Yoga heals old wounds

      Unlike conventional yoga, Symons is in tune with the medical needs of her students. To keep her students in touch with their bodies, she uses biological terms in class such as peritoneum to describe the abdominal wall; rotator cuff, in reference to the muscles which support the head, upper arm and shoulder; and arteries, or the elastic tubes that carry blood from the heart throughout the body.

      Symons guides her class through stretches, breathing techniques and guided imagery, and explains what her students' bodies are accomplishing, as well as how their muscles, bones and organs should react to the activity.

      Many of her pupils have maladies such as fibromyalgia -- a chronic condition that causes achy, flu-like symptoms -- osteoporosis and arthritis, as well as those recovering from accidents.
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