Van Gorden Fund of the Miller-Dwan Foundation Grant Awarded

CHOICE, unlimited received a grant from the Van Gorden Fund of the Miller-Dwan Foundation in the amount of $4780 to support its Gentle Yoga Program.

This grant will allow a more diversified and extensive curriculum adapted for adults at varying skill levels. The Gentle Yoga Program offers a more advanced version of CHOICE, unlimited’s Beginning Yoga class which has been successfully running for the past four years. The Gentle Yoga Program will allow more adults with disabilities to actively participate in a yoga class, promoting health and wellness, relaxation, proper posture and enhanced self-esteem.

According to the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD), practicing yoga can be beneficial for individuals with disabilities through both the physical postures and breath-work associated with this type of exercise. Health benefits from practicing yoga can be seen throughout the body in the cardiovascular, skeletal, cardiopulmonary, lymphatic and muscular systems.

The Gentle Yoga Program participants will meet once a week, engaging in deep-breathing relaxation exercises, flexibility training and muscle building. The grant from the Van Gorden Fund of the Miller-Dwan Foundation will allow for the purchase of yoga equipment, development of a personalized DVD for each of the participants of the class and leadership from a certified yoga instructor.