INTERVIEW WITH MALA CUNNINGHAM (Ph.D., C-IAYT)

Listen to the full episode by supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/yogatherapyhourAmy chats with Mala Cunningham Ph.D., C-IAYT, who is a counselling Psychologist and Assistant Professor at University of Virginia at Arlington. Mala is a leading speaker, educator, and trainer in the field of Lifestyle Medicine, Health Psychology, Neuroscience, and Medical Yoga.  Her passion is creating a bridge between medicine, Psychology, Neuroscience, Yoga, and Mindfulness. Amy and Mala talk about Yoga and its relationship with Neuroscience, Mental health, and the benefits that yoga, breathing and meditation create for the brain and body.They discuss the following:Amy and Mala’s course “Mental Health, Brain Science & Yoga, a joint venture with Yogaville coming up on July 28th to Aug 3rd 2021Mala talks about she and Amy’s background in Classical Yoga as well as being a western Professor at a universityHow Mala has been able to bridge the concepts of Yoga and science (psychology, medicine etc.) in her career/teachingsThe importance of translating ancient concepts into modern terms people can understandYoga enlightenment, the History of Yoga and originsHow & why Mala decided to focus on bringing Yoga into cardiac programsThe benefits of yoga on the nervous system and brainVagal tone, Vagal syncope and the Vagus NerveJune’s podcast is sponsored by:  Optimal State Yoga Therapy Schoolhttps://theoptimalstate.com/ Foundations we supporthttp://www.kym.orghttps://givebackyoga.org/We have all benefitted from the ancient wisdom of India and her people, so it feels really great to be able to serve in this way. The Optimal State family has pledged on-going support of $500 per month, to go directly to KYM Mitra (www.kym.org). We will collect the monies and gift them each month. Please consider a recurring monthly payment to the fund. Even a small gift or intention makes a difference! If we make more than $500 in any given month, it will roll into the following month’s payment. The hope is that we can contribute for many years to come. If you even lose the link to donate, it is at the top of the homepage at www.amywheeler.com also. I will be reporting on the website the progress; how much money is coming in at any given time and where we are in the process of getting this project off the ground.Here is the link for you to get started with your donation. We are so happy that you have decided to join us. We thank you for the bottom of our hearts!Link to click in the description: http://Paypal.me/KymMitraDonation For more information on “Mental Health, Brain Science & Yoga course coming up on July 28th to Aug 3rd 2021 please visit https://www.yogaville.org/ Meet Mala https://www.cardiacyoga.com/Check out Amy's website http://www.amywheeler.com