Staying Healthy Through Stress Reduction

WOODBURY — A workshop titled “Stay Healthy: Stress Reduction” will be held at Woodbury Yoga Center on Saturday, September 25, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Nurse practitioner and certified yoga instructor Mary Ellen Porrata will lead the workshop.

The program is open to all persons, novices to seasoned practitioners. No prior yoga experience is required in order to participate and benefit from the workshop’s lessons.

Scientifically the practice of yoga continues to prove its ability to reduce stress and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and helps in giving up bad habits, behaviors and addictions, plus assists in reversing the effects of aging.

In this workshop students will explore the physiology of the stress response and the physical and mental changes resulting from relaxation. Health-promoting methods to recognize and eliminate the disease-inducing influence of these human responses to today’s modern hectic lifestyle will be introduced through body awareness exercises, yoga stretches, breathing techniques, guided relaxation and meditation.

Ms Porrata has a master’s degree in nursing and is a nurse practitioner with experience in adult medicine and geriatrics. Her background in nursing has drawn her to study the health and stress reduction benefits of yoga as a healing science. She has a strong interest in mind-body medicine, completing clinical training at the Mind Body Medical Institute in Boston.

She is also a member of Lotus, a Waterbury area group of health practitioners involved in integrative health care. Ms Porrata has been practicing yoga and meditation daily for over five years, and teaching for the past two years. She teaches beginners’ hatha yoga at Woodbury Yoga Center and affiliated satellite locations. She enjoys blending different styles of postures, along with deep relaxation and visualization, keeping in mind the individual needs of her students.

Cost for the workshop is $45, or $35 if paid by September 19.

Woodbury Yoga Center, at 122 West Side Road, can be reached for registration or additional information at 203-263-2254.