Top 10 Reasons to Try Yoga

1. STRESS RELIEF: Yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body. By encouraging
relaxation, yoga helps to lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Related benefits
include lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving digestion and boosting the
immune system as well as easing symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression,
fatigue, asthma and insomnia.

2. PAIN RELIEF: Yoga can ease pain. Studies have demonstrated that practicing yoga
asanas (postures), meditation or a combination of the two, reduced pain for people with
conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune diseases and hypertension as
well as arthritis, back and neck pain, and other chronic conditions. Some practitioners
report that even emotional pain can be eased through the practice of yoga.

3. BETTER BREATHING: Yoga teaches people to take slower, deeper breaths. This helps to
improve lung function, trigger the body’s relaxation response and increase the amount of
oxygen available to the body.

4. FLEXIBILITY: Yoga helps to improve flexibility and mobility, increasing range of movement
and reducing aches and pains. Many people can’t touch their toes during their first yoga
class. Gradually they begin to use the correct muscles. Over time, the ligaments, tendons
and muscles lengthen, increasing elasticity, making more poses possible. Yoga also helps to
improve body alignment resulting in better posture and helping to relieve back, neck, joint
and muscle problems.

5. INCREASED STRENGTH: Yoga asanas (postures) use every muscle in the body, helping to
increase strength literally from head to toe. And, while these postures strengthen the body,
they also provide an additional benefit of helping to relieve muscular tension.

6. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: Yoga (even less vigorous styles) can aid weight control efforts by
reducing the cortisol levels as well as by burning excess calories and reducing stress. Yoga
also encourages healthy eating habits and provides a heightened sense of well being and
self esteem.

7. IMPROVED CIRCULATION: Yoga helps to improve circulation and, as a result of various
Kid Power Yoga Classes

8. CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING: Even gentle yoga practice can provide cardiovascular
benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving
oxygen uptake during exercise.

9. FOCUS ON THE PRESENT: Yoga helps us to focus on the present, to become more aware
and to help create mind body health. It opens the way to improved concentration, coordination,
reaction time and memory.

10. INNER PEACE: The meditative aspects of yoga help many to reach a deeper, more
spiritual and more satisfying place in their lives. Many who begin to practice for other
reasons have reported this to be a key reason that yoga has become an essential part of
their daily lives.

Marie Coakley, MS/CCC-SLP, RYT has been teaching Yoga to children with various types of Communication Disorders in small group and private sessions for about three years. She has found that with regular practice it offers a host of holistic benefits that augment more traditional therapies, however, it can be challenging to locate yoga classes that are specifically designed for special needs populations. Her adaptive yoga classes are a unique blend of her 28 years of experience working as a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and her training in both Sensory Integration and Neuro-Developmental Theory and Treatment, as well as, seven years of personal Yoga practice and training.

The Kid Power Yoga classes are designed for children with special needs, their siblings and friends. Learning Yoga benefits all the students in the class as they tap into their inner strength in a fun and interactive environment. The classes are geared to the abilities of all. With regular continued practice, benefits often include improvement in:

~Physical strength, endurance, and coordination
~Attention, focus, and impulse control
~Body awareness
~Stress management and self calming skills
~Communication and social skills

Classes focus on learning:
~Self awareness and control
~Use of breath for calming and relaxation
~Fun basic Yoga poses and flow series
~Team work and social engagement
~Self confidence and leadership skills

Please contact Marie at Special Therapies, Inc. for current class times (262) 347-2222. Class size is limited based on the needs of the children in each class. New classes may be formed to accommodate individual needs based on space availability, schedule, and the demand for classes.

Class rates: The first class is free to determine if the group is a good fit for your child.
A six class punch card is available for purchase for a fee of $60.00. The classes are offered on an ongoing basis and do not have to be used up with in a specific time frame.

Adult Yoga Classes

In addition to her Kid Power Classes, Marie also offers a variety of classes for Adults. These classes range from a Gentle Chair Yoga Class to Power Yoga Classes for strength and fitness training. Beginner students may take part in a Introduction to Yoga class. Most classes are multilevel in nature providing modifications for all levels of students.

Classes are designed to meet the fitness and relaxation needs of each student in a supportive and nurturing environment. Classes are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the mornings and evenings. Duration of adult classes run from an hour to an hour and a half in length depending on the type of class. Please call Marie for times as they change on a seasonal basis (262) 347-2222.