| Deadline
is Thursday for stress management class signup
Younger people with insomnia, older people challenged by chronic illness, men living in constant pain, post menopausal women trying to get back on track, people of all ages who have stress in their lives these are just a few of the types of people who have asked me about mindfulness based stress reduction as a means to manage their symptoms and live a fuller life,” says Deanna English, RN, RYT instructor for the upcoming series of classes on stress management using the principles of the mindfulness based stress reduction program. 
According to English, anyone interested can attend the first class at no charge to better make the decision about participating in the series. “Everyone needs to pre-register. Those who know they want take the series and those who’d like to attend the initial class on September 7 before making a commitment. Interested people should call the hospital, 962-3251, to preregister by next Thursday, September 1. The sessions will be offered immediately following the yoga classes. People can attend one or both. English is owner of Emergence, an integrative health service in Grangeville that combines nontraditional health resources such as yoga, meditation and deep breathing with traditional western medicine to help people achieve a balanced, healthy life. “Sometimes people get so used to living with pain or living frenzied lives that they don’t step back long enough to learn there are techniques that can be used to help people cope more effectively. I conducted the class last spring in Orofino and the participants have given me a lot of positive feedback. They are effectively using the strategies they learned in class,” said English. St Mary’s Hospital is pairing with Emergence to offer the eight week course in Cottonwood on Wednesday evenings during September and October. A minimum of ten people must be enrolled to offer the course. “The cost of $200 covers 16 hours of instruction, a half day retreat, a workbook and course CDs. When you break it down it costs about $10/hour to participate. I always tell people it’s an investment in themselves. The payoff may be a healthier life which has no price tag,” said English, who first became interested in the MBSR program after hearing the results people were achieving in the program. “My bouts with severe pain remind me to practice what I leaned in the stress clinic. And it still works!” said Gladys McGauley, age 88, as quoted in Jon Kabat-Zinn’s book, Full Catastrophe Living. Kabat-Zinn developed the program through the University of Massachusetts Medical Center to serve patients with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, insomnia, back and neck pain and other chronic illnesses. “It’s also used for people who want to learn how to deal with stress more effectively and gain greater control and balance in their lives,” said English. Registration is limited to 25 registrants. The $200 registration fee covers all classes, the half day retreat, the workbook and a set of CDs. To register call SMHC during business hours. For more information on mindfulness based stress reduction or integrative health visit English’s website: www.emergence-mindfulness.com Yoga series offered St. Mary’s Hospital will offer a series of eight yoga classes at the Cottonwood Community Center this fall. The classes will be held on Wednesday evenings, September 7 through October 26th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. There is no need to pre-register. Participants should bring a yoga mat or borrow/purchase one from the instructor. They should wear stretchy clothes and bring a belt. Sue Lattin, Registered Yoga Teacher, offered a series of classes last fall which attracted many people of all ages. “It’s open to men, as well as women,” said Lattin. “Yoga is for every age and every ability. It’s an excellent means of safely stretching muscles, ligaments, tendons and the fascia sheath that covers your muscles. It is a way to achieve and maintain flexibility and can be important to an overall mental and physical health program.” Cost for the eight week series is $56 or a $10 drop in fee per class. Fees are collected at the beginning of class. “People who didn’t take the prior series are just as welcome as those who attended last spring. Anyone is invited to attend the whole series or drop in whenever it’s convenient,” said Jeanette Gorman, SMHC Community Relations Coordinator. “We had the interest and are happy to offer yoga once again.” The stress management class will be offered from 6:45 to 8:45 immediately following the yoga class. Interested people can take one class or the other or join both. |
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