Success and progress with MediYoga in the UK

By: Kathrine Krake

At the Royal London Hospital patients who have recently undergone heart surgery are now practicing MediYoga as part of their cardiac rehab programme. It’s a great success. MediYoga Teacher & Therapist, Shima Ghamari, is behind the yoga programme funded by the NHS trust, Barts Health.

The feedback from the patients has been excellent and has surpassed the expectations of the staff at the Royal London Hospital according to the head nurse, also because MediYoga includes easily patients with mixed abilities.

Shima Ghamari is humbled and feels very rewarded by the work:

“The greatest joy is the amazing feedback from the patients. They express so much gratitude, and some of them report that the effect of MediYoga persists even three days after. One lady told me that she feels calm, and her stress levels are much lower,” she says.

However, it was not an easy process to bring forth MediYoga in the UK. It took Shima persistent work, a few presentations, and taster classes at yoga studios, health clinics and hospitals, until her effort eventually paid off.

The power of courage

So, what made it possible for Shima to keep up? The meditation Kirtan Kriya, long deep breathing and grounding MediYoga is her answer.

“My daily practice blasted out cobwebs from my head and pushed me into doing. It gave me courage and the ability to be present in my own authentic way. I have learnt a trick: Nature loves courage. You make the commitment and take the leap, and she will respond through removing obstacles that seemed impossible.”

Shima Ghamari’s own journey with MediYoga has cleansed layers for her to get to her heart, self-esteem, self-love and forgiveness.

“I stand up for myself in crisis and have learnt to manifest the life I want,” she says with a confident and smiling voice.

Belonging and creativity

Since early age Shima meditated. She experienced a big shift in consciousness within, and for a long time she was not sure about where she belonged in the world. Health as such was always calling for her, and she worked as a fitness instructor for years. Shima holds a master’s degree in Public Health from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, but she did not feel right behind a computer. Not being creative was a challenge. The MediYoga Institute was just around the corner from her office, she attended some classes and a new door opened to her. Here she found what she’d been looking for.

“I loved MediYoga,” Shima says, “It fits perfectly with my speciality in Public Health. Now I integrate the hard data and masculine energy with the creativity of teaching and feminine energy. I’ve always wanted freedom from norms”.

Just the beginning

Teaching MediYoga at the Royal London Hospital is not structured like in Scandinavia where the teacher knows who’s attending each class. So Shima’s creativity and fast thinking are important in order to meet the needs of every patient. And it works.

The success of the MediYoga programme with Barts Health has led the trust to further study the effect of MediYoga on their cardiac rehab programme as compared to before. Right now Shima and the staff are gathering feedback from patients and keeping track of the progress as the patients continue their practice at home on their own. Furthermore, other hospitals have showed interest in MediYoga due to this programme.

“It is very motivating. The growth of MediYoga in the UK has only just started,” says Shima Ghamari.

FACTS

Shima Ghamari, London
33 years old
Master in Public Health, MediYoga Teacher & Therapist

• Favourite meditation: Kirtan Kriya
• Number One Motivator: My partner, he’s so thrilled with the effect he experiences, and we do MediYoga together at home.
• Quote (own): “I have learnt a trick: Nature loves courage. You make the commitment and take the leap, and she will respond through removing obstacles that seemed impossible.”

LINKS

The Royal London Hospital: https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/the-royal-london

Barts Health Trust: https://www.nhs.uk/Services/Trusts/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=34604

How NHS works: https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/how-does-the-nhs-work-in-england

Prince Charles recommends yoga therapy: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6715729/Prince-Charles-urges-medics-use-therapeutic-YOGA-ease-pressure-NHS.html