“Scenes of Spain” on Friday, September 30th at 8PM

Dear Friends and Patrons,

Hoping everyone is enjoying these beautiful last days of summer. We would like to extend a warm invitation to our upcoming event, “Scenes of Spain” on Friday, September 30th at 8PM.

In “Scenes of Spain” we will travel the regions of Spain in music and dance with notes from Spanish lecturer Margarita Campos and enjoy Spanish wine and cheese chosen by Spanish food connoisseur Luis de Haro. Also included in the program will be pianist and artistic director, Linda Papatopoli; clarinetist, Liz Leehey; flamenco artist, Eve Agush; flamenco guitarist, Roberto Foreman; classical guitarist, Tom Rhodes; Baritone; Gary Tucker and more.

More information soon with how to purchase tickets and with the venue address. 

SAVE THE DATE!

Scenes of Spain, September 30th, 8PM

Sincerely,

Linda Papatopoli & The Boston Arts Consort

Yoga Books, DVD's etc for Children with Special Needs

On a previous post, I received a comment form a mother who is interested in books, DVDs etc for her child who was recently diagnosed with PDD-NOS. I thought I would compile a list for her and anyone else who is interested. 


1. Yoga Therapy for Every Special Child: Meeting Needs in a Natural Setting by Nancy Williams and Leslie White


2. Yoga for the Special Child; A Therapeutic Approach for Infants and Children with Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Learning Disabilities by Sonia Sumar


3. Yoga for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents and  Caregivers by Dion E. Betts and Stacey W. Betts


4. Integrated Yoga: Yoga with a Sensory Integrative Approach by Nicole C. Cuomo


5.  I Can Be:A Child's Whimsical Introduction to Yoga by Christine M. Sumner and Kirk Salopek


6. Brain Gym: Simple Activities for Whole Brain Learning by Paul E. Dennison and Gail E. Dennison


7. Yoga for Children with Special Needs by Aras Baskauskas and Britt Collins M.S., OTR (DVD)


8. Yoga-Yingo Classic Set (GAME)


9. Abilitations Super-Pro Anti-Burst Therapy Ball 65cm (PROP)


10. Learn With Yoga: ABC Yoga Cards for Kids by Christine Ristuccia


11. Sensational Meditation for Children: Child Friendly Meditation Techniques based on the Five Senses by Sarah Wood Vallely


12. Starbright Meditations for Children by Maureen Garth 


13. Fly Like A Butterfly: Yoga for Children by Shakta Khalsa

Breves No. 2 “La ultima noche en la casa del flamenco” (the last night at the house of flamenco)

Seeking Balance Though Yoga: The Breath

Everyone feels tension and stress. We see it in adults and we see it in children. As a matter of fact, more and more studies have shown the increase in stress-breathing in elementary aged children. The way that you breathe can exasperate a stressful situation and you need to become more aware of your breathing patterns for better management. Stress-breathers fill their chests with air and use their mouths to breath and they have a large amount of tightness especially in their upper backs.  People who exhibit stress breathing are not using their diaphragms properly and through awareness they can shift out of over-breathing. However, deep breathing is not the answer to stress relief; Quiet, diaphragmatic breathing is the key to both relaxation and good respiration. The goal is to have an even ratio of inhale to exhale. Yoga can help! Through awareness, meditation, movement and creativity, yoga can have a profound effect on your body and mind:

*reduced stress

*sound sleep

*reduced cortisol levels

*improvement of many medical conditions

*allergy and asthma symptom relief

*lower blood pressure

*smoking cessation help

lower heart rate

*spiritual growth

*sense of well being

*reduced anxiety and muscle tension

*increased strength and flexibility

*slowed aging process

Rescue breath:

A very important tool that I have been taught is called “Rescue Breathing”. If you need immediate rescue from your constricted breath try breathing in a 2:2:1 ratio….inhale: inhale: exhale (each inhale is equal in length and the exhale is only ½ of one inhale). In stress breath, you are mostly deprived of a good inhale, so doing this rescue breathing will help to even out your two cycles. Getting your breath out of your chest and into your diaphragm will help immensely. For good yoga breathing, it is not that the belly pushes, instead the diaphragm lifts and allows the belly to fill (think of a beach ball and if you press down in the center of it, the two sides would lift around your hand). The exercise is from the book Conscious Breathing: Breathwork for Health, Stress Release, and Personal Mastery by Gay Hendricks.