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Yoga for Special Populations: Outreach & Inreach“Even when we lose an arm or a leg, there's not less of us but more. Human experience weighs more than human tissue.” "A library is a miracle. A place where you can learn just about anything, for free. A place where your mind can come alive." |
Betts, Dion E, and Stacey W. Betts. Yoga for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents and Caregivers. London: Jessica Kingsley, 2006. ISBN 978-1-84310-817-7; Paperback; US $18.95.
This thoughtful manual is written by a husband (an educator) and wife (an attorney) team who have an autistic son, Joshua, as well as four other children. Joshua has written an introduction to the book explaining that while he thinks "yoga is weird", he has actually learned how to enjoy the sensation of having his head upside down and found focusing on his breath relieved his stress and helped him self-stim less (a stereotypical example of stimming would be hand flapping when bored or anxious). The book has an excellent introduction explaining many of the symptoms children on the Autism Spectrum display and how yoga can help, making this an excellent reference for those library staff members who may have one or two ASD patrons who show up for their library programs but have little experience working with this disorder. Yoga increases muscle tone and stamina, helps alleviate gross and fine motor delay and weight gain, improves balance, quiets an overloaded nervous system, and helps people accept themselves, even with their challenges (Betts & Betts, 18-20). This is an excellent step-by-step guide to the more accessible asanas (postures) complete with detailed instructions, pictures, emotional impact, and modifications for people on the spectrum. The book ends with suggested short practice sequences and a comprehensive introduction to five different breathing exercises (pranayama) complete with photos and helpful hints.
As a trained Autism Support Worker and Behavioral Intervention Worker, I have relied heavily on this book when designing classes at occupational therapy clinics and schools. It has been a trusted resource in the library when a parent inquires about my children's yoga classes and confesses their child has ASD and I tell them to come along to the class and I use Betts & Betts' modifications to help their child participate along with their peers (and then send them home with the book at the circulation desk!) As a family member and friend of people on the spectrum, I can assure you it is written from a place of love, respect, and deep understanding. A must-have resource for any public or school library collection.
This thoughtful manual is written by a husband (an educator) and wife (an attorney) team who have an autistic son, Joshua, as well as four other children. Joshua has written an introduction to the book explaining that while he thinks "yoga is weird", he has actually learned how to enjoy the sensation of having his head upside down and found focusing on his breath relieved his stress and helped him self-stim less (a stereotypical example of stimming would be hand flapping when bored or anxious). The book has an excellent introduction explaining many of the symptoms children on the Autism Spectrum display and how yoga can help, making this an excellent reference for those library staff members who may have one or two ASD patrons who show up for their library programs but have little experience working with this disorder. Yoga increases muscle tone and stamina, helps alleviate gross and fine motor delay and weight gain, improves balance, quiets an overloaded nervous system, and helps people accept themselves, even with their challenges (Betts & Betts, 18-20). This is an excellent step-by-step guide to the more accessible asanas (postures) complete with detailed instructions, pictures, emotional impact, and modifications for people on the spectrum. The book ends with suggested short practice sequences and a comprehensive introduction to five different breathing exercises (pranayama) complete with photos and helpful hints.
As a trained Autism Support Worker and Behavioral Intervention Worker, I have relied heavily on this book when designing classes at occupational therapy clinics and schools. It has been a trusted resource in the library when a parent inquires about my children's yoga classes and confesses their child has ASD and I tell them to come along to the class and I use Betts & Betts' modifications to help their child participate along with their peers (and then send them home with the book at the circulation desk!) As a family member and friend of people on the spectrum, I can assure you it is written from a place of love, respect, and deep understanding. A must-have resource for any public or school library collection.
Emerson, David, and Elizabeth Hopper. Overcoming Trauma Through Yoga: Reclaiming Your Body. Berkeley, Calif: North Atlantic Books, 2011. ISBN 978-1-55643-969-8; Paperback; US $19.95, CAN $22.95.
Whether or not you feel comfortable offering trauma-recovery yoga programs in your library, this is an important read for anyone teaching yoga to the general population since most people have experienced trauma at some point in their lives, either directly or as witnesses. In the US alone, 7.7 million adults suffer from PTSD and domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women aged 15-44, more common than car accidents, muggings and cancer combined (3). 60% of children aged 0-17 will experience or witness bullying, assault or mistreatment at some point in any given year.. This means the majority of people entering your library on any given day are suffering, most often in silence. Trauma creates a destructive feedback loop of negative self-talk, obsessive hyper-vigilance, and uncontrolled rage or disassociation in the body. The goal of yoga is to get people back in touch with the bodies they have known as shaming, uncontrollable, or broken, and help them to "acknowledge, experience, and bear reality" (Foreword, xiii). Teachers can create safe spaces for them in the library by offering yoga programs that follow the important rules listed in this book, such as not using visualizations, minimizing commands and using inviting language instead, offering verbal and visual assists instead of physical ones, and keeping the noise and light level consistent. Includes sample classes and exercises for trauma-recovery classes accompanied by b&w photos. A terrific resource for both a professional collection and for the general public. Highly recommended.
Whether or not you feel comfortable offering trauma-recovery yoga programs in your library, this is an important read for anyone teaching yoga to the general population since most people have experienced trauma at some point in their lives, either directly or as witnesses. In the US alone, 7.7 million adults suffer from PTSD and domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women aged 15-44, more common than car accidents, muggings and cancer combined (3). 60% of children aged 0-17 will experience or witness bullying, assault or mistreatment at some point in any given year.. This means the majority of people entering your library on any given day are suffering, most often in silence. Trauma creates a destructive feedback loop of negative self-talk, obsessive hyper-vigilance, and uncontrolled rage or disassociation in the body. The goal of yoga is to get people back in touch with the bodies they have known as shaming, uncontrollable, or broken, and help them to "acknowledge, experience, and bear reality" (Foreword, xiii). Teachers can create safe spaces for them in the library by offering yoga programs that follow the important rules listed in this book, such as not using visualizations, minimizing commands and using inviting language instead, offering verbal and visual assists instead of physical ones, and keeping the noise and light level consistent. Includes sample classes and exercises for trauma-recovery classes accompanied by b&w photos. A terrific resource for both a professional collection and for the general public. Highly recommended.
Forbes, Bo. Yoga for Emotional Balance: Simple Practices to Help Relieve Anxiety and Depression. Boston: Shambhala, 2011. ISBN 978-1590307601; Paperback; US $19.95, CAN $23.95.
Clinical psychologist Bo Forbes spent years as a "closet yogi", enduring the harassment of board members, fellow doctors, family and friends teasing her about being a granola-crunching, incense-burning hippie for incorporating asanas into her psychotherapy practice. But she couldn't escape the experience and intuitive guidance that told her that the body held "an essential key to healing anxiety and depression" (Preface, xi). Despite the popularity of more active yoga practices, like Ashtanga or "power yoga", Forbes discovered that slower, more restorative classes, combined with breathing exercises (pranayama) had the most therapeutic benefits for her clients. She states, "Conceptual insight is not required for change; in some cases it actually interferes with it. By working in a body-based realm, we can bypass this mental interference. We can feel rather than think the emotional experiences that heal us" (Preface, xiii, author's italics). With the World Heath Organization's prediction that by 2030, depression will be the leading cause of disease globally, this has serious implications for public libraries as community spaces promoting wellness, life-long learning, and social connection.
An excellent resource for more experienced yoga teachers who would like to offer restorative yoga programs to target patrons with anxiety or depression, or incorporate mindfulness-based asanas into their general curriculum. Especially percipient is Forbes' attention to "mixed states" where the mind can feel anxiety and the body can be depressed and lethargic, or the inverse, where the body is jumpy and agitated but the mind is slow and pessimistic. An engaging read, based on 30 years of diligent scientific inquiry and experience, for anyone interested in restorative yoga, and promoting emotional and physical well-being. A detailed assortment of poses are provided, as well as an appendix of frequently asked questions.
Clinical psychologist Bo Forbes spent years as a "closet yogi", enduring the harassment of board members, fellow doctors, family and friends teasing her about being a granola-crunching, incense-burning hippie for incorporating asanas into her psychotherapy practice. But she couldn't escape the experience and intuitive guidance that told her that the body held "an essential key to healing anxiety and depression" (Preface, xi). Despite the popularity of more active yoga practices, like Ashtanga or "power yoga", Forbes discovered that slower, more restorative classes, combined with breathing exercises (pranayama) had the most therapeutic benefits for her clients. She states, "Conceptual insight is not required for change; in some cases it actually interferes with it. By working in a body-based realm, we can bypass this mental interference. We can feel rather than think the emotional experiences that heal us" (Preface, xiii, author's italics). With the World Heath Organization's prediction that by 2030, depression will be the leading cause of disease globally, this has serious implications for public libraries as community spaces promoting wellness, life-long learning, and social connection.
An excellent resource for more experienced yoga teachers who would like to offer restorative yoga programs to target patrons with anxiety or depression, or incorporate mindfulness-based asanas into their general curriculum. Especially percipient is Forbes' attention to "mixed states" where the mind can feel anxiety and the body can be depressed and lethargic, or the inverse, where the body is jumpy and agitated but the mind is slow and pessimistic. An engaging read, based on 30 years of diligent scientific inquiry and experience, for anyone interested in restorative yoga, and promoting emotional and physical well-being. A detailed assortment of poses are provided, as well as an appendix of frequently asked questions.
McCall, Timothy. Yoga As Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing. New York: Bantam Dell, 2007. ISBN 978-0-553-38406-2; Paperback; US $20.00, CAN $25.00.
Yoga teachers are not doctors (well, unless you are Timothy McCall) but we often have students present ailments to us with the hopes that we can lead them towards the path of healing. Whenever that happens, I always refer them to this book. Written as a self-help guide for the everyday yogi, McCall's comprehensive manual outlines the science of yoga as medicine: how yoga can be compliment your existing healthcare practices and how to do it safely and under the tutelage of a wise teacher. There are detailed chapters of the yoga therapy solutions for the following common conditions: anxiety/panic attacks, arthritis, asthma, back pain, cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia, headaches, heart disease, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, infertility, insomnia, irritable bowl syndrome, menopause, multiple sclerosis, and overweight/obesity. Filled with b&w photos of men and women with myriad ethnicities, ages and body shapes, this inclusive manual lists 40 powerful ways yoga can heal our bodies and the scientific data to back it up. Each chapter gives an overview of the health issue, a personal story from someone in recovery, how yoga affects the disorder, the scientific evidence behind the yogic prescription, a tailored regime of poses and exercises, a holistic list of suggestions for approaching the issue, and contraindications, special considerations and modifications.
This book should be on every public library shelf as an alternative medicine reference for curious patrons and as a professional reference for yoga teachers.
Yoga teachers are not doctors (well, unless you are Timothy McCall) but we often have students present ailments to us with the hopes that we can lead them towards the path of healing. Whenever that happens, I always refer them to this book. Written as a self-help guide for the everyday yogi, McCall's comprehensive manual outlines the science of yoga as medicine: how yoga can be compliment your existing healthcare practices and how to do it safely and under the tutelage of a wise teacher. There are detailed chapters of the yoga therapy solutions for the following common conditions: anxiety/panic attacks, arthritis, asthma, back pain, cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia, headaches, heart disease, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, infertility, insomnia, irritable bowl syndrome, menopause, multiple sclerosis, and overweight/obesity. Filled with b&w photos of men and women with myriad ethnicities, ages and body shapes, this inclusive manual lists 40 powerful ways yoga can heal our bodies and the scientific data to back it up. Each chapter gives an overview of the health issue, a personal story from someone in recovery, how yoga affects the disorder, the scientific evidence behind the yogic prescription, a tailored regime of poses and exercises, a holistic list of suggestions for approaching the issue, and contraindications, special considerations and modifications.
This book should be on every public library shelf as an alternative medicine reference for curious patrons and as a professional reference for yoga teachers.
Blaine, Sandy. Yoga for Computer Users: Healthy Necks, Shoulders, Wrists, and Hands in the Postmodern Age. Berkeley, Calif: Rodmell Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-930485-19-8; Paperback; CAN $19.50.
I put this under "special populations" because it is addressing specific problems that affect computer users. As most of us in the West are now daily computer users (young and old!) this book applies to almost everyone. If you suffer from back problems, carpal tunnel or tendonitis this book's especially for you! A useful resource with some great poses you can do right at your desk in your chair, no mat or props required. These tips would be great to share while teaching a program in the computer lab or during a staff meeting or gaming club. The publisher was smart to not include any photos involving actual computers which would make this book look dated very quickly, instead this book printed in 2008 looks just as fresh in 2015 (except for the really cheesy white sneakers everyone is wearing and the racial blandness of the models).
I put this under "special populations" because it is addressing specific problems that affect computer users. As most of us in the West are now daily computer users (young and old!) this book applies to almost everyone. If you suffer from back problems, carpal tunnel or tendonitis this book's especially for you! A useful resource with some great poses you can do right at your desk in your chair, no mat or props required. These tips would be great to share while teaching a program in the computer lab or during a staff meeting or gaming club. The publisher was smart to not include any photos involving actual computers which would make this book look dated very quickly, instead this book printed in 2008 looks just as fresh in 2015 (except for the really cheesy white sneakers everyone is wearing and the racial blandness of the models).
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Felstead, Christine. Yoga for Runners. Human Kinetics, 2014. ISBN 9781450434171; Paperback; US/CAN $19.95.
This excellent resource is more than just a collection of stretches for runners but a thorough guide on the mental and physical effects of yoga on your road performance. It covers proper breathing techniques, mindfulness, meditation, and yoga safety. There is a chapter that focuses just on recovering and preventing injuries, including a handy table of common injuries and which yoga poses help them and why. It even covers seemingly benign things such as flat feet, side stitches and lower-back pain. Following that are chapters focusing on your foundation (feet, ankles and knees), your spine, your core, your hamstrings (oh! those hamstrings!), and the hips. The chapter on recovery and relaxation might be something type A runners will want to skip but do so at your peril - restorative yoga has proven benefits for quieting the mind, improving sleep, and promoting healing. It is an excellent option when you are feeling too pooped from a hard training run or an injury or illness to practice a "regular" yoga session. Each chapter features anatomical drawings and black and white photos of runners of all ages and abilities doing the poses. Chapter 12 has a series of yoga sequences including yoga you can practice while watching TV or a "no excuses" 5-minute post-run workout. The book ends with how to take your yoga practice off the mat and into your daily grind while standing on the subway, sitting at your desk, or doing chores. An excellent addition to any collection with an audience interested in sports, fitness, wellness and/or physical literacy. |
Taylor, Erin. Hit Reset: Revolutionary Yoga for Athletes. Velo Press, 2016. ISBN 9781937715427; Paperback; US $21.95.
There are a number of books on the market trying to sell athletes on the importance of putting yoga into their cross-training repertoire with the promises that it will improve their game. This book, at first glance, appears to be such a title. But digging deeper into its inspiring pictures of superfit jocks you will find startlingly helpful tips and hints that can help even the most novice among us. As a yoga teacher, I was expecting a bunch of step-by-step routines geared towards the stiff-hipped and tight-calved, but Erin Taylor knows her stuff and taught me I was holding my butt way too tight in bridge pose and that my enviously loose hips, while Instagram-worthy in the studio, were killing my game on the trail by not giving my knees enough support. There are instructions on breathing and meditation, how to relax before a big event, and Taylor's cheeky, conversational tone keeps it light and fun. A spiral-bound spine would have been nice, since it curls up when you try to follow along with the poses, but it didn't crack, despite my heavy use.
An must-buy for any public library, or academic library with a kinesiology department, my only other complaint is that it would be possibly more appealing to have athletes from more diverse genders, ethnic backgrounds, or ages included. But maybe I'm just tired of looking at young, white women in stretchy-pants (occupational hazard)?
There are a number of books on the market trying to sell athletes on the importance of putting yoga into their cross-training repertoire with the promises that it will improve their game. This book, at first glance, appears to be such a title. But digging deeper into its inspiring pictures of superfit jocks you will find startlingly helpful tips and hints that can help even the most novice among us. As a yoga teacher, I was expecting a bunch of step-by-step routines geared towards the stiff-hipped and tight-calved, but Erin Taylor knows her stuff and taught me I was holding my butt way too tight in bridge pose and that my enviously loose hips, while Instagram-worthy in the studio, were killing my game on the trail by not giving my knees enough support. There are instructions on breathing and meditation, how to relax before a big event, and Taylor's cheeky, conversational tone keeps it light and fun. A spiral-bound spine would have been nice, since it curls up when you try to follow along with the poses, but it didn't crack, despite my heavy use.
An must-buy for any public library, or academic library with a kinesiology department, my only other complaint is that it would be possibly more appealing to have athletes from more diverse genders, ethnic backgrounds, or ages included. But maybe I'm just tired of looking at young, white women in stretchy-pants (occupational hazard)?
Copyright 2015-2018 Jenn Carson
