Leslie Salmon Leslie Salmon

Nutrition & Yoga Therapy — some of the things I’ve learned (so far)

I have completed the second class of the Integrative Nutrition course - an online course offered by the Univ. of California, San Diego (UCSD). This is the second of 8 classes I will take in order to receive an Integrative Nutrition Certificate.

Nutrition was chosen by me to expand my scope as a Yoga Therapist and Teacher.

You might be wondering what I’ve learned so far. Things that have ‘stuck out’ for me are:

  1. It’s a BIG learning curve, going back to school at 74yo. And, the technology involved in an online course has also been challenging (and fun) to traverse.

  2. Don’t hurry (hastily reading instructions cost me a few points in homework and quizzes).

  3. Don’t procrastinate - each class was 8 weeks in length and each week’s work (quiz/paper, reading, discussion, online lectures) was due on the Sunday of that week at 11:59 — NO exceptions.

  4. And, most importantly, I learned some interesting things about nutrition such as:

    • Wheat bread (as opposed to whole wheat bread) is simply white bread with molasses mixed in for coloring.

    • Macronutrients are the carbs, protein and fats we eat; micronutrients are vitamins and minerals.

      • Like anything, you can get too much of a good thing. Take sodium: if you eat more than the UL (upper limit) of sodium, over time you place yourself at risk for heart issues; even stroke.

    • Read the labels on food containers, especially processed food. There are requirements for what is to be revealed on that label and by reading them, we can avoid things like too much sodium.

    • Basal metabolism - the energy that keeps us alive - burns the most calories.

      • I also learned many calculations to determine such things as basal metabolic rate.

    • Acronyms — oh, so many acronyms: FDA, USDA, BMR, BMI, RDA, DASH, etc., etc., etc.

My list of ‘things learned’ could go on and on. I find that I, personally, am much more aware of what I am eating and what will serve me as opposed to harm me.

The next class in this Certificate course is called “Food as Medicine: The Art and Science of Food, Nutrition and Self-Healing”, and begins later this month.

I’ll keep you posted,

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Wellness Leslie Salmon Wellness Leslie Salmon

THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS OFFERING HEALTH & WELLBEING

I have a feeling that all I’ve learned is not enough - there is more that I would like to bring into my field of knowledge as Yoga Therapist and Yoga Teacher.

But, what is the next step in journey working with clients who desire to be healthier, to have a greater sense of wellness, to age gracefully?

Perhaps I’m waiting for a sign.

In the field of Yoga Therapy (and due of my Certification as a Yoga Therapist), one (of many) word(s) stands out: Scope. For example, to remain within my scope of practice, I do not offer people advice about their nutrition, I do not diagnose the cause of a pain, I am not a stand-in for someone’s psychologist (or psychiatrist), etc. I could go on, but I hope you get the point.

Now, I can work with clients like this instead:

  1. I’m able to share that I’ve lost weight by putting my fork down between each bite (sharing my experience, but not advising).

  2. I can observe a person and determine the state of their nervous system (are they in ‘fight, flight or freeze” - sympathetic; or are they in ‘rest and digest’ - parasympathetic). Once that happens, I am able to offer tools to balance their emotions, such as breath work, slow (or fast) movement, meditation, etc.

  3. I maintain the boundaries that keep me and my client’s ‘safe’ from my offering psychiatric advice. I am a good listener and I’ve been told I keep my judgments and advice to myself.

As in all of our lives and yoga practice, I find staying within my ‘scope’ as a Yoga Therapist is finding balance. And, often when they (the client) finds a similar balance the quality of their life, their wellness (wellbeing), their aging process — all of that makes a positive shift.

But, I still would like to do more. So I am debating — do I pursue

  1. more nutrition education,

  2. more Ayurveda training,

  3. more meditation avenues?

Notice, there’s nothing in there about learning more about psychiatry - I’m good with that.

I do know this about myself - I will always be a lifelong learner. And, that’s a good thing.

Until next time,

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