Biographie de Lou de Vitry

Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.

B.K.S Iyengar

Homepage » What is therapeutic yoga ?

Yoga is increasing recognized by science

Modern medicine has a tendency to focus on symptoms and to try to generalise treatments so that they can be applied to the greatest population. This vision is changing, with a new era of medical care that takes into account different types of yoga (Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga) in the process of the patient’s recovery.

With this new vision, medicine does not only focus itself on the disease but also on the patient and their specificities. How do you manage your pain ? How does it manifest itself ? How to deal with it ? How do you manage not to be in conflict with your own body ? These questions are complex and difficult to understand with modern medicine only.

What are the effects of yoga in hospitals and clinics

Yoga, breathing exercises, meditation… These tools can absolutely change the way a patient sees their disease, either by using them in a preventive manner or during after treatment of the disease. Practicing yoga allows the patient to focus on something else than the fact of being ill and understanding the illness differently.

The body is not the enemy, it’s a part of us that needs to be tamed. The main goal is to find–through the yoga practice–pain-free spaces in the patient’s body and create a zone of comfort and peace for the mind and body.

“Discovering that you will have to live with HIV all your life is a real shock. Everything is turned upside down: you do not know what to think or do. The cancer follows soon tthereafter. Although medecine has evolved leaps and bounds on the subject, and drugs are increasingly effective, it remains a source of internse stress. Dark thoughts, and the way our bodies react to this intense stress, are common side effects. The introduction to Lou and Restorative Yoga has allowed me to reduce my stress level and especially cope with my depression. My anxiety has dropped dramatically and I have found in practicing yoga with Lou a break from my illness. Simple techniques have allowed me to relieve some of the side effects of repeated treatments and soothe so-called neuropathies. I have also been able to rest and slowly reclaim my body after years of fighting it. A big thank you to Lou for listening, for her generous approach to yoga and especially individuals.”

-J.C

Therapeutic Yoga : how to deal with serious diseases

If practicing therapeutic yoga is recommended to help recovery from a number of illnesses, it is important to highlight that this particular type of yoga is highly recommended for serious diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, cancer or HIV.

How does yoga support patients through cancer, AIDS, or heavy diseases ?

Helping people manage through serious illnesses is a complex subject, because the understanding of the disease, the course of treatment and determining the right yoga practice are intertwined.

Whether it is for cancer, AIDS, fibromyalgia or another serious illness, the main thing is to offer the patient a personalised yoga program that they will be able to practice in personal classes or at their house to help them release and manage the pain.

How to deal with car accidents and spinal problems with therapeutic yoga ?

It is quite common to see people attend a yoga class after having been in a car accident. Weakened joints, torn or strained muscles, bone problems… there exist a lot of reasons to want to take care of our body.

Yoga helps ease the pain but also regain some of the lost dexterity or flexibility of the patient. It helps the patient push body in the right direction toward recovery and acceptance. The same can be said for people with back or spine problems because of chronic scoliosis or a work-related condition.

How to decide which type of therapeutic yoga to choose ?

So in the end, which one to choose ? It depends on the patient and of the specialist that will guide them in their recovery.

“Chronic pain, anxiety, muscular problems… Cancer touches you where you least expect it. It is there, everywhere, in your body, in your mind, in your daily life, a living space just for oneself, a refuge, becomes extremely difficult. The introduction to Restorative Yoga with Lou was a revelation. My illness became a friend, I learned through classes to accept ir: Lou allowed me to find a form of serenity. My general condition has improved. I haveno more chronic pain, I can use my shoulder, I breathe better… After 2 years, my disease is stable and I can only recommend to people with chronic diseases, immunodeficiencies or cancers to come and practice Restorative Yoga in this haven of peace that is Lou’s studio.”

-KAATJE

What is the difference between Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga ?

This is quite a normal question to ask, because these two types of yoga are rather . They both focus on a limited number of poses that are held for a longer duration of time

Both have the same founding principles : breathing, feeling and discovering one’s internal consciousness. They both put patients at peace with strong or violent emotions in order to overcome them.

Restorative Yoga is more about repairing the body. It is used to address joint problems, organ strain and other ailments. The use of props allows the body to relax and find a place of harmony.

Le Yin Yoga se concentre sur les tissus conjonctifs, le but est trouver la paix intérieure rapidement dans des positions avec un léger inconfort. C’est une pratique recommandé pour lubrifier les articulations et gagner en flexibilité.

Yin Yoga is more about connective tissues and how to find inner peace in uncomfortable situations. It is recommended to lubricate joints and improve flexibility.

Therapeutic Yoga and Lou de Vitry

Therapeutic yoga is special for Lou. This type of yoga has helped her repair her own body. She feels in sync with the idea of Restorative Yoga. She accompanies her students during and after their illnesses so they can once again accept their bodies. She wants to help them find a safe space without suffering, where the sickness becomes a friend so the student can put themselves on the path to recovery.