April 2026 eNewsletter

The Tahoe Forest Wellness Center is expanding its commitment to community well-being with the launch of Love Your Brain Yoga, a new six-week series focused on healing, connection, and resilience.

Based on the nationally recognized Love Your Brain Foundation program, this free yoga and mindfulness series is designed specifically for individuals living with brain injury. Survivors are encouraged to attend alongside caregivers or family members, creating a supportive environment centered on shared healing and understanding.

Each class begins with a welcome and guided meditation, followed by a 20–30-minute Asana practice that can be done seated or standing to accommodate varying ability levels. Sessions conclude with a facilitated group discussion. The flexible structure allows instructors to tailor each class to participants’ needs, ensuring accessibility and comfort.

Classes are led by experienced physical therapists and peer leaders:

• Michele Oelkers, MPT, OCS brings 30 years of clinical experience, having started her career in neurological rehabilitation at NYU Medical Center. She specializes in neurologic and orthopedic rehabilitation and completed Love Your Brain Yoga Teacher Training in 2025. Michele is passionate about building inclusive, community-based programs that foster long-term healing and resilience.
• Caroline Corasaniti, DPT has more than 12 years of experience in neurologic and orthopedic rehabilitation. She began her career on a traumatic brain injury unit in Denver and completed Love Your Brain Teacher Training in 2018, followed by Yoga Teacher Training in 2020. Caroline is dedicated to helping individuals rebuild strength and return to the activities they love.
• Eileen Allen, a lifelong Tahoe local and entrepreneur, is a certified yoga instructor and Master Paddleboard Yoga Fitness Trainer. As a traumatic brain injury survivor, she completed Love Your Brain Yoga Teacher Training and brings powerful lived experience to her teaching. Her deep roots in the Tahoe community and the outdoors shape her compassionate and grounded approach.

The next session runs May 1^st through June 5^th, meeting every Friday from 11:45 am to 12:45 pm. Classes are held at Tahoe Yoga Wellness, located at 10770 Donner Pass Rd #104 in Truckee.

Pre-registration is required for Love Your Brain Yoga

To register, contact Tahoe Forest Wellness at (530) 587-3769.

Through Love Your Brain Yoga, Tahoe Forest Wellness Center continues its mission to support healing, connection, and resilience throughout the community.

Written By Tahoe Forest Health System Yoga Therapist and Reiki Master, Brooke Haley M.A., RMP

Yoga Therapy: Personalized mind-body medicine

While many people are familiar with yoga as a group fitness class, Yoga Therapy is a highly specialized clinical discipline that uses therapeutic yoga practices to address specific health conditions. Yoga therapists undergo extensive training in anatomy, physiology, mental health, and therapeutic application of yoga practices. Sessions are conducted one-on-one and tailored to each patient’s unique medical history, health goals, and lifestyle.

Yoga Therapy may incorporate a range of targeted therapeutic approaches, including:

• Evidence-based breathwork techniques that help regulate the nervous system
• Somatic movement practices designed to support mobility and reduce pain
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) strategies
• Meditation and attention training to support emotional regulation
• Yogic counseling and lifestyle guidance that help build sustainable daily wellness routines

Research in integrative and behavioral medicine continues to demonstrate that yoga-based therapeutic interventions can reduce stress hormones, improve mood regulation, enhance sleep quality, support immune function, and help manage chronic pain.

Yoga Therapy is increasingly used in clinical and hospital settings to support individuals experiencing:

• Mental health conditions – including depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, grief, and addiction recovery
• Chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions – including back pain, sciatica, arthritis, and migraines
• Cancer care support – helping manage fatigue, sleep disruption, emotional stress, and quality of life during and after treatment
• Stress-related and nervous system disorders – including chronic stress, burnout, and nervous system dysregulation
• Digestive and gastrointestinal conditions – including IBS and inflammatory bowel disorders
• Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases – such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
• Hormonal and life-stage health – including pregnancy, postpartum recovery, fertility support, menopause, and healthy aging
• Cardiovascular and metabolic health – including hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes management
• Respiratory conditions – including asthma and COPD
• Neurological recovery – including stroke recovery, migraines, and chronic fatigue

One of the most valuable outcomes of Yoga Therapy is learning how to develop a personalized daily wellness routine. Patients leave sessions with practical tools they can integrate into everyday life to support long-term health and nervous system balance.

Reiki: Supporting the body’s natural healing response

In addition to Yoga Therapy, Tahoe Forest Health System now offers Reiki, a gentle energy-based therapy that promotes deep relaxation and supports the body’s natural healing processes.

During a Reiki session, the practitioner uses light touch or hands-near techniques to encourage a relaxation response that may help regulate the nervous system. Research in integrative healthcare settings has shown Reiki can help reduce pain, anxiety, fatigue, and stress.

Clinical studies in hospital environments suggest Reiki may be particularly supportive for:

• Chronic pain management
• Stress and anxiety reduction
• Improved sleep and relaxation
• Supportive care for cancer patients

Many patients report experiencing a profound sense of calm, clarity, and restoration following treatment.

Integrative care for whole-person wellness

By introducing Yoga Therapy and Reiki, Tahoe Forest Health System continues its commitment to innovative, patient-centered care that supports physical health, emotional wellbeing, and nervous system balance.

Under the guidance of wellness expert Brooke Haley, patients now have access to cutting-edge therapeutic modalities designed to complement traditional medical care and empower individuals on their path toward greater vitality and resilience.

Discover how integrative therapies can help restore balance, reduce stress, and support your body’s natural capacity to heal.

Ready to refresh your wellness habits and build a healthier future? Join us for an empowering 11-week series designed to help you create sustainable lifestyle changes that support long-term well-being.

Led by Lisa Fligor, Registered Dietitian, this program takes a thoughtful, in-depth look at:

• Eating habits
• Exercise patterns
• Your relationship with food and weight

Through expert guidance, meaningful discussion, and practical strategies, you’ll gain the tools and confidence to make lasting changes. Research shows that support makes all the difference—our group setting provides accountability, encouragement, and connection with others who share similar goals.

What’s included:

• 11-week guided group series
• One-on-one touch-base sessions with your dietitian during off weeks
• Ongoing peer support and accountability

Take the first step toward a healthier, more balanced you. Call today to reserve your spot!

When: Next 11-week session starting Wednesday, April 22nd, 5:30-6:45 pm
Cost: $150
Location: Tahoe Forest Wellness in person or virtual option

Build confidence, improve balance, and strengthen your body in this supportive and encouraging class. Heart to Heart: Strength and Stability focuses on functional strength, core stability, and balance training to help you move safely and confidently in everyday life.

This class is ideal for individuals looking to improve strength and stability in a medically supportive environment.

When: Every Tuesday, 11-12 pm
Cost: $75 for a 10-class punch card or try a class for $10
Location: Cardiac Rehab Gym at the Tahoe Forest Hospital

Join us for a FREE Discovery Session and learn how you can take control of your health with the Diabetes Prevention Program!

Did you know that 1 in 3 adults has prediabetes — and 90% don’t even know it? Tahoe Forest Community Health is proud to offer Prevent T2, a proven lifestyle change program shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% in at-risk adults.

Prevent T2 empowers you to:

• Lose weight in a healthy, sustainable way
• Increase physical activity
• Reduce stress
• Build lasting healthy habits

When you enroll, you’ll receive:

• A CDC-approved curriculum
• Guidance from a trained lifestyle coach
• A supportive group of peers on the same journey
• A year-long program with weekly meetings for the first 6 months, followed by meetings once or twice a month for the next 6 months

We’re offering two FREE Discovery Sessions to help you learn more and see if Prevent T2 is right for you. Click here to register and take the first step toward preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes — your future self will thank you!

When: April 23rd and April 30th, 4-5:15 pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Tahoe Forest Wellness Center

Call Tahoe Forest Wellness to schedule your program at (530) 587-3769.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds fresh sugar snap peas
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¾ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions:

1. If needed, remove and discard the stem end and string from each sugar snap pod.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the sugar snap peas, salt, pepper and garlic powder and sauté, tossing occasionally for 3 to 5 minutes, until the sugar snap peas are crisp and tender.
3. Place the sugar snap peas in a serving bowl, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

Makes: 6 Servings
Preparation Time: 10-15 minutes
2011, Ina Garten, All Rights Reserved

Credible Minds – Tahoe Forest Community Health

Life can be challenging- there’s no way around it. Work or school can be stressful, relationships may face rough patches, and financial worries can weigh heavily. Resilience is the ability to recover and adapt when facing these difficulties. By learning to bounce back and move forward, you strengthen your capacity to grow and thrive. Research shows that developing resilience skills can enhance decision-making and performance under pressure. In other words, when the next challenge arises, you’ll be better prepared to manage it effectively. Building resilience can also reduce stress-related illness and boost your overall well-being. Explore the resources below to learn how you can strengthen your resilience.

Visit the Credible Minds Topics of Resilience

Truckee Recreation Center: Golden Hour

In this practical talk on April 30th, Tahoe Forest neurologist and founder of Growing Spaces Coaching, Joshua Kreiss, MD, MPhil, CPCC offers a compassionate understanding of dementia that goes beyond memory loss, including common types and the emotional realities families face. Grounded in real stories, he shares simple, usable tools for communication, daily care, and self-care, along with an honest perspective on current treatments. The central message: while there is no cure, connection, understanding, and community are powerful forms of care for both patients and those who love them.

When: Thursday, April 30^th, 9-11 am
Where: Truckee Recreation Center, 10981 Truckee Way, Truckee
Cost: FREE

Truckee Recreation Center hosts a free weekly social event for seniors on Thursdays. All are welcome!

Find more information on Golden Hour.