Healthy Heart Program
The Healthy Heart Program is a Yoga Therapy program offered at various locations throughout Brazil that demonstrates the effectiveness of Integrative Yoga Therapy in special focus groups.
The Healthy Heart Program was first implemented in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, in 2005 by the Integrative Yoga Institute at Enchanted Mountain Center in partnership with public health services of the Brazilian government. This 12-week program is offered to participants in public health settings who would not normally have access to Yoga-based programs. The program focuses on healing the heart at physical, psycho-emotional and spiritual levels, for the treatment of chronic stress-related conditions commonly seen in Brazilian public health settings including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety and insomnia.
The Healthy Heart Program is based on a program, Yoga for Heart Patients, created and taught by Joseph Le Page beginning in 1995 at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, California.
The Program’s specific goals include:
- Reducing high blood pressure;
- Reducing high blood sugar levels;
- Reducing chronic pain;
- Improving health in the digestive and eliminatory systems;
- Alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression;
- Promoting mental tranquility and improve mood;
- Improving sleep quality;
- Promoting body consciousness and balance;
- Reeducating daily habits and perspectives on health.
Program Description:
- A 12-week program in which each week has a specific theme, including education for holistic living and stress management;
- Administrated by qualified Yoga Therapists with the support of health professionals;
- Measuring blood pressure at the beginning and end of each session, as well as blood sugar levels;
- Use of affirmations and mudras (hand gestures), pranayama (breathing techniques), asana (modified Yoga postures), Yoga Nidra (conscious relaxation) and meditation;
- Group support and sharing.
Some results produced by the Healthy Heart Program include:
