01]
• How yoga can help: meditation [28:27]
• Managing flareups [29:47]
• How yoga can help: easing morning stiffness [36:28]
• How yoga can help: standing, seated & floor options for asana [41:01]
• Guiding students to be more willing to rest [43:26]
• A general class flow for RA [48:38]
• Challenges of working with RA [50:51]
• Final takeaways [52:50]

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• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Previous Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episodes:
  • 112: Yoga & Autoimmune Conditions
• A comprehensive scientific evidence-based impact of yoga in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
• Pawanmuktasana Joint Rotation Series
• Connect with Dr. Nikki Tugnet:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Nikki Tugnet

You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-133.

And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com.

To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today host Rachel and returning guest and Yoga Medicine Teacher Valerie Knopik PhD explore a recent research paper on the topic of interoception (Voss et al: Mind-body practices, interoception and pain: a scoping review of behavioral and neural correlates).

In this episode, we discuss the many ways yoga teachers can guide students to becoming more informed inhabitants of their body, and how honing that skill of interoception seems to help manage all kinds of pain. Listen in to learn more.

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• Overview of the scoping review paper [5:02]
• Limitations of the study [9:36]
• Defining interception [13:11]
• Challenges of studying yoga interventions [16:45]
• Interesting takeaways: interoception as a trainable skill [20:02]
• Yoga tools help pain management (whether used deliberately or not) [29:06]
• Guiding students in the experience of being their bodies [38:19]
• Other takeaways [40:59]

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• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Mind-body practices, interoception and pain: a scoping review of behavioral and neural correlates, Voss et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37939212/
• Mental Health & Wellness Online Training
• Yoga Medicine® Online: Interoception & Pain Research Monthly Dose
• Yoga Medicine® Podcast:
  • Previous episodes on Pain Science:
    • 15: Shifting Persistent Pain with Marnie Hartman, DPT, CSCS
    • 64: Impactful Pain Strategies
  • Previous episodes with Valerie Knopik PhD:
    • 49: Epigenetics, Mental Health & Yoga
    • 79: The Neuroscience of Resilience
• Connect with Valerie Knopik:

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Yoga Medicine Online Teacher

You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-132.

And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com.

To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.