According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being (health triangle) and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” It is the result of constant adjustments made by the body to deal with stress and environmental changes, which enable it to maintain a global balance called homeostasis.

• 80 percent of health problems are related to factors that we can control (GP2S – Group for Promotion of Prevention Strategies).
• The cost of health problems in Quebec is increasing and amounts to more than 11 percent of the gross domestic product and 40 percent of the overall budget (GP2S).
• In 2006, the number of reported absence days was 11.5 per employee, not counting hours lost due to “presenteeism” (lost productivity due to an employee being present, but not fully focused) (Statistics Canada).
• 50 percent of Canadian workers claim to be moderately to very stressed (Health Canada, 2008).
• A physically active employee is 12 percent more productive than an inactive one (Health Canada).

• Mental health issues currently account for more than 50 percent of companies’ disability cases (GP2S).
• In Canada, mental health problems are the leading cause of short-, medium- and long-term disabilities (WHO).
• In 2000, mental illness was the fourth leading contributor to the global burden of disease. It is anticipated that it will reach second place by 2020 (WHO).
• 81 percent of depression-related costs are attributed to lost productivity at work (i.e., presenteeism) (Partnership for Workplace Mental Health, 2006).

The graph below shows the rehabilitation process for people with mental health and physical health issues.

• For people with mental health issues, productivity decreases well before they stop work and slowly increases afterwards.
• Absence from work is usually for longer periods.
• The risk of a relapse is also usually greater.

– Source : GP2S

Medical research shows that yoga therapy is one of the most effective complementary therapies for common illnesses. This rehabilitative approach makes people responsible for their health and encourages them to be proactive in their recovery. Yoga therapy is an effective way of dealing with certain problems, including anxiety, depression and burnout. It also facilitates the healing process for people on all levels.

Yoga therapy sessions are adapted to participants’ needs to achieve quick, concrete results. They are structured according to their physical or mental constraints to improve overall health and help them reach their full potential.

When regarded as a whole, taking into account its physical, mental and emotional dimensions, the body is a sophisticated system. When the health triangle is taken into consideration, it is easier to achieve a balance that encompasses health on all levels.

Breathing is the key to good overall health, the health triangle. Beyond the physical, mental and emotional aspects, the breath controls all the other systems in the body (digestive, immune, hormonal, cardiovascular and nervous) by making internal communication possible.

Breathing forms the basis of yoga therapy. When people become aware of their breathing, they discover its power. Effective breathing allows for optimal communication between bodily systems, enabling people to respond and adapt to different situations in their lives.

Yoga therapy is of modern coinage and represents a first effort to integrate traditional yogic concepts and techniques with Western medical and psychological knowledge. [It] aims at the holistic treatment of various kinds of psychological or somatic dysfunctions ranging from back problems to emotional distress. [Both traditional yoga and yoga therapy share] an understanding of the human being as an integrated body-mind system, which can function optimally only when there is a state of dynamic balance.

Dr. Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D.

Stress is thought to cause (directly or indirectly) 99 percent of illnesses. ZEN&CO. and  YOGA RE:SOURCE hope to be able to share the life-changing power of yoga therapy with you.

Our rehabilitation program has successfully treated anxiety, depression and insomnia. Some participants have even managed to free themselves from dependency on medication (with their doctor’s approval) and to regain overall health and the desire to live and work again.

• Step 1 (4 weeks): RESTORE YOUR HEALTH
• Step 2 (4 weeks): TAKE CONTROL OF (AND MAINTAIN) YOUR HEALTH
• Step 3 (4 weeks): PREPARE FOR YOUR RETURN TO WORK

• A full assessment
• Monitoring of progress (using a before-and-after questionnaire)
• A course outline
• Various complementary tools: CD and literature to help you integrate the practice into your daily life and speed up your recovery.

• Private sessions are held in a yoga studio.
• The atmosphere is relaxed.
• The safe environment is adapted to all physical and mental conditions.
• Yoga therapy teachers are trained to understand any difficulties participants may have and to offer an appropriate healing strategy.

“Science helps us understand how systems work. Yoga is an art that ensures their optimal functioning.”

– Carina Raisman

From many well lived experiences, yoga has demonstrated to be a useful therapeutic tool and sometimes essential in the treatment of depression and more specifically anxiety. By integrating a practical, concrete aspect and an instant feedback for relaxation effects, the basic concepts of yoga create a solid foundation for the clients in this discipline. Along with explanations of the science of yoga and the sympathetic support of the teacher, we often find that the clients not only discover tools but also discover a new passion that they maintain beyond the return to work.

– readaptation consultant

I thank you deeply for the private lessons I have received since last year. I learnt a tremendous amount and discovered that yoga is very important to stay balanced – inside & out – during daily life. Thanks to your private lessons, I can no longer live without it. Thanks!!

– participant

Each private yoga session began with a lengthy conversation that was very enriching and ended with calming yoga postures. This blend of body and mind was a unique experience. My teacher’s expertise in both yoga and science endows her with a capability to provide precise information about yoga poses while referring to her scientific knowledge about the body. She also introduced me to extraordinary relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and yoga nidra.

– participant