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CAM Approaches

Complementary And Alternative Medicine
Yoga Therapy And Instruction To Enhance Traditional Methods.
Healing Pathways Medical Clinic is distinguished by its integrative and progressive application of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods, including Yoga and other disciplines that can greatly enhance conventional therapy. Our clinic’s founder, Dr. Paul Copeland, is an esteemed, highly trained Yoga therapist and teacher as well as a psychotherapist, psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist. He oversees our staff of Yoga therapists, who have helped many of our clients achieve the blissful state of relaxation and inner focus they needed in order to attain their desired psychological changes.Yoga is a mind-body practice with origins in ancient Indian philosophy. The many styles of Yoga that people use for health and wellness typically combine physical postures, breathing techniques and relaxation methods. It is primarily intended to increase relaxation, and to balance the mind, body and spirit naturally, without medications. Yoga is considered safe in healthy people when practiced appropriately, with few if any side effects. We do not endorse Yoga as a substitute for more traditional care, but many physicians recommend Yoga to complement prescribed medical, psychiatric or therapeutic interventions.

Restorative Yoga and meditation are conscious body-mind relaxation processes that elevate mood, reduce anxiety and alleviate stress, thereby leading to overall improvements in quality of life. By integrating the ancient practice of Yoga with contemporary psychology therapeutic methods, we help Healing Pathways clients achieve physical and emotional equilibrium. Some scientific research has indicated that Yoga may stimulate increased brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter activity, low levels of which are associated with depression and anxiety.

Federal government recognition of CAM approaches
The federal government recognizes the validity of therapeutic approaches to health care outside the realm of medicine. It has established the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a unit of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to conduct and support research, train CAM researchers, and publicize information about CAM.

CAM is a diverse group of medical and health care systems, practices and products that are not generally considered to be a part of conventional medicine. Although the benefits of some CAM therapies have not yet been scientifically documented, researchers have established a firm base of evidence endorsing many CAM approaches. The therapists at Healing Pathways Medical Clinic use only established or emerging evidence-based CAM therapies, in combination with conventional medical and psychotherapeutic methods.

CAM practices can be classified within four major domains: mind-body medicine, including Yoga, meditation and prayer; biologically based practices such as herbal products and dietary supplements; manipulative and body-based practices, such as chiropractic manipulation and massage; and energy medicine using energy fields — biofield therapies using pressure or manipulation and bio bioelectromagnetic-based therapies involving use of magnetic or electrical fields.

Yoga is the predominant evidence-based complementary therapy offered here at Healing Pathways. Yoga is a practice that involves stretching, meditation and breathing exercises to achieve various benefits. Ujjay, Bhastrika, and Sudarshan Kriya breathing techniques that are part of Yogic practice have been shown to relieve symptoms related to stress.

Our experienced therapists consistently demonstrate the helpfulness of Yoga in attaining and maintaining general well-being, balance and peace of mind. Our approach is based on the principles advocated by the International Association Of Yoga Therapists and other well-motivated organizations, including the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. We perform Yoga therapy according to best-practice integrative medicine standards.

Yoga Treatment for ADHD
Research indicates that Yoga therapy is an effective complimentary treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Children who have ADHD experience more stress and anxiety than other children do. Yoga therapy can help level the temperament of children who are taking medication to stabilize their behavior. Parents of children who are learning Yoga as a complementary ADHD treatment have reported multiple beneficial changes, including improvements in self-esteem, relationships with family members and friends, improved sleep patterns, and better ability to concentrate at school. A growing body of evidence indicates that complementary approaches used in combination with conventional psychological therapies may be helpful in treating bipolar disorder.

Some research suggests that in addition to improving mood and sense of well-being, Yoga may counteract stress; diminish anxiety, depression and insomnia; improve muscle relaxation; stimulate increased lung capacity; and influence reductions in heart rate and blood pressure.

Yoga Variations
Yoga exists in various styles, with differing poses, paces and routines. Viniyoga is among the styles offered at Healing Pathways. Viniyoga adapts the various means and methods of practice to the unique condition, needs and interests of the individual. This style of Yoga can help individuals with physical limitations manage their condition, reduce symptoms, restore balance, increase vitality and improve their mental attitude and overall outlook. Viniyoga is, above all, adaptive. Our therapists can devise challenging developmental practices for the healthiest and most athletic student, as well as gentle therapeutic practices to nurture clients with physical disabilities.

Yoga Classes
Healing Pathways not only performs Yoga therapy for individuals, but also operates a well-rounded curriculum of Yoga classes. If you are thinking about signing up for a Yoga session or class here at Healing Pathways Medical Clinic, please make certain that your physician has given you medical clearance to participate in either an individual session or group class. And be sure to coordinate your CAM practices with your doctor.

We invite you to learn about our mainstream, fully recognized forms of treatment and our special services, which include independent educational assessments and psycho-educational testing, and use of psychopharmacology in close conjunction with a board-certified behavior analyst in the treatment of individuals with severe and disabling behaviors and conditions.

To all of you, we say “om shanti.” Om is the sacred sound of the universe, and shanti means peace. We wish you peace, good health and happiness.