Pain Management and Neuroplasticity Using Yoga, Meditation, and Mindfulness – Betsy Shandalov

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Research shows yoga, meditation and mindfulness not only help chronic pain but also change the brain structure on how pain is perceived and its impact on overall wellness. In this session, you’ll learn evidence-based interventions to transform the nervous system around your clients’ pain, such as: breathing techniques to activate the parasympathetic nervous system; active and restorative yoga poses; yoga and meditation to help clients find balance of mind and body; changing energy levels to help with pain management; and individualized pain treatment plans that incorporate yoga, meditation and mindfulness to help clients be balanced in their body and brain throughout the day! 

1. Demonstrate how chronic pain can have long term effects on the brain and body.
2. Demonstrate how chronic pain can affect the nervous system and how we can use yoga, meditation, mindfulness and breathwork to transform the nervous system around chronic pain.
3. Perform breathing techniques to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and integrate active and restorative yoga poses seated, standing and lying down.
4. Create individualized client treatment plans that incorporate yoga, meditation and mindfulness to help clients be balanced in their body and brain throughout the day.
5. Support the role of self-compassion and self-care in the treatment of chronic pain and specific forms to propose to clients.
6. Implement proper coding tips to improve reimbursement when using Integrative Medicine.

Chronic Pain and the Body

• Long term effects on the brain and body
• How does it affect our brain?
• Neuroplasticity and chronic pain
• Link to depression and anxiety

Transform the Nervous System Around Chronic Pain

• Symptoms of chronic pain nervous system dysfunction
• Yoga, mindfulness and meditation
• Peer reviewed studies on benefits of yoga and meditation
• Diaphragmatic breathing

Breathing Techniques that Calm

• Activate parasympathetic nervous system
  • Diaphragmatic breathing
  • “Take Five” and alternate nostril breathing
  • Yoga poses for all mobility types: seated, standing and lying down.

Individualized Treatment Plans

• Balancing the brain and body throughout the day
  • Case study: chronic pain clients
  • Include one active, one restorative and one form of breathwork

Role of Self-Compassion and Self-Care in Treatment of Chronic Pain

• Evidence-based research to support
• Case studies on self-compassion and self-care with chronic pain
• Forms of self-compassion and self-care: exercise
• Building immune system vs break it down

Integrative Medicine: Improve Reimbursement

• Implement proper coding tips 
• How are yoga therapists being trained?
• Future studies
• Reimbursement