Pleasanton, CA – Local yoga instructor, Marcia Conroy, has developed area yoga classes to help Multiple Sclerosis patients with their symptoms. According to ScienceDaily (June 10, 2004), six months of yoga significantly reduced fatigue in people with Multiple Sclerosis, per an Oregon Health & Science University study.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive illness that affects the nerves in the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the central nervous system. MS affects over 400,000 people in the United States and may affect 2.5 million people worldwide. Multiple Sclerosis affects 2-3 times as many women as men.
The Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis class that Conroy teaches, at Downtown Yoga in Pleasanton, is specifically designed for people with MS. This yoga class is a series of gentle stretching movements that can help to reduce stress within the body, strengthen endurance and reduce fatigue. It also expands the range of motion and flexibility and improves balance. In addition it reduces muscle spasms, improves bowel and bladder control, enhances and enlivens energy channels, and explores one’s full potential. The class at Downtown Yoga is a very individualized, custom yoga using many props such as blankets, bolsters, various size blocks, straps, sticky mats, sand bags, wedges, chairs and the wall, to assist the student into a posture or stretch. Any MS patient needs to check with their physician before taking a yoga class.
“Yoga can help anyone be more focused in living a balanced and healthy life.” Says Marcia Conroy, “ I help my students to identify their strengths and weaknesses, offering modifications to poses in a step by step progression.”
Marcia’s yoga classes assist all levels of students to develop flexibility, stamina, strength, range of motion and balance. She also instructs classes of gentle yoga and chair yoga, which focuses on seniors, as well as sufferers of arthritis, back pain and anyone needing to gently stretch and strengthen their muscles. For more information, contact Marcia Conroy at mconroyj@comcast.net or 925.462.5285.
