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Stroke Survivors Improve Health Through Weekly Yoga Class

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Recovering from a stroke can be difficult and can present many challenges, but in Anne Arundel County a special class is helping stroke survivors with yoga.

Ron Matz has more.

Kelli Bethel is a physical therapist and registered yoga teacher.

She's combined her skills to help stroke patients through a weekly class.

"This group meets once a week for an hour and a half. We're at the University of Maryland Baltimore-Washington Medical Center" said Bethel. "Yoga is a great benefit for someone who has had a stroke."

Just ask Phil Holloway who suffered a stroke in 2009.

"This helps, It helps dramatically. When I go home I feel a lot better," Phil says.

This special yoga class is held once a week and each patient's medical history is taken before they can enter the program.

"So when people come to this program I screen everyone," Bethel says. "We work within the individuals capabilities because we want them to be successful. The guidelines post-stroke are to exercise. We know that in order to prevent secondary stroke and to continue to make improvements they need to exercise."

Pam Mertz's success at University of Maryland Baltimore-Washington Medical Center has come after a mini-stroke.

"My husband had a stroke 13 years ago and I found out about this program," Mertz says. "He took the first session but said yoga was not his bag, but I had a mini stroke and I really like it and I've been taking it about two years. So I'm double qualified. I'm a caregiver and also had a mini-stroke."

"The American Heart Association recommends range of motion, strengthening, cardiovascular training, flexibility and balance training," so yoga is a great regimen to add post rehab," Bethel says.

The yoga for stroke patients program is held at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center each Tuesday morning from 10:00 a.m. till 11:30 A.M.

For more information CLICK HERE.

 

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