Whole Child Yoga News

July 2011

Whole Child Yoga News

Asthma and Children

Yoga for Children with Special Needs - An Opportunity to Serve

Help Wanted

Ahh...Legs Up the Wall

Contact Us

Asthma and Children

by Beth Gibbs

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system that causes swelling and narrowing of the airways which can cause difficulty breathing, fast (rapid) breathing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and coughing.

In recent years, there has been a worldwide increase in the number of children with asthma. This trend has been linked to allergies, environmental factors, and obesity. The connection between asthma and obesity deserves more research given the alarming rise of obesity among children. A West Virginia study on almost 18,000 children ages 4 to 12 found a higher likelihood of asthma among kids with elevated triglycerides and insulin resistance.

Some common asthma triggers include animals (hair or dander), aspirin and other medications, changes in weather (most often cold weather), chemicals in the air or in food, dust, intense exercise lasting more than 2 minutes, mold, pollen, strong emotions, tobacco smoke and viral infections, such as the common cold. Asthma in children is a leading cause of hospital stays, school absences and missed work for parents.

Unfortunately, asthma never goes away, but the right treatment can help keep it under control. Parents, along the child’s pediatrician and health team, can work together to create and carry out a treatment plan which should outline how to monitor symptoms, take medicines and teach the child how to avoid or respond to asthma triggers.

There is no foolproof method to prevent asthma attacks. The best way to reduce the number of attacks is to eliminate triggers where possible and help children develop ways to respond to triggers that cannot be eliminated. This is where yoga, as a complimentary modality, fits within an overall treatment plan.

A therapeutic yoga practice, which uses stretching, breathing, and meditation techniques can have real benefits. One study reported that two thirds of patients who practiced yoga regularly were able to reduce or stop taking their asthma medications. Stress and depression have been associated with more severe symptoms and some evidence suggests that stress reduction techniques, such as yoga, may be very helpful in the long-term management of asthma.

Additional information about asthma and asthma in children can be found at the following links:

http://www.asthma.com

http://www.hhs.gov.

http://adam.about.net/reports/000005_10.htm

Yoga for Children with Special Needs - An Opportunity to Serve

Dear Friends,

As mentioned in previous newsletters, there's a growing need for qualified yoga teachers to work with children who have special needs.  This newsletter highlights asthma - with a link to obesity.  Previous newsletters have highlighted obesity, attention and sensory processing disorders, and autism spectrum disorder.  Two of the programs that Karen works with involve students who are referred by  local school district special education departments.

Yoga is seen as a recreational activity that offers extended benefits such as increased awareness, social interaction, increased physical skill and competency, much needed relaxation, and more. 

Age (developmental) appropriate yoga can be fun, interactive (partner poses), restorative and so much more.

Children have stressful lives.  Children with special needs may have added stress of not being able to participate with their peers because of their health conditions. 

We, Beth and Karen, hope that you will be inspired to work with these children.  We have designed the Whole Child Yoga program to focus on the four health conditions that we've been writing about.

What we need now is for you to let us know if you plan to attend the Whole Child Yoga YTT in October.  We need to know this as soon as possible. 

Perhaps you have planned a workshop and had to cancel it due to low enrollment.  And then, you get several registrations, after you canceled.  Or, you waited too long to register only to find out that the program was canceled and your registration would have made the difference.

So, don't wait.  Do it now.  Let us know if you need a payment plan.  We can do that.

http://www.wholechildyoga.us

Om shanti, Karen 

Ahh...Legs Up the Wall

A favorite pose