A Message from Violet Pasztor Wilson on Yoga Therapy
Namaste, Greetings and Salutations!
Welcome to Summer 2015!
Welcome to Summer 2015!
Somebody asked me once if yoga is therapy…and I had to answer “yes”. Yoga origins was (and is) to promote regeneration and extension of not only our limbs, but also our life-force and energy systems. Yoga is therapy to a degree, however, the modern world has morphed yoga on such a wide platform of styles that the origin of why we practice or teach has been lost. Thanks to yoga therapy, we can take the floor back to promote yoga in a way that surpasses the superficial trend that seems to have manipulated the masses over the past decades.
I’m so honored with the energies delivered from our members about yoga therapy in this issue of Canadian Yogi.
I’m so honored with the energies delivered from our members about yoga therapy in this issue of Canadian Yogi.
When our editor asked if I would like to contribute an article about yoga therapy, I responded that what I’d really like to talk about is the rise of dementia, mood disorders, ADHD, ADD and depression in the western world and, how yoga (therapy) can help. Upsetting to me is the inability of the Western medical profession to cope with the staggering number of aging baby boomers developing dementia as well as the growing numbers of young people with ADHD and depression.
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I’ve learned that here in the west, the solution to these particular issues is drug based. The retirement homes are doping up residents to keep them passive. It is the cheapest and fastest way to cope with aggressive behavior. My own father was doped up for a few years after he developed dementia and, at that point, I lost my father…he was no longer mentally present, even though his body was there in front of me.
Kids are being doped up to keep them in line while in grade school and then when they become adults, they are taken off the ‘speed’ and their brains are then in a depressed state because they lack dopamine. So then we give the young adult anti-depression drugs to combat the depression. It gets worse if they party (drink or do recreational drugs). Again, I know first hand as I have a beautiful niece of 25 that was prescribed ritalin for years and years and, now, remains indefinitely on anti-depressants.
Kids are being doped up to keep them in line while in grade school and then when they become adults, they are taken off the ‘speed’ and their brains are then in a depressed state because they lack dopamine. So then we give the young adult anti-depression drugs to combat the depression. It gets worse if they party (drink or do recreational drugs). Again, I know first hand as I have a beautiful niece of 25 that was prescribed ritalin for years and years and, now, remains indefinitely on anti-depressants.
What is happening in North America that masses of individuals are suffering with dementia, ADD, ADHD and depression? Am I the only one that is asking the question? I think not.
A few years ago, I heard Maggie Trudeau give a lecture after the publication of her book , Changing my Mind. She gave a very nice speech about how proper medication helps her depression.
At the end of the lecture, we were invited to ask questions. However, because Maggie gives lengthy answers, my question never saw the light of day. My question was, “ In a world where we hear about climate change, oil spills, war, political marketing, liberal rights, bees disappearing, rainforests disappearing, coral reefs dying, young people killing each other over nothing (and the list goes on), how is it that we can be HAPPY?" The masses work 9-5 for 30 years, go, go, go, work and then retire at 65. Think about it, a life of stress, commuting, sitting in vehicles for thousands of hours in a lifetime…what happens when it all stops? How do we cope?
Are drugs really the answer to these issues? Are these conditions that eventually get all of us, at some point, either early in life or later on?
A few years ago, I heard Maggie Trudeau give a lecture after the publication of her book , Changing my Mind. She gave a very nice speech about how proper medication helps her depression.
At the end of the lecture, we were invited to ask questions. However, because Maggie gives lengthy answers, my question never saw the light of day. My question was, “ In a world where we hear about climate change, oil spills, war, political marketing, liberal rights, bees disappearing, rainforests disappearing, coral reefs dying, young people killing each other over nothing (and the list goes on), how is it that we can be HAPPY?" The masses work 9-5 for 30 years, go, go, go, work and then retire at 65. Think about it, a life of stress, commuting, sitting in vehicles for thousands of hours in a lifetime…what happens when it all stops? How do we cope?
Are drugs really the answer to these issues? Are these conditions that eventually get all of us, at some point, either early in life or later on?
As yogis we have our work cut out for us. Yoga therapists play an important role in offering natural healing to bodily-systems and yoga teachers have the ability to teach children how to self-regulate so they may lead happy, wholesome healthy lives. We can learn to slow down daily and balance our somatic nervous systems and teach one another before our brains just simply short circuit. Let's talk about this in the next issue of Canadian Yogi.
Let's get talking, and discuss why and how YOGA can help. |
Blessings & light,
Violet Pasztor Wilson
Violet Pasztor Wilson