Richard C. Miller
Known fornondual yoga research
Medical career
Professionclinical psychologist; author
InstitutionsInternational Association of Yoga Therapists
Integrative Restoration Institute
Institute for Spirituality and Psychology
Marin School of Yoga
Sub-specialtiesalternative medicine
Researchspiritual; psychology

Richard C. Miller (born 1948) is a clinical psychologist, author, yoga scholar and advocate of yoga as therapy.[1] He is the founding president of the Integrative Restoration Institute (IRI), co-founder of The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT)[2] and founding editor of the professional Journal of IAYT. He is also a founding member and past president of the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology, Senior Advisor to the Baumann Institute, and was the founding president of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Marin School of Yoga.

He is known for his work on the use of Yoga nidra for rehabilitating soldiers in pain using the iRest methodology.[3]

Professional background

Further information: Yoga as therapy

For over 40 years, Miller's primary interests have included integrating nondual wisdom teachings of Yoga, Tantra, Advaita, Taoism, and Buddhism with Western psychology. In addition to his research and writing projects, Miller lectures and leads trainings and retreats internationally.[4] Among his mentors, he credits T.K.V. Desikachar and Jean Klein.[4]

Miller worked with Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the United States Department of Defense studying the efficacy of iRest Yoga Nidra.[5][6] The iRest protocol was used with soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[7][8][6] Based on this work, the Surgeon General of the United States Army endorsed Yoga Nidra as a complementary alternative medicine (CAM) for chronic pain in 2010.[9] Continuing studies are being conducted with the use of the iRest Yoga Nidra protocol as a treatment for PTSD and related symptoms.

Miller and his organization have iRest programs in the military (active duty and veterans),[10][11] homeless shelters, prisons, hospices, senior facilities, universities, chemical dependency clinics, multiple sclerosis and cancer outpatient clinics,[12] as well as yoga and meditation studios.

Published works

Books

Journal articles

Audio presentations

Misconduct

On March 14, 2021, in response to an employee posting on Facebook, Miller published a statement taking responsibility for his conduct in 2012 towards an employee of Integrative Restoration Institute (IRI), which he agreed, in 2012, had led to her reporting "feeling uncomfortable" to the IRI board. In 2012 they both signed a "memorandum of understanding" which "acknowledged the inappropriateness" of Miller's actions and brought resolution to the incident.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Richard C. Miller". iRest. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Learn about IAYT". Iayt.org. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  3. ^ Parker, Stephen; Baharati, Swarmi Veda; Fernandez, Manuel (January 1, 2013). "Defining Yoga-Nidra: Traditional Accounts, Physiological Research, and Future Directions". International Journal of Yoga Therapy. 23 (1): 11–16.
  4. ^ a b "Staff | Integrative Restoration (iRest)". Irest.us. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  5. ^
    • "YOGA-BASED TREATMENTS BEAT STRESS" (PDF). Let's Talk (Winter 2010): 1–2. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-22. As a natural alternative to medication, yoga offers tools that mitigate stress and improve quality of life. It can also have a positive effect on blood pressure and heart rate. Practicing yoga postures increase relaxation while the inward focus and meditation enhances calm. Yoga's favorable track record prompted the Department of Defense (DoD) to first pilot, and then adopt a yoga-based Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) reduction program utilizing a form of Yoga Nidra. The program, called iRest (Integrative Restoration), utilizes yoga, progressive relaxation, and meditation to manage negative emotions and stress. The iRest program has helped veterans reduce PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and insomnia. There are now iRest programs at Veterans Health Administration (VA) facilities in Miami, Chicago, and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. as well as active duty facilities nationwide.
    • Walter Reed
    • Dr Richard Miller: Not Recommending Yoga Would Be Malpractice
    • Soldier's Meditation IREST
    • The Yoga of Being on Retreat with Richard Miller
  6. ^ a b Novotney, Amy (November 2009). "Yoga as a practice tool". Monitor on Psychology. 40 (10). American Psychological Association (APA): 38.
  7. ^ Major (Dr.) Nisha Money (2009). "Yoga Nidra (iRest): A "New Twist" on Treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Part I)" (PDF). 5 (4 Winter 2009): 12–13. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2011. Retrieved 2010-12-22. The iRest military program, based on the ancient practice of Yoga Nidra, is designed to systematically reduce physical, emotional, mental, and even subconscious tension that characterizes PTSD. Participants are taught to manage disturbing moods and memories with a skill set that enables them to objectively respond to intense emotional experiences through conscious choices rather than unconscious reactions. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ "Walter Reed Using Yoga to Fight PTSD | Danger Room". Wired.com. 2008-05-06. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  9. ^ "Pain Management Task Force | Providing a Standardized DoD and VHA Vision and Approach to Pain Management to Optimize the Care for Warriors and their Families | Final Report" (PDF). Office of the Army Surgeon General. May 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019. [extract from table in Figure 11: Tier I Modalities] Modality: Yoga / Yoga Nidra; Passive: Facility based yoga classes; Active: Self directed with video, exercising
  10. ^ Pollack, Neal (5 August 2010). "Yoga News & Trends - Warriors at Peace". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 2010-12-22. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ Kersten, Denise (23 October 2007). "Yoga Holistic Healing - Healing Life's Traumas". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 2010-12-22. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ Mary Pritchard; Patt Elison-Bowers; Bobbie Birdsall (2009). "Impact of Integrative Restoration (iRest) Meditation on Perceived Stress Levels in Multiple Sclerosis and Cancer Outpatients" (PDF). Stress and Health. 26 (3): 233–237. doi:10.1002/smi.1290.
  13. ^ Miller, Richard (March 14, 2021). "Richard Miller Statement" (PDF). Richard Miller. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2021.

External links

Yoga as exercise
Categories