The live event was held on October 3, 2020 – thank you to all who attended and the planning committee who worked so hard to produce the event.
If you were unable to attend the live event, don’t worry – we have the full event recording to watch from start to finish, as well as the individual speaker segments if you want to jump to a specific presentation. And please, feel free to take a break in between sessions to browse the links below and learn more about our generous sponsors and amazing presenters.
Welcome to the Virtual Holistic Health and Wellness Forum
Yoga Moves MS presents this Forum to empower those impacted by MS and neuromuscular conditions with information about a range of integrative and holistic mind body strategies. This event is an opportunity to learn about healthy living and wholesome options that compliment traditional medical care.
- View the full event video
- Physical Therapy for MS by Gretchen Hawley, PT, DPT, MSCS
- Managing our emotions during uncertain times/COVID-19 by Amy Sullivan, PsyD, ABPP
- Mindfulness Training Benefits Cognitive and Emotional Health in Multiple Sclerosis by Ruchika Prakash, PhD
- Biohacking Your Potential with neuropilates and Brainspeed Ball by Trent McEntire
- Neurofilament Light and the role of Bio signatures in Multiple Sclerosis by Rany Aburashed, DO
- Recent Advances in MS Therapeutics and Clinical Research, Martin Belkin, DO
- Food for thought: Approaching MS through diet and nutrition, by Paige Goulette, RN, BSN, MSCN
- How to make MS boring by Aaron Boster, MD
Visit Our Virtual Exhibit Hall
Our live event was held on October 3, 2020. Feedback from participants is that they learned a LOT from our inspiring speakers. Sessions were packed with helpful material. Many have told us that they plan to watch the presentations again! You too can gain much from the Holistic and Wellness Forum for MS. We invite you to get to know our amazing panel of presenters, view the recorded sessions, explore the links below and learn about our generous sponsors, download helpful materials, and reach out with questions to info@yogamovesms.org.
As you can glean from watching the recordings, presenters may have been prevented from answering all questions. We are still making every effort to answer questions. It is not too late. We welcome your questions and will route them based on the topic with the intention to find the answer.
“I wanted to express my gratitude for your Holistic Health and Wellness Forum for MS. The speakers were outstanding and information you provided actually puts me at ease with some of the MS concerns I have been having lately. You are a breath of fresh air in this sometimes difficult world.” – Lori
“Dr. Rany A. [event speaker] presented with great clarity this disease — better than anyone I’ve heard or books I’ve read. And, I’m learning so much from the classes I’ve attended. I’d like to pass Yoga Moves MS info on to my neurologist for other patients.” – Karen
If you would like to receive a packet of information from our sponsors via the US mail, please send us your mailing address.
Yoga Moves MS Mission and purpose
Yoga Moves MS (YMMS) is a growing, supportive community of students, teachers, and volunteers. From its beginning 14 years ago, it has evolved into a movement with the goal of improving the lives of those with MS and their families. We seek to educate the expanding YMMS community about yoga as an umbrella for healthy lifestyle choices- as a way of life!
The Yoga Moves philosophy cultivates empowerment, healing and fun. We provide adaptive yoga resources for those with MS and neuromuscular conditions. Presently, we offer at-home practice through subsidized and donation only virtual classes, with the hope to return to in person classes when it is safe! These classes can be supported by purchase of our book, card deck and helpful videos.
Yoga Moves MS is a non-profit 501©3 organization.
Sponsors
If you would like to receive a packet of information from our sponsors via the US mail, please send us your mailing address.
Learn more about MS support and resources from Biogen
About Meijer Specialty Pharmacy
Watch a special video for forum attendees from Meijer Specialty Pharmacy
Download Meijer Specialty Pharmacy’s Living with MS Resource Guide
Download “A Healthier You” nutrition flyer for forum participants
Email Meijer Specialty Pharmacy representative Danielle Patton directly
Call Danielle Patton to ask a question
MIND Center for Comprehensive MS Care Virtual Exhibit
Visit Memorial Healthcare’s Multiple Sclerosis Resource Center
Join the BrainSpeed Ball 21 Day Challenge – Free Training
About Michigan Neurology Associates
About The Boster Center for Multiple Sclerosis
Presenters
Gretchen Hawley, PT, DPT, MSCS
The MSing Link
View Dr. Hawley’s presentation
Learn more MS-Specific exercises & strategies with Dr. Gretchen
Gretchen Hawley is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist. After graduating from Simmons University in Boston, MA she developed an MS physical therapy program alongside two of the city’s top MS neurologists. Dr. Hawley utilizes the concept of neuroplasticity in her online MS wellness program, The MSing Link, to help her clients reduce fatigue, get stronger, improve their balance, and walk better. Her members feel more energized, empowered, “alive”, and more like their normal self again. Dr. Hawley has been a keynote speaker at several MS conferences, lectures frequently for MS support groups, and continues to keep herself up-to-date on the newest & best MS practices by attending the MS Consortium each year. Dr. Hawley resides in Buffalo with her dog, Finn.
