INDIANAPOLIS — Every nine seconds, someone in the United States suffers from a brain injury. In fact, data shows that more than 5 million Americans are living with a disability due to a brain injury, but a new wellness program i being used to help these individuals mentally and physically.
Love Your Brain was created by professional snowboarder Kevin Pearce after he sustained a nearly fatal brain injury as he was training for the Olympics in 2010.
Pearce's program is now used across the country to help with traumatic brain injury recovery, including right here at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI).
"Brain injury doesn't discriminate," Wendy Waldman says. "It can happen to anyone."
Every year 3.5 million children and adults sustain an acquired brain injury, according to RHI.
"It's often called the silent epidemic because you can't see it and the actual incident is not captured," Waldman says.
The hospital is using a six-week program of evidence based yoga to help those who have suffered from an acquired brain injury.
"Typically, many brain injury survivors will have neck issues, but they will also have balance difficulties and dizziness and a lot of postures will really help to elongate the neck, strengthen the core and really help," Registered Nurse and Love Your Brain Yoga instructor Karen Thompson said.
The structure of this yoga is to calm and focus the mind, improve strength and balance and talk as a group based on empowering themes.
Along with those with brain injuries, RHI’s Kathy Ruggles-Gulley said caregivers are also invited to attend and participate.
"The caregivers can come along not only just to be there to help the brain injury person, but actually participate and feel that strength too," Ruggles-Gulley said.
RHI is still taking applications and you can find more information below or at https://www.rhin.com/wellness-love-your-brain-yoga/
