THE INTERNAT I O N A L A S S O C I ATION OF Y O G A T H E R A P I S T S YYoo gg aa T h e r a p y Too dd aa yy March 2009 Volume 5, Issue 1 Happy Anniversary INSIDE THIS ISSUE Common Interest Therapeutic Practices 2009 Annual Report Communities Take Off for Spring to Members 1 Yo g aT h e r a p yToday M a rch 2009 Ta b l e O fC o n t e n t s March 2009 Feature 19 1989–2009. The International Association of Yoga Therapists Celebrates Twenty Years. 19 A look at the people, purpose and actions that have formed and grown the organization. Excerpts from the President's 1991 Message, Timeline of Highlights, Dream Years, Photo Scrapbook, In Memorium to Marsha Accomazzo. Larry Payne, PhD, Amy Gage, Richard Miller, PhD, John Kepner, contributors. Compiled and edited by Julie Deife. onWorkingwithParkinson’s 5 5 Teaching Yoga to Those With Parkinson’s Notes from the Field by H. Paul Zeiger, PhD 9 Ayurveda and Parkinson’s One Experience by Amadea Morningstar onSeasonalPractices 13 Therapeutic Applications of Yoga Practices for Spring by Patricia Hansen onDevelopment 16 Sharing Yoga Therapy at KYTA by Michelle Walsh 17 Building a Vibrant Profession through Common Interest Communities 23 by Matt J. Taylor, PT, PhD, RYT OnYogaTherapy&Autism 23 Yoga for the Special Child®: Working With Autism by Jennifer Davis 27 Svaroopa® Yoga Therapy for Children With Asperger’s Syndrome by Kim Orr, CSYT, E-RYT 500 onBusiness 31 31 All Yoga is Local by J. Brown onMembers 33 2009 Annual Report to Members; IAYT Thanks Our Patrons and Supporting Members; Electronic Library Subscriptions Become Available by John Kepner, Executive Director, IAYT M a rch 2009 Yo g aT h e r a p yToday 2 Yo g aT h e r a p yTo d a y from the Editor PUBLISHER International Association of A Movement in Touch with the Ti m e s Yoga Therapists EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Julie Deife s I began to assemble this issue, COPY EDITOR Kelly Birch learning more about the member- GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ken Wilson Aship, the leadership, and oppor- Yoga Therapy Today is published triannually and mailed to tunities and challenges for IAY T, it occurre d IAYT members. to me that IAYT is more than an org a n i z a t i o n ; it is a movement in touch with the times. The IAYT BOARD & MANAGEMENT members of IAYT are defining the field in re a l President Matthew Taylor, PT, PhD Vice President Eleanor Criswell, EdD time through their work and views on what Treasurer Clare Collins, RN, PhD Yoga therapy is. Based on that idea, I pro - Board Member Molly Lannon Kenny posed changing the title of this publication Executive Director John Kepner, MA, MBA f rom Yoga Therapy in Practice, to Yoga Therapy To d a y. Novel and exciting Member Services/ ideas are being introduced to the members of IAY T: most notably the Office Manager Jesse Gonzales M e t a P ress project, the Council of Schools initiative, and Common Advertising Manager Madeline Groves I n t e rest Communities. With a developing infrastru c t u re, IAYT will MISSION reach many more people who have a connection to, or interest in, Yo g a IAYT supports research and education in Yoga, and serves as t h e r a p y. Ours is a continually evolving field. a professional organization for Yoga teachers and Yoga This issue reflects the diversity and depth found within IAYT as it therapists worldwide. Our mission is to establish Yoga as a finds itself “stepping out onto the world stage,” as Matt Ta y l o r, recognized and respected therapy. p resident of IAYT since 2008, writes in his article about Common MEMBERSHIP I n t e rest Communities. As I worked on this issue culminating with the IAYT membership is open to Yoga practitioners, Yoga cover and feature section focusing on IAYT's first twenty years, I had teachers, Yoga therapists, Yoga researchers, and healthcare the opportunity to be part of a team that included Larry Payne, professionals who utilize Yoga in their practice. R i c h a rd Miller, Amy Gage, and John Kepner. These people have come MEMBER BENEFITS to know each other well over the years, and within less than two • Subscription to the International Journal of Yoga Therapy week's time had provided me with more than enough information to • Subscription to Yoga Therapy Today c reate this issue's feature section, which celebrates the history of IAY T • Access to IAYT’s research resources and digital library at the twenty-year mark. I began to see how the solid foundation upon • Professional recognition through IAYT’s online listings which IAYT was built truly has been and remains, supportive of and an IAYT membership certificate g rowth and new ideas. • Discounted registration at IAYT events Case studies in this issue focus on the diversity of Yoga therapies CONTACT taking place today. Autism is the subject of two of the case studies, with 115 S. McCormick St., Suite 3, Prescott, AZ 86303 S v a roopa Yoga and Yoga For the Special Child at the heart of the Yo g a Phone: 928-541-0004 (M-F, 10AM – 4PM MST) therapy approaches discussed. Also find a pair of articles on Fax: 928-541-0182 therapeutic approaches for Parkinson's disease, one from the point of www.iayt.org • [email protected] view of a Yoga therapist, and the other from a practitioner of HOW TO SUBMIT TO YOGA THERAPY TODAY Ayurveda. Including these viewpoints and practices help us under- Authors stand the diverse backgrounds and expertise of the members Email a query or completed article to: [email protected] contributing to the field. Brief articles should be 800–1000 words; feature articles A t h ree-part series on 'Seasonal Practices' begins in this issue, should be 1500–2500 words. Articles are reviewed and contributed by Patricia Hansen, a founding member of IAY T. Her accepted on a rolling basis and may be submitted at any time. knowledge from over forty-years teaching Yoga and around twenty- Interviews and Reviews years as an Ayurvedic practitioner, comes through in her discussion YTT interviews leaders in the field of Yoga therapy, and reviews innovative training materials, professional resources, and recommendations for therapeutic Yoga practices for spring. and training programs. Send nominations and contact You will see a broad scope of practice and distinctive viewpoints information to: [email protected]. You may also contact Julie indicative of all the articles presented in these pages. I'm honored to be Deife, editor, by mail at: Post Office Box 867, Corrales, NM, among the many who are participating in Yoga therapy today. Good 87048. reading to you all. Advertisers Call 928-541-0004 or email [email protected] for advertising In service, rates and deadlines. Editorial decisions are made Julie Deife independently of advertising arrangements. call for Submissions Yoga Therapy Today relies on submissions from the membership. ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Please continue to submit your work and ideas via reports and This publication is printed using soy-based inks. The paper articles on training, on business, on practice, on views and contains 30% recycled fiber. It is bleached without using chlorine and the wood pulp is harvested from sustainable fore s t s . insights of the field and profession of Yoga therapy. You will be seeing media reviews, interviews, and much more, as you continue to submit. Email [email protected]. 3 Yo g aT h e r a p yToday M a rch 2009 M a rch 2009 Yo g aT h e r a p yToday 4 o nWo r k i n gw i t hP a r k i n s o n ’s by H. Paul Zeiger, Ph.D. Two vivid accounts of therapy for Parkinson's disease are presented. Both writers are IAY T members. The stories are similar in their poignancy, as each writer has personal experience with Parkinson's. Yet, the approaches are very diff e rent: Yoga therapy in Paul Zeiger's case means working with re f e rrals from neurologists, some of whose comments are also pro v i d e d h e re; and in Amadea Morningstar's case, an Ay u rvedic approach is off e red. Teaching Yoga to those with P a r k i n s o n ’ s Notes from the Field have been teaching yoga since 1990, PD, static balance is easier than dynamic research has shown that a flexible spine is with specialties in therapeutics and in balance (many falls happen when turning). critical to maintaining balance.2 I the aging body. In 2005, I was Consider preparing some gentle vinyasa, or Shallow breathing is also a frequent diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD), borrow some moves from Tai Chi to cover issue, typically aggravated by the stiffening at which time I made a special focus in my dynamic balance. Of course, those with and tightening of muscles in the torso. own Yoga practice of working against the more seriously compromised balance will Most PD students benefit from exploring symptoms of PD and documenting what I re q u i re extra attention to safety; walls, their maxima of both inhalation and learned.1 After a year of study on my own chairs, and assigned helpers are necessary exhalation.3,4 body, I directed my yoga teaching efforts adjuncts.