Why Yoga for Dentists?

My mission is to change the way dental professionals think about self-care. Not by fixing, avoiding, or medicating yourself. But by fostering awareness so you can meet yourself right where you are, with what you're needing. As a long-time dentist and certified yoga teacher, I am uniquely positioned to offer mental, physical, emotional, even spiritual reflections so that you may be encouraged to approach your life with a different perspective.

I wish I had a community of like-minded dental professionals when I was a younger dentist - a group that could commiserate but also offer healthier ways to address the mental and physical challenges that come with the profession. I created Yoga for Dentists to meet that need.

Sharing the positive impact yoga can have on dental professionals has become my way to give back to the people I feel most comfortable with - the dental community. Let’s face it, we are a special breed of practitioners. Only other dental professionals “get” what it’s like to be us. 

My personal yoga journey has been like a long, scenic hike with seemingly unscalable boulders of autoimmune issues and the high-stress environment of running a dental practice. I endured because of my love for the practice of yoga, its effects on my body and spirit, and the application of ancient yogic philosophy to modern life in dentistry.

The human body is fascinating and the better we understand it, the better chance we have of giving it what it needs so we can live better lives - both in and out of the clinical setting! In an effort to give you effective tools, the Yoga for Dentists content focuses on yoga poses, meditation, mindset, and self-care tips. My desire is to hold space for different body types and physical abilities so everyone can explore personal restoration through body and mind techniques. 

My approach to yoga is not “fitness yoga” for Instagram athletes. It’s yoga for real people. It is slower, more mindful, and helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system. It’s not meant to be a workout in the traditional sense. But it is meant to leave you feeling nurtured, healthy, self-regulated, and peaceful. 

Through yoga, meditation, and self-care, you have the opportunity to create nervous system resiliency so you can access a greater sense of authenticity, meaning, and purpose in your life. I hope they will become an important part of your self-care toolbox and continue to bring personal healing and peace into your life. 

Be Well,

Watch Dr. Dovidio on the Feeling Good Podcast