Yoga4NHS & Yoga4Health
What is Yoga4NHS?
Yoga in Healthcare Alliance (YIHA) is a UK registered charity dedicated to integrating the benefits of yoga into healthcare; working with the NHS and other professionals to help patients make lifestyle changes. YIHA was commissioned by the NHS to create the 10 week Yoga4Health social prescribing programme (see below). The success of Yoga4Health led to the NHS requesting a staff wellbeing programme to address burnout and reduce sickness absence rates. Yoga4NHS was successfully piloted between February - October 2023 with 100% of staff who completed an evaluation stating they would recommend Yoga4NHS to colleagues.
What will it involve?
Each session is one hour, class following on from the success of Yoga4Health, NHS staff will be led through simple yoga postures again using chair & mat with each week's breath practice increasing in complexity.
Staff are encouraged to share the breath practices with a colleague and have an opportunity to become a Breath Ambassador should they wish.
Yoga4NHS is accredited by the Royal College of GPs and eligible for 6 hours of CPD for applicable roles.
How can NHS staff join?
Please approach your line manager or wellbeing manager to see if an in person course will be starting at your NHS location.
You can also click YIHA link below to find out when the next online Yoga4NHS programme is starting.
Click here for more information.
I am looking forward to offering Yoga4NHS, my offerings will be in person only classes.
Yoga4Health
What is Yoga4Health?
YIHA was commissioned by the NHS to create the 10-week Yoga4Health social prescribing programme which is delivered by Yoga4Health teachers, including me, in the UK and abroad.
Paul Fox, Chief Operating Officer, YIHA says
“The Yoga4Health programme is about empowering people to discover how much better they can feel by adopting a simple daily yoga practice. A large proportion of illness could be avoided or mitigated if people became more active and changed unhealthy behaviours for healthy ones. Activating patients to feel they are in control of their health and can take steps to boost their physical and mental wellbeing is key. At the same time, our programme aims to take them on a beautiful journey into their body, breath and mind to become more accepting, aware, mindful and kind to themselves. It is self-care by tapping into this powerful mind-body medicine: yoga”.
*Click to learn more about the Yoga In Healthcare Alliance
Who is Yoga4Health for?
There is significant research demonstrating that yoga practice can have a positive effect on health, happiness and wellbeing. The Yoga4Health programme is designed by experts to help people improve their health and wellbeing in a supportive environment if you:
- Suffer from stress or anxiety or mild depression
- Need to improve your heart health
- Need to lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes
- Suffering from social isolation
The Westminster University evaluation of the Yoga4Health programme concluded that…
“Patient reported outcome data demonstrated significant improvements from baseline to post-intervention on all outcome measures, which were sustained 3 months after the yoga4health programme. Service users showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful decreases in perceived stress, anxiety, and depression suggesting the mental health benefits of the course. Significant improvements were also found for patient activation (confidence in managing one’s health), wellbeing and social connectedness, highlighting the programme’s positive psychological and social benefits.”
What will it involve?
Each of the 10 sessions will last two hours, including:
- Breathing practices
- Simple yoga postures
- Meditation and Mindfulness
- Relaxation
- Discussion at the end
How can I join?
There are 2 ways to join the programme:
- Discuss with your GP or Social Prescribing Link Worker
- Request Self Referral form at: yvonneyoga4health@gmail.com
Yoga4Health Blog
Read my Yogamatters blog and see some of the yoga postures you will experience on the Yoga4Health programme