In a circle on the floor of the gym at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, MMI clients and staffers followed along with instructor Brenna Rodenburg as she raised her hands over her head, placed her palms together and then slowly brought her arms down to a prayer-like position.
Rodenburg and her students — including MMI Director of Recreational Therapy Nicole Giron — were taking part in the final class of a six-week pilot yoga program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The course was supported by a mini-grant from the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities.
Giron called the pilot program a success, and she expects to have a second class starting February.
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| Participants in MMI's pilot yoga program stretch their torsos. |
"The focus of the class was to help our participants with their mobility, strength and stamina, but at the end of each class, we also did deep breathing and quiet movement — in a busy world, it’s important to introduce calm.
"By the last class, people were really gaining in confidence," Giron said. "It was exciting to see the growth that had taken place."
Rodenburg said that although her students might be at different levels — some more flexible, some stronger — adaptions for each participant and support from recreational therapy staff members taking the class ensured that everyone could participate and had a good time, as well as reap the benefits of yoga.
"Not only are they gaining strength and flexibility in their bodies, but we also work on mindfulness," she said. "We set intentions before each class — maybe there’s an emotion they want to work on or a mindset.
"And sometimes it’s nice just for the social aspect, too."
Renee McGuire said her son Zachary loves to attend the class.
"He’s really done well," she said. "It’s great for his balance and flexibility."
The McGuires are not strangers to MMI — Zachary, 30, has been attending MMI programming and accessing services since he was about five. In that time, Renee said, she has been impressed by the creative programming she’s seen.
"This new idea has worked very well," she said. "The class is small enough that the participants get the attention that they need and understanding they need to perform the moves."
Giron said the department was fortunate to have Rodenburg, a former horticulture therapy intern, return to lead the class.
"She does great work, she’s very skilled at what she does. She knows how to stretch the participants in terms of helping them feel more in control of their movements and build their confidence," Giron said.
Greg Symens, father of longtime Camp Munroe attendee Lily Symens, said his daughter loves all MMI recreational activities.
"She’s been cooped up for the last year and a half, with not as much exercise as she’d normally get when we were out," he said. "We wanted to have something active for her to do, and she loves being around all of her MMI friends. She wanted to get together with them and do something aerobic, fun and physical, where she can use up some energy."
"We can’t say enough about the people here," Greg Symens said. "They’re always looking to find something new and different, something the young adults will be interested in doing — cooking, gardening, art class, now yoga. Lily’s been involved in all of those. Even some things we don’t think she’ll be interested in, she’ll want to try it."
"This is the best place. You can feel safe here, and they just do all kinds of fabulous things," Renee McGuire said.