the slow yoga revolution · the slow yoga revolution 5 secrets all yoga teachers need to know: a...

©2018. SUBTLE® HEALTH, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

THE SLOW YOGAREVOLUTION 5 SECRETS ALL YOGA TEACHERSNEED TO KNOW: A QUICKSTART GUIDE FOR YOGAPROFESSIONALS By Kristine Kaoverii Weber,MA, c-IAYT, eRYT500


As a yoga teacher who understands how to teach mindful, subtle practices - your skills are unique.

Out of hundreds of thousands of yoga teachers, very few understand the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic value of slow yoga.

You can find lots of ways to speed up your life. Just head to the Crossfit gym on the corner or the trendy Vinyasa class across town.

BUT SLOW IS RARE AND PRECIOUS.

A SLOW YOGAREVOLUTION

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“(SLOWNESS)is a cultural revolution against the notion that faster is

always better. It’s about seeking to do everything at the right speed. Savoring the hours and minutes rather

than just counting them.”

~ Carl Honore, In Praise of Slowness


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I had been teaching yoga for a while when the Vinyasa trend hit.

I tried. I really tried to teach hot, fast, sweaty yoga. But my heart wasn’t in it. I pushed myself in so many aspects of my life, why would I want to push myself in yoga too? Yoga was my reprieve from the craziness of this world!

But people wanted fast workout yoga – so I just resigned myself to the fact that if I was going to teach slow, I was going to have a small following.

UNTIL I DIDN’T.

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Students were showing up – exhausted, stressed out, frustrated and tired. They sheepishly admitted they didn’t want to work out, they just wanted to rest.

But there are still TONS of people out there who have no idea that moving slow has any value at all. They believe that slow or gentle yoga is for wimps, sick people, old people, or people who aren’t fit enough yet for “Advanced Yoga” (or what might be better called, “yoga exercise")

I KNEW IN MY HEART, THATEVERYONE NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN,BUT I HAD NO CONVINCING WAYOF EXPLAINING IT.

©2018. SUBTLE® HEALTH, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.5


SLOW, MINDFUL YOGAis as important to your health as

cardiovascular exercise.

©2018. SUBTLE® HEALTH, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.6


So, I started studying theneuroscience behind slow practice.

And if you are a yoga teacher who

values and teaches slower practices (even if you get treated like you’re

second rate because you don’t do the flashy stuff), you’ll be happy to know

that the research continues to pile up in your favor:

SLOW, MINDFUL YOGA IS AS IMPORTANT TO

YOUR HEALTH AS CARDIOVASCULAR EXERCISE.

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As a yoga teacher who offers slower practices, you are sitting on a gold mine of health. You have something everyone needs more of. You just need to know how to explain it better.

YOUR WORK IS MOREVALUABLE THAN YOU REALIZE.

KNOW THIS!

In this guide, I’m going to give you some key talking points to help your students better understand the value of what you teach and keep coming back for more.

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Emerging research suggests several important benefits of slow, mindful movement practices. Scientists are starting to understand the benefits slow movement has on important systems involved in the regulation of energy including:

FATIGUED or EXHAUSTED?

#1: SLOWIMPROVES

ENERGYMetabolism

The Immune System

The Pain Response System

Body Temperature Regulation

Hormones

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DEVELOP GREATER PATIENCE,IMPROVE OVERALL HEALTHAND WELL-BEING.

IN A CULTURE THAT VIEWSTIME AS MONEY,

SLOW IS A LUXURY!

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If you have low energy or feel fatigued or exhausted, a visit to your health care provider is in order. And …. slow movement may help reduce fatigue, nourish your body, and improve your energy. Flinging yourself through 55 minutes of sun salutations followed by a power śavasana may provide a good workout, but it won’t give you the same benefits as slow yoga.

SLOW, MINDFUL YOGA TRAINS YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM to build resilience, adapt to stressors, develop greater patience, and improve overall health and well-being. In a culture that views time as money, slow is a luxury!

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Dealing with Chronic Pain?

Perhaps one of the most exciting developments in recent years regarding the benefits of slow movement is in the field of chronic pain. Chronic pain has baffled the medical community. It is a growing public health problem, which has spawned the opioid epidemic.

But science is starting to understand that slow, mindful movement can begin to unravel dysfunctional pain signals, reduce sensitization, and reorganize the nervous system.

#2SLOWREDUCESPAIN

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~ Catherine Bushnell, NIH

“PRACTICING YOGA HAS THE OPPOSITE EFFECTON THE BRAIN AS DOES CHRONIC PAIN.”

This in turn helps to develop a more functional and accurate connection between the body and mind so that chronic pain is reduced. An import aspect of this process is that slow movement fosters the “rest and digest” or parasympathetic nervous system response, which is helpful for reducing chronic pain.

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Holger Cramer, a prolific German yoga researcher, suggests that yoga can significantly ease the symptoms of depression.

#3 SLOW REDUCES

DEPRESSION

Improves nervous system function Decreases stress hormonesActivates attention networksReduces emotional reactivityReduces dysfunctional thoughts Enhances positive psychological characteristics

Here’s what one of his studies says specifically about the benefits of yoga for depression:

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“Meditative forms of yoga are especially

useful.”

~ Holger Cramer, researcher

But Cramer makes sure to let us know that he’s not necessarily

talking about hot, fast, or sweaty

yoga. He writes:

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Lousy Digestion?

The Rest and Digest response of the nervoussystem is essential for digestion. It is a below-the-level of consciousness function of theparasympathetic nervous system.

Through slow, mindful movement, selfcompassion, kindness, and prioritizing self-care, the body can override stress signals and improve digestion.

#4 SLOW DIGESTS(and good digestion heals)

Fitness-based yoga may give you a yoga butt,but it won’t necessarily help you digest yourfood.

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WHICH IS WHY YOUR YOGA TEACHINGIS SO BENEFICIAL TO THEIR HEALTH.

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Diabetes, Heart Disease, Arthritis?

There is some interesting research suggesting that slow, mindful practice can be beneficial to many chronic conditions.

While fast yoga may support cardiovascular fitness, slow yoga practice does something different – it develops "interoceptive awareness,” or the capacity to feel into your body and make good choices based on a deeper self-understanding.

#5: SLOWImproves Chronic Conditions

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Slow yoga may improve interoception, and poor interoception, according to researcher Norman Farb, may be a key factor in many chronic health

challenges.

~ Norman Farb, researcher

“MALADAPTIVE CONSTRUAL OF BODILY SENSATIONSMAY LIE AT THE HEART OF MANY CONTEMPORARY MALADIES.”

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IT’S TIME FOR A SLOW YOGA REVOLUTION.THE WORLD NEEDS YOU!

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As a culture, we are facing a health crisis from the effects of chronic stress, and the medical system doesn’t have all the answers. Stress is relieved by learning how to better regulate your nervous system. As a slow or mindful yoga professional, you can teach this better than anyone!

I hope this short guide helps you to feel even more confident and trusting of your skills and the value of your work.

It’s time for a slow yoga revolution. The world needs YOU!

CALLINGALL SLOW, MINDFULYOGA TEACHERS …

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I love yoga and I love science!

At some point you may feel like you could use more help with this stuff.

Explaining the scientific benefits of slow yoga is not easy. It’s taken me years to curate the research and help my students understand how these slow mindful practices help improve their health and wellbeing and why they should spend time taking care of themselves.So check out my newsletter, my online courses, and my in person trainings. I’d love to have you join our subtle, slow tribe.

Namaste,Kristine Kaoverii Weber

SUPPORT

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IN HOLISTIC HEALTH EDUCATION Training Yoga Professionals and Health Care Providers in Mind-Body Wellness

WHAT IS SUBTLE® YOGA?Subtle® Yoga is a broadly applicable, person-centered approach to yoga practice which can be tailored to differing body types/physical abilities and various contexts – from mental illness to public health.

Subtle® Yoga incorporates six key processes: mindful movement, breathing practices, meditation, awareness of values/ethical engagement, spiritual development and service.

Kristine Kaoverii Weber – MA, C-IAYT, eRYT500, YACEPCommitted to the widespread adoption of yoga as a population health strategy, Kristine Kaoverii Weber, has been studying yoga and holistic healing for nearly 30 years, advocating, speaking and teaching about yoga since 1995, and training educators since 2003. Her organization, Subtle®Health, LLC, provides holistic, mindbody trainings, education, and clinical services with the mission of enhancing community health infrastructure.

EXCELLENCE …

Visit www.subtleyoga.com to learn more.

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