Amy Sullivan, PysD
Director of Behavioral Medicine, Research and Training
Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center for MS
View Dr. Sullivan’s presentation
Download Dr. Sullivan’s slides
Dr. Amy Sullivan is a board certified health psychologist, and Director of Behavioral Medicine, Research & Training at the Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for MS. She is an invited member of wellness researchers through the National MS Society. She and her research team are the 2015 recipient of the Robert J. Herndon award for most outstanding IJMSC article. Dr. Sullivan was also the recipient of the CPA Outstanding Early Career Psychologist award, and was named an Extraordinary Graduate of St. Bonaventure University, where she played Division I basketball. In addition, she is passionate about physician self-care, burnout, diversity in leadership and psychological health and is the Director of Engagement and Wellbeing in the Neurological Institute where she works to improve physician well-being in her institute. She is also the Co-Chair of the Women’s Leadership Team in the NI. Finally, she is the Director of the FRAME Education Program for the Internal Medicine Residency Program where she works to help students understand their worldview, resilience, and emotional intelligence in the practice of value based medicine.
Ruchika Prakash, PhD
Director of Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Imaging
Ohio State University
View Dr. Prakash’s presentation
Dr. Ruchika Prakash is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the Ohio State University. She is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been doing research on lifestyle interventions in people with MS for the last 15 years. She is the Director of the Clinical Neuroscience Lab where she works with PhD students, undergraduate students, and post-doctoral associates to better understand how physical activity training and mindfulness meditation helps improve cognition, reduce depression and anxiety, and impact brain plasticity in individuals with MS. She has published over 75 peer-reviewed journal articles, and her research is funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the National Institutes of Health. She is also a member of the Psychosocial Wellness Group at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and frequently presents her research on topics of psychosocial wellness to various public audiences. She received the “Rising Star Designation” given by the Association for Psychological Science in 2013 and the Springer Early Career Achievement in Research on Adult Development and Aging by American Psychological Association in 2016.
Trent McEntire
Founder, McEntire Pilates
View Mr. McEntire’s presentation
Learn more about BrainSpeed Ball
BrainSpeed Ball™ Instructions
Try the BrainSpeed Ball 21 Day Challenge – Free Training
Trent McEntire is best known in the movement world as the problem solver.
For more than 20 years, Trent has been helping those that experience movement challenges and neurological disorders to gain back their mobility – a story he knows well. Born with a mild form of Cerebral Palsy, Trent was able to repattern his own movement to eliminate the pain and stiffness he experienced daily. His ability to repair his own body lifted the ceiling, allowing Trent to actively participate in his love of sports and moving on to becoming a professional dancer. Today, Trent teaches his proprietary techniques and strategies worldwide to help improve brain performance.
About Trent’s Session: “Biohacking Your Potential”
Discover the tools and strategies needed to biohack your sensory systems to improve brain performance and strengthen the visual, vestibular, and proprioception systems. You will learn how biohacking your sensory systems leads to reduced stress, improved focus, better movement, and stronger balance. This session also incorporates playing BrainSpeed Ball™ to help further expand your practice of biohacking your brain. This is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of your capabilities and learn how quickly to fill in the gaps.
Rany Aburashed, MD
Chief of Neurology and Director of MS, Institute for Neurosciences and MS
Memorial Healthcare
View Dr. Aburashed’s presentation
Dr. Rany Aburashed serves as the Chief of Neurology and Director of Multiple Sclerosis at the Memorial Institute for Neurosciences and Multiple Sclerosis. He holds a clinical faculty position at Central Michigan University and serves as the Medical Director for Specialty Care at Memorial Hospital. He is designated as a Comprehensive Center for MS care by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and has lectured on various aspects of multiple sclerosis internationally and nationally. He has published numerous articles and abstracts surrounding MS therapeutics/progressive multi focal leukoencephalopathy and autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system. His Research team is currently focused on the role of blood biomarkers as measures of predictive change in Multiple Sclerosis. He was the first in the United States to use Neurofilament light chain amongst other markers in real world MS patients. He serves as principal investigator for numerous phase I, II and Phase 3 trials in Multiple Sclerosis. He has received numerous awards including the Richard Alper memorial award, the Michigan Medical school grant, and Yoga Moves MS leadership award amongst others.
Martin Belkin, DO
Medical Director
MIND MS Center
View Dr. Belkin’s presentation
Dr. Belkin is the Medical Director of the MS Center at the Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders, which is one of the largest private MS Centers in the country. In addition to his extensive experience as the primary and sub-investigator for clinical trials in Multiple Sclerosis, he is known as a national speaker on the topic of Multiple Sclerosis. He is also actively involved in educating medical students and residents in the field of Neurology as he serves as the residency program director for the Ascension Macomb-Oakland Neurology Residency. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.
Paige Goulette, MS Nurse
Institute for Neurosciences and MS
Memorial Healthcare
View Ms. Goulette’s presentation
Download Ms. Goulette’s presentation on diet and nutrition
I am currently a Neurology Nurse Navigator at Memorial Healthcare Institute for Neuroscience in Owosso, MI. I earned my first Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science at Grand Valley State University and continued my education at U of M for my BSN. I quickly realized through my education & work in various specialties, how important the mind, body, & spirit work together. Through patient, personal, & family experiences, I developed a strong belief on how diet, exercise, and mindfulness/meditation can make a positive impact on providing complementary care, especially to the MS population. The MS community has made a huge impact on my life, career, and has pushed me to start a DNP program so I can better serve patients in this specialty. I am so excited to see what the future has in store for these patients and we can better learn to help them.
Aaron Boster, MD
Boster Center for Multiple Sclerosis
View Dr. Boster’s presentation
Dr. Boster is a board-certified Neurologist specializing in Multiple Sclerosis and related CNS inflammatory disorders. He decided to become an MS doctor at age 12, as he watched his uncle Mark suffer from the disease in an era before treatment was available. Dr. Boster grew up in Columbus, Ohio and attended undergraduate at Oberlin College. He earned his MD at University of Cincinnati College of medicine and completed an internship in Internal Medicine and Residency in Neurology at the University of Michigan. He then completed a two-year fellowship in Clinical Neuroimmunology at Wayne State University. Since then, Dr. Boster has been intimately involved in the care of people impacted by Multiple Sclerosis; He has been a principal investigator in numerous Clinical Trials, trained multiple MS Doctors and Nurse Practitioners, published extensively in medical journals. He lectures to both patients and providers world-wide with a mission to EDUCATE, ENERGIZE and EMPOWER people impacted by MS. He lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, Krissy, son Maxwell and daughter Betty Mae.
James Voci, MD
Chair, Yoga Moves MS
Dr. James M. Voci received his undergraduate training at Haverford College in Philadelphia followed by Medical School at the University of Pennsylvania.
There, his interest in Neurology was nurtured by a strong faculty which included Dr. Robert Lisak who later became Chairmen of Neurology at DMC in Detroit. His residency in Neurology was performed at University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University where he served as Chief Resident in his final year. Upon completion of his training, he served on the faculty there as Assistant Professor Of Neurology, performing both research in molecular biology as well as the instruction of new residents. In 1996 he left for private practice and eventually arrived in the metro Detroit region in 1999 where he has remained since. He currently works at Michigan Neurology Associates on the East Side and is Director Of Neurology at Beaumont Grosse Pointe. He is also on the faculty at the new Oakland University/William Beaumont School of Medicine. He is actively involved in the care of Multiple Sclerosis patients both clinically and with clinical research studies. And, yes, he actively practices Yoga. He has been the Chair of Yoga Moves MS since 2014.
Mindy Eisenberg, MHSA, C-IAYT, ERYT-500
Founder and Director, Yoga Moves MS
Mindy Eisenberg, MHSA, C-IAYT, ERYT-500 is the Founder and Director of Yoga Moves MS, a non profit 501(c )(3). She is the author of Adaptive Yoga Moves Any Body, created for individuals with MS and neuromuscular conditions and Adaptive Yoga Cards. Mindy has provided yoga therapy to individuals with mobility challenges for over sixteen years and thrives on building a strong, mighty community for her students and families. She is a Qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress reduction teacher. She presents nationally for several MS, corporate and yoga organizations and offers adaptive yoga teacher trainings for yoga therapists and clinicians. Her experience as a health care administrator at the University of Michigan Medical Center contributes to her ability to bring the Yoga Moves philosophy of healing and the importance of the mind-body relationship to the health care arena. Mindy has a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University and a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan. Since COVID, she lives with her family and pets in Franklin, Michigan and offers daily adaptive yoga and meditation classes online.
We welcome your feedback and questions!
Use this form to provide event feedback or submit a question; please include a topic or a particular presenter, if applicable, and your email address if you’d like a response.