Show Yourself Some Kindness! - Community Skills Program
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The Community Skills Program® Newsletter
Volume 36 Issue 1 Spring 2020
Show Yourself Some Kindness!
by Heather Brossman, B.A., CBIS, CESP
(Neurorehabilitation Specialist with Community Skills Program)
During these difficult times due brain.com). The LoveYour
to the coronavirus (COVID-19) Brain Foundation (LYB)
pandemic, we all need to engage was founded 10 years ago
in some self-love and be kind to by family members and
ourselves by making time for supporters of Kevin Pearce,
enjoyable, healthy activities. the professional snowboarder
Research has shown that medita- who sustained a brain injury
tion and yoga can be beneficial while training for the 2010
for both physical and mental Vancouver Olympics. (His
wellness and can be used to story is detailed in the docu-
improve cognitive abilities as mentary film The Crash
Photo courtesy of LoveYourBrain Foundation
well. These practices can reduce Reel.)
anxiety and stress and promote a On their website, LYB explains
sense of well-being and self- that they offer free auditory guided yoga practice video is the third
confidence. Yoga can also meditations and yoga videos tool offered each week. The
increase physical strength and specifically designed to support final tool, yoga nidra, is a 20-
flexibility and, when part of a the recovery of individuals with minute guided meditation to
daily routine, can contribute to brain injuries. In addition, LYB encourage relaxation, reduce
better health and wellness overall. offers in-person yoga classes for stress, and improve sleep. These
There are many resources avail- survivors and caregivers at a tools can be accessed as often
able on the Internet, in books, number of yoga studios in the as needed by the participant
and on DVDs, for someone United States. Due to the recent throughout the week, and all of
seeking to add a meditation or stay-at-home orders because of the the tools from previous weeks
yoga practice (or both) to his or pandemic, LYB has developed a remain accessible. Take care of
her day. Some yoga practices are free six-week program entitled yourself and try something new
physically demanding, but chair LYB Mindset Online (www.love with LYB!
yoga offers alternatives for yourbrain.com/lyb-mindset). This
persons who need yoga with program includes a weekly e-mail
fewer physical demands. More message with four self-paced tools. In This Issue
information about chair yoga The tools are education, meditation,
Chair Yoga ................... page 2
resources is available on page 2 yoga, and yoga nidra.
of this newsletter. What’s Happening! ....... page 3
The education tool is a one-minute
An excellent resource for both video to help the participant find Tips On ........................ page 3
yoga and meditation for individ- inner resilience throughout the Creativity Corner .......... page 4
uals recovering from a brain recovery process. The meditation
AIM Art Show ............... page 5
injury is the LoveYourBrain tool is a 10-minute guided
Foundation (www.loveyour meditation audio clip. A 45-minute Upcoming Events ......... page 6
Page 2 BrainWaves Spring 2020
Chair Yoga Resources
by Heather Brossman, B.A., CBIS, CESP
Chair yoga is an adaptation of traditional yoga and provides the same benefits, including reduced anxiety and
stress, improved self-awareness, and increased strength and flexibility. Because it is practiced in a chair or
seated position, chair yoga can be practiced anywhere—for example, in your living room, or at your desk, the
bus station, or the local library. For people who spend time seated at a workstation, a few minutes of chair yoga
during a break can improve attention and concentration and relieve pain. Additionally, because the individual is
supported by the chair and does not need to rely on core strength or balance to practice the poses, chair yoga is less
intimidating to the beginner. Chair yoga is also accessible to individuals who use a cane, wheelchair, or walker
for mobility, or to those individuals who experience vestibular issues. Below are some resources we found on
YouTube to help you practice chair yoga.
▪ Chair Yoga – Happy Yoga