Medication has helped Mike Baldrige manage his schizophrenia, but yoga has brought him peace of mind.
Schizophrenia — a mental illness characterized by disorganized thoughts and movements — is typically treated through a combination of therapy, medication, psychosocial treatments and a range of other activities, depending on the person’s symptoms.
At the suggestion of his counselor two years ago, Baldrige, 64, from McKees Rocks, added an alternative method of treatment to his routine. He began participating in the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic outpatient yoga class — which ran from 2005 to 2015 — as a way to manage stress. The yoga, he said, has helped improve his attention, concentration and problem-solving skills.
“It definitely made me relaxed,” Baldrige said. “And when you have mental health symptoms, you need to relax.”