Therapeutic Stress Management through Yoga with Ms. Priya Madesh

Episode Description

Welcome to the debut episode of The Physiosphere! Hosted by Rini, a final-year Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) student in Orthopedics, this podcast explores health, recovery, and wellness through a scientific and therapeutic lens.

In this introductory episode, Rini dives deep into Therapeutic Stress Management alongside guest expert Ms. Priya Madesh—founder and chief instructor of Resculpt Yoga Studio in Chennai, US-licensed yoga therapist, and holder of Master's degrees in both Yoga Therapy and English Literature.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Digital Stress & Attention Spans: How modern screen time and social media overload impact stress levels, and why mindful, targeted searching is key.
• Mind-Body Connection: How yoga links breath, emotions, physical alignment, and mental well-being.
• Progressive Yoga Routines: Ideal entry points for beginners, from 15-minute gentle warm-ups to full 60-minute daily routines.
• Engaging Younger Generations: Creative strategies like Aerial Yoga and Dance Yoga to make daily practice fun, dynamic, and sustainable.

Quote from the Episode:"Keep moving, keep breathing, and keep optimizing!"

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Hello everyone. Welcome to the very first episode of our podcast series, The Physiosphere. I am Rini doing my final year MPT in orthopedics, and I'm truly excited to host this podcast on the topic therapeutic stress management. To unpack this through a scientific and therapeutic lens, we are joined by an expert who holds an MA in Yoga Therapy and English literature. She's also a registered US licensed yoga therapist, the founder and chief instructor of Re-Sculpt Yoga Studio in Chennai. Please welcome Ms. Priya Madish to the show. Ma'am, it's an absolute privilege to have you here with us today. Thank you so much. Ma'am, to begin with, in today's scenario where digital technology is leading to shorter attention spans, what would be your advice, ma'am, as to how the nature of stress has changed?

SPEAKER_00 1:01

Yes. See, today everything is digitalized and you cannot avoid the usage of gadgets, also. Everywhere it is digitalized. But uh the people who use the gadgets should be specific with their search, what they are searching for, and where they have to, you know, find their exact needs can be you know resolved and fulfilled. So they are not supposed to lot many things are popping out, so they are not supposed to watch everything. So they have to be specific enough and they they should be focused and mindful even in the search, also. So this is what my best tell me. So because a lot many things are popping out, what happens is many things are accumulated in their mind that causes a kind of different stress. And um, see, uh see for for example, they'll search for something, a yoga video, dance video comes, something else will also come, some gym video comes. Then uh they keep on scrolling one after another. So what happens is their final purpose is not resolved there. So they'll be keep on searching and finally they're not getting the answer for their uh result for their search. So they have to be very clear with what they really wanted, scrutinize it, and they should be specific enough in their search. Definitely. So that reduces a stress level.

SPEAKER_01 2:15

For all the students and beginners like me, what would be your advice, ma'am, if you are going to begin a new yoga routine?

SPEAKER_00 2:22

Yeah. So based on the therapy or whatever the general routine, uh, we'll be giving uh making the people to understand how yoga works in their body first. So how yoga works, understanding what is a real yoga practice. It is not only practicing all you know advanced stuff and showing it as yoga, no, it works with your breath also, it works with your soul and it works with your emotions, it works with your mind. So making the people to understand how the physical body and the mind are interrelated. After understanding this connection, then the people are introduced to the poses and everything. Slowly we'll start with the basic steps and then based on their interest and based on their response to the response to the of the body to the yoga, then we'll intensify the poses.

SPEAKER_01 3:10

Okay, ma'am. Like what are the outcomes or changes that you usually see in someone who's responding really well to a stress management routine?

SPEAKER_00 3:19

Yeah, obviously. See, many people will come with stress and to handle that and lot many practices are there in yoga to handle with. So we'll just start giving some kind of basic pranayama, yoga nidra techniques and meditation, guided meditation techniques. Now, all these will work well if they are really uh you know consistent in their practice. Obviously, they see a very drastic change, a positive change in them. You know, for some people, there uh some people will take medicines, you know, for the psychological disorders. So those medicine dosages will come reduced, and some people will take medicines for them, hormonal imbalances, you know, for thyroid disorders. So medicine dosage will come because some people, no, doctor himself would have uh you know advised them not to take medicine. Yoga is your medicine, so that way it functions well. So many positive changes. They remain so positive, you know, they carry a beautiful aura of positive vibrations wherever they go. They keep smiling also, and all these kind of positive changes we see them when they are consistent to their practice.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

Good to know, ma'am. Like, ma'am, do we have any dosages, ma'am? Like for in physiotherapy for exercises, we have like you have to do 10 uh repetitions, three sets. Likewise, for yoga therapy, do we have any dosages? Is a 15-minute routine better off than a 60-minute uh rigorous one? So, something any dosages like that?

SPEAKER_00 4:43

See, initially to start with 15 minutes is fine, okay, not more than 15 minutes. Maybe first day we'll give only you know some joint rotations, moving the joints is most important, warm-up kind of thing. Okay, later we'll just make the person to introduce to Surya Namaskar. Well, like three rounds of Surya Namaskar is fine, not more than three rounds because already people who are stressed will be uh more high in their pitka level. So to drop down, better they can practice three rounds of Surya Namaskar. Later they'll be introduced to pranayama techniques, some cooling pranayam, maybe 10 rounds or for 10 minutes, that way they'll get introduced. Later, some poses, yoga asanas will be taught to them, some basic uh poses will be taught to them. So initially, to start with 15 minutes is fine. Later, after a month, they can have a routine of 60 minutes. Okay, ma'am.

SPEAKER_01 5:39

So initially 15 and then it will be progressed to 60 minutes. Week by week we can increase. Okay, yeah, thank you, ma'am. And uh, ma'am, one last question. We know that yoga has its roots in India, but however, we see the younger generation quite reluctant towards it. How can we motivate them, ma'am, to take up yoga sessions on a routine basis?

SPEAKER_00 5:59

Yeah, it's a beautiful question for the youngsters, particularly. You know, uh first thing, young children or young uh people, the students like you will always love something more creative. So we can introduce some kind of creative ideas into it. Okay. So now you are most people are aware of aerial yoga. So aerial yoga people they really want to explore it what's happening. Once they achieve some advanced poses in aerial easily, they feel something they have done, something adventurous. No, so feeling so proud. So these kind of steps will really create an enthusiasm in the people to continue and consistent in their practice. And we have a signature style called dance yoga. Okay, yeah. So we see we create a sequence like hip opening sequence or backbending sequence or overall body workout sequence, and we'll match it with a beautiful melodious song, which really helps the people to, you know, listening to the song and moving their body, you know, they really love it. So these kind of creative ideas we can incorporate in their daily routine, which uh helps the youngsters to stay consistent.

SPEAKER_01 7:09

Sounds very interesting. Thank you, ma'am. As we are drawing to the conclusion, we really thank ma'am for sharing your expertise with us. And our audience has also acquired a lot of brilliant insights as well, ma'am. So thank you, audience, for tuning in. And let's remember to keep moving, keep breathing, and keep optimizing. Thank you. Thank you.