Mind-body medicine has become the focus across the US military. All the major military medical centers are working to integrate this approach on both the patient and staff levels. Commands across the nation have been implementing yoga, meditation, accupuncture, and the creative arts therapies, just to name a few. The main reason for this shift in focus is that the rising cost of healthcare has forced employers to search for “alternative” healthcare options for their employees. The solution? Put the power in the hands of the patient. Teach them the wellness skills they need to live healthy lives and to not have to solely rely on a doctor’s prescription. That is not to say that modern medicine does not have a place. However, if people, especially military and veterans struggling with the hardships of reintegration into civilian life, are more in tune with their mind-body connection and are given the tools to participate in their own healing, then there is less pressure on medical personnel to “fix the problem.” These mind-body approaches have been used successfully for thousands of years within many cultures around the world. In our quest to advance medicine and technology we have lost sight of these basic, natural remedies. The current research is now catching up to what has been known for centuries: A mind-body approach to healthcare works. As a mind-body medicine practitioner working with military patients, I am excited to be a part of this paradigm shift and am hopeful for the future of military medicine.
Tag Archive: military
Creative Arts Therapy plays an Increasing Role in Standard of Care for Patients in Military Settings
This is a giant step forward for the creative arts therapies in the military. Please show your support by posting this info on your own blogs, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts. Thank you!
So happy to see the media paying attention to the success of mind-body therapies in treating trauma symptoms with Veterans and military members.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/for-veterans-a-surge-of-new-treatments-for-trauma/
See how dance has helped this Marine creatively express his military experiences.
How artists are helping to tell the stories of our wounded warriors. Portraits of War
I would like to offer yoga services to active duty military and Veterans in the San Diego area. I am a board certified dance/movement therapist and registered yoga instructor. I currently teach yoga and meditation to active duty military in a residential substance abuse program. I find that many of these individuals come to treatment with resistance and preconceived notions about yoga. The majority of them leave treatment loving yoga and wanting to continue practicing after they leave. I believe that a yoga class just for military and Veterans might ease some of the fear and uncertainty about practicing yoga in the civilian world.
If there is interest in this area, please feel free to respond to this blog or contact me individually. I look forward to hearing from you!
Allison
The Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs are utilizing the creative arts therapies on an increasingly regular basis to aid troops and Veterans on the road to recovery and healing. See this recent article published by the DOD.
It is nice to see that there is continued attention in the media on how yoga and meditation has been helpful to service men and women in coping with combat symptoms. Yoga Helps Soldiers with PTSD
