yoga

Brooke Artesi – Adaptive Yoga Teacher

In past Inspirations blogs we have highlighted the work of inspiring yoga instructors – Marcia Danzig who teaches Yoga for Amputees and Yoga for Children and  William Amos, teaching those who need the calming balance of yoga to deal with PTSD.   Now we have our own certified  Yoga teacher –  Brooke Artesi, CPO/LPO and owner/CEO of Sunshine Prosthetics & Orthotics.

Brooke completed her 200 hour teacher training under Michelle Petersen, the director of BEYOGA, focusing on structural alignment, the breath and a steady focus to the practice.  Yoga can open the practitioner to the limitless energy within, teaching patience, compassion and self-acceptance.

 

“I’ve been doing yoga since college. I did the teacher training to deepen my practice but also to use it for the amputee community. I want to use it for support groups and mentoring at Camp No Limits.”

Brooke continued her yoga practice through her pregnancies, focusing on balance and understanding the adaptations that can be made to adjust for physical abilities.  She brings this understanding and knowledge to her O&P patients and will bring it to those practicing yoga with her.

Sharing her yoga practice with those with physical limitations allows Brooke to encourage and guide them towards self-awareness, acceptance, and stress and anxiety reduction.  Being able to adapt the postures to the student’s physical capabilities brings yoga to those who thought they could not do the poses and exercises.

Wanting to share her passion for yoga and all of its mind-body benefits with those who thought they were not capable of the practice makes Brooke Artesi our Inspiration.

 

Note: Brooke has volunteered instruction sessions for non-profit groups.  To download an Adaptive Seated Sun Salutation guide, click here.

Bill Amos – Brave Yoga for PTSD

photo courtesy of Bill Amos Photography

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. The anxiety after such trauma may decrease with time but if the person continues to have difficulty adjusting and coping,  interfering with day-to-day functioning and causing significant problems in social or work situations and in relationships, finding an effective treatment can be critical.  (mayoclinic.org)

Bill Amos is a native of Northern New Jersey who was diagnosed with PTSD following a traumatic accident.  His early love of nature landed him a kayaking instructor position creating long hours in beautiful places but in cramped conditions, resulting in tingly toes and tight hamstrings. In 2007, wanting to enjoy all of his time on the water he took the advice of a friend to try yoga.

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Kelsey Koch – Inspirational Yogi

kelsey-koch-main

Born without a tibia in her left leg, doctors decided to amputate below the knee when Kelsey Koch was 9 months old to improve her mobility later in life.  Always an active child, the amputation eventually caused a curvature in her spine.  When she was 22, her trainer suggested practicing yoga to alleviate her scoliosis and back pain.

“Yoga makes you work both sides of your body. I’m so dominant on my right side, so I first started yoga to hopefully strengthen out my left side.” (Self magazine story)

 

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Dan Nevins – Wounded Warrior, Yoga Teacher, Motivational Speaker

Dan Nevins (Jim Campbell omlightphotography.com)

Dan Nevins (Jim Campbell omlightphotography.com)

In 2004, during combat in Iraq, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated beneath Dan Nevins’ vehicle. He lost both legs below the knee, and lives with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the emotional wounds of war.  He also lives with determination, resiliency, a positive attitude and a passion for helping other wounded vets do the same through yoga.

“I just remember having this revelation that I’m alive, I’m alive! That I better do something to keep it that way.”

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Marsha Danzig Update – Yoga for Amputees

Marsha Danzig Yoga for Amputees - Sunshine Prosthetics and Orthotics, Wayne NJIt’s been a while since we first wrote about Marsha Danzig, yoga instructor, trainer, dancer, choreographer and total inspiration.   Facing personal hardships such as a below the knee amputation at age 13 due to cancer and chemotherapy-caused kidney damage and eventual transplant, yoga became her bridge to connecting her physical and spiritual self and reach out to others who need to discover and reach their potential. You can read that entire post here.

Since that time, a LOT of exciting happenings have occurred.

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