Ritu Kapur is an Occupational Therapist, a Certified Yoga teacher and a full-time mother to two wonderful boys. She works as an OT with disabled adults and elderly and has been trying to integrate yoga in her clinical practice as a health-care practitioner to impart a holistic, non-invasive approach to heal them.  She teaches yoga classes at Sri Lakshmi temple and at Whittier out-patient Rehab in Westborough.  She can be reached at ritu@nirmalyogaliving.com.  Pl visit her website for more details, www.NirmalYogaLiving.com.  
 
Occupational Therapy is a field not very familiar to many South Asians. Could you tell us a little about it?

 Occupational Therapy or OT is a part of Rehabilitation sciences.  OT focuses on the clients function in the case of an acute injury or a chronic ailment. Per WFOT,  "Occupational therapy is a profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by enabling people to do things that will enhance their ability to participate or by modifying the environment to better support participation.”  Occupational therapists or OT’s use careful analysis of physical, environmental, psychosocial, mental, spiritual, political and cultural factors to identify barriers to occupation. OT’s work with all age-groups starting from neo-natal care to school integration for physically challenged children, out-patient rehabilitation and Seniors.   Based on the clients age, we try to asses their dysfunction and treat them appropriately.  

What is the difference between Physical and Occupational Therapy?

Ranjani, this is the most common Q asked to all OT’s.  OT’s often work in close proximity with Physical therapists (PT) and Speech-language pathologists (SLP).  Whereas PT’s focus on clients abilites like muscle strength, range of motion and balance, etc.;  OT’s focus on the functional aspect of it like can the person get in/out of bed or take a shower or get to the grocery store or cook a simple meal safely and independently, etc.    The goal is the rehabilitation of the client and maximizing their potential in their respective environment.  

How did you get introduced to Yoga?

I was introduced to yoga as a young child in school.   It was not until 2 yrs ago that I realized its full potential.   When I was taking the Anusura yoga classes offered at our local gym, it made me feel good and healthy so I kept going to them.  Slowly, I found myself using some of those breathing techniques with my patients at the Nursing home where I work.  It was time for me to get some formal training so I could impart the correct knowledge to them.   


How did it transform you? 

Going through the yoga-teacher training was a transformational experience in itself.  The other wonderful aspects of yoga came
gradually as I developed a personal practice, met and talked to many other yoga teachers and did the self-study or Svadhyaya.   Understanding yoga at a deeper level and experiencing its magic is something that just happens.  I am sure you and your readers who have gone thru intense classical dance or music training can relate to it.

What has been the give and take between Yoga and  your professional practice ?

Once I was a certified yoga teacher, I had to decide where to teach and what to do with this new skill.  I have always loved being an OT and did not want to give that up.  After some thinking,  I made an easy choice.  I decided to combine the two.   I decided to teach yoga to a group that needed it the most, the seniors and the physically impaired.  My years of training as a therapist helped me look at this population in a unique way.  I was able to understand their medical problems and appreciate their abilities and limitations.  Now, I teach yoga to fragile, medically involved clients at the nursing home where I work 4/wk.   I have also started a yoga class for people with physical impairments at Whittier outpatient center in Westborough.  I love to work with people with neurological impairments like stroke, MS, ALS, etc.  There is enough scientific evidence to suggest the therapeutic value of yoga to people with neurological , cardiac, pulmonary, and many other progressive illnesses.


How can we begin practice of Yoga?

I would suggest starting with somewhat gentle yoga classes that you can find close to home.   Try to pick Hatha yoga or Anusura yoga class and then see what works for you.   Creating a personal routine is the best thing you can do for yourself.   

How often should we practice Yoga?

Yoga should not be looked at once a wk class that you do at the gym or a yoga studio.  It is a way of life.  It is like brushing your teeth that you need to do everyday no matter how good your dental hygiene is.   I would suggest starting with a 10-20 min yoga routine in the morning which may  involve Surya Namaskar, a few basic stretches while you focus on your breath and mental concentration.   At night, you can spend 5  min. sitting up straight and practicing deep breathing with mental focus, chanting of a mantra if you like and relax your mind after an active day.  You can do either both practices or just one every day and slowly build on it.   The goal is to clear the mental chatter or chitta-vritti bringing mental peace, alertness and increased focus throughout the day or for a restful sleep at night.

Do our eating and drinking habits need to change with Yoga?

One does not have to start yoga with diet changes.   The yamas and Niyamas of yoga like Ahimsa or non-violence, Santosha or contentment, Shauch or cleanliness can help you guide your dietary behaviors when you are ready for it.  Diet that is clean and fresh consisting of fruits and vegetables is not only kind to your body and digestive system but also to your environment.  

As a therapist what special problems do you see amongst the South Asians ?

I have been teaching a wkend yoga class at Sri Lakshmi temple in Ashland since Feb, 2010.   I have observed a fairly low interest of the Indian community for the classes being offered at the temple.  The older Indians of my parents age-group seem to be more involved in some kind of yoga either asana or pranayama or meditation.   I would suggest starting yoga early in life so that it can help you take a wellness-centered approach and not an illness-centered approach.   
Your beginning goals in yoga could be feeling good, enhancing flexibility, having a steady breath or cultivating a calm, clear mind.  Whatever goal you may start with, a sincere personal practice of yoga will eventually lead you to all of these.

Can you give our readers a few tips for healthy living?

I think keeping a balance between  healthy diet, physical activity (asana and pranayama) and meditation (dharna, dhyana) on a regular basis is important to leading a long, healthy life.  A yogi in India had said to me once, “if you cannot take out one hour a day for your well-being now, you will find many hours later in life to spend in the hospitals”.  So, clearly the choice is in your hands.  Start early! 

Thanks for your time

Thank you

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