Consider a NEW Practice - National "Every Kid Healthy" week

Two years ago I began practicing yoga and absolutely love everything about it. If you are my friends or family, I have probably already asked you to come join me for a class. If you have been a patient of mine, I most likely have incorporated some sort of yoga-esque exercise into your rehabilitation. Why? Because these movements, breathing techniques, and forms of meditation work!

My 9 year old daughter, Emma, is exactly like me….running from sun up to sun down. Typical first born - wanting to do everything right and make everyone proud. And I think….oh no! I KNOW that I made her this way! While I admire her goal setting and her determination, I also want to teach her that life is a practice…..not a perfect!

Let’s face it, our kids today are constantly running from one thing to the next. Their days are filled with rushing off to school, after school activities, sports, clubs, homework and late bedtimes. All of which are repeated day after day. Not to mention the pressures that come with academic performance, success in sports and don’t get me started about the inner workings of adolescent friendships!!

Stress kicks in the sympathetic nervous system which leads to an elevation in heart rate and blood pressure. Over time, this constant increase in stress can lead to decreased immune support, low self-esteem, depression and isolation.  Research shows that incorporating a stress related program into a student’s daily routine helps academic performance, self-esteem, concentration and helps emotional balance. This further leads to improving a child’s confidence, goal setting, and overall classroom behavior.

Cue yoga…..

Yoga is a holistic approach to stress management. It gives an individual the opportunity to pause amidst all the chaos of life. To take a deep breath. To BE in the moment. The word Yoga in Sanskrit means “to yoke,” to bring together in mind, body and spirit. Yoga emphasizes the importance of breath, along with physical postures and relaxation methods to strive toward balance and allows the body to reconnect with the mind.

I have taken Emma to yoga with me multiple times. Not only do I love having this special time with my daughter. I love how she tells me she feels after she practices. Don’t get me wrong, part of the reason she loves it is for all the arm balances and crazy poses that only a 9 year old gymnast could hold, but she also tells me how calm she feels after. How relaxed and happy she feels walking out of the studio.

Yoga has benefits for children of every age:

·         Young children (6 and under): Development of body awareness and gross motor movement

·         Children 7-9 years of age: Challenges in strength, agility and endurance

·         Adolescence (10-12 years of age): A place to thrive as their bodies are changing and a safe environment to practice in, as they seek acceptance from peers

·         Teenage years: ”Practice allows for self-study and self-care as well as development of vital intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, such as improved communication skills, which are critically needed at this developmental stage”.

So this month, step out of your comfort zone and take your son or daughter to a yoga class. What a great way to celebrate being healthy with your kids. No judgement. No expectations. Just BE. 

Jen Bazan, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist, and co-owner

TheraCORE, Inc.

Children are always welcome at the yoga classes offered at our Lockport clinic. Classes are every Wednesday evening from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. Namaste!

Keep kids active during summer break

Keeping Kids Active During Summer Break

                Summer is in full swing and kids are enjoying their break from school before starting another year.  Unfortunately, getting away from the structure of the school day results in many children spending their new found free time on the couch playing video games or watching television.  A 2007 study in the American Journal of Public Health reported that the body mass index (BMI) of more than 5,000 kindergartners and 1^st graders increased by twice as much during summer break than during the school year.  It is well known that weight gain can affect children’s health both physically and mentally, so what can you do to keep your child active and healthy this summer?

                Turn off the T.V.!  Limit the amount of time your child spends watching television or playing on electronic devices by giving them a set time when these activities are appropriate, or better yet, use these activities as a reward for participating in some form of aerobic exercise that day. Experts recommend 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day, but this can be spread out over the course of the day while still achieving the health benefits.

                Make a calendar that your child is in charge of that marks the things that they are going to do that week.  Before they go to bed at night, sit down and help them write down the activities that they want to accomplish the next day.  This will give them some of the structure they had in school but also gives them control and will make them more likely to participate.

                Keep sporting equipment and toys easily accessible in the house or garage.  Tennis rackets, basketballs, hula hoops, and baseball gloves are more likely to be used if they are seen and available.

                Make it a family affair!  Children are more likely to be healthy and active if their parents are setting an example.   Going to the pool together or riding bicycles is not only great exercise, but is also fun way to spend time with each other.

                See what activities your community has to offer.  Summer sports programs, day camps, and outings are sometimes an affordable way to get your child active and meeting new friends!

                So, get them off the couch and moving!  They will start the new school year healthier and happier and never say the summer was wasted.

-Ryan Schaul, MPT   

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