Reduce Stress with Aerial Yoga in Kansas City
I founded Mindful Child Wellness + Aerial Yoga as an alternative and/or supplement to traditional psychotherapy. I believe lifestyle factors including nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mind-body practices such as aerial yoga has a profound impact on children’s mental health. Aerial yoga and mindfulness have been instrumental in my own well-being. I am passionate about sharing it as an intervention to enhance mental health in children.
Aerial yoga is more than physical postures. It is a holistic and integrative system of practices that improves well-being. When it is taught correctly and consistently, with mindfulness practices, it can change the actual structure of and function of the brain.
There are several types of yoga, each focuses on different aspects of the yoga practice such as breath work, postures, meditation, and ethics. Thus, it is not surprising that as a psychologist, I noticed the associations between yoga and psychology, including aerial yoga’s therapeutic properties to address unmet needs in today’s mental health treatment techniques.
My personal yoga and mindfulness practice has given me tools to manage stress and to overcome obstacles such as tearing my hip, not once, but twice. When faced with the physical challenge of being unable to walk or do yoga poses, I practiced mindfulness and meditation to help reduce stress.
How Aerial Yoga Reduces Stress
There are multiple ways in which aerial yoga reduces stress. One research mechanism is that yoga helps regulate the stress response systems in the body such as the autonomic nervous system. In any system in the body, prolonged stress and inflammation can cause negative consequences and contribute to the development of mental health issues. Yoga uses both a top-down and bottoms-up communication system between the body and brain. The bottoms-up refers to input from the body going up to the brain such as yoga poses and deep breathing, which creates a sense of safety and grounding in the body. Top-down refers to messages going from the brain to body such as an affirmation or intention for your yoga practice. Through these pathways, yoga can mitigate the stress response.
Tips for Finding an Aerial Yoga Studio in Kansas City
I suggest taking aerial yoga classes from credentialed teachers and studios. Look for teachers registered with Yoga Alliance. At our studio in Kansas City, we hire only the best aerial teachers and occupational therapists with a background in pediatrics and movement therapy. Join us for an aerial class, aerial yoga camp, or sign-up for our kid’s yoga teacher training.