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Adapting Yoga for Children and Adolescents with Functional Disorders

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Functional Symptoms in Pediatric Disease

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Abstract

Yoga practice is intended to reduce suffering and encourage optimal functioning through self-awareness and self-transformation. A basic assumption underlying the practice of yoga is that the mind and the body are mutually influential and the practices of yoga are intended to simultaneously and holistically effect change in the whole person. The general aim of yoga practice is to bring the body and mind into a balance of stability and ease at increasingly more subtly perceptive levels. In this chapter, the importance of matching the practice to the person in order to increase motivation and maximize potential benefit is emphasized. Information is presented about differences in yoga styles and classes and the ways that yoga techniques can be applied and adapted to the needs of the individual and to children. Evidence for the effectiveness of yoga as an intervention for functional disorders is reviewed. Case studies are presented demonstrating use of yoga techniques with adolescents diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia. Videos, images, and instructional text are provided.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yoga Therapy Clinic, The Life Centre, 6 St. John’s Park, Flat 2, London, SE3 7TD, UK

    Lisa C. Kaley-Isley PhD, RYT-500

Authors
  1. Lisa C. Kaley-Isley PhD, RYT-500
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lisa C. Kaley-Isley PhD, RYT-500 .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Ran D. Anbar

Electronic Supplementary Material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Sitting preparation (MP4 45257 kb)

Relaxation preparation (MP4 19356 kb)

Point to point breathing practice (MP4 122335 kb)

Moving back into awareness (MP4 66843 kb)

Sitting preparation (MP4 50533 kb)

Standing asana practice (MP4 26039 kb)

Kneeling asana practice (MP4 62494 kb)

Supine asana practice (MP4 96426 kb)

Relaxation (MP4 134667 kb)

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Kaley-Isley, L.C. (2014). Adapting Yoga for Children and Adolescents with Functional Disorders. In: Anbar, R. (eds) Functional Symptoms in Pediatric Disease. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-8074-8_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-8074-8_25

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-8073-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-8074-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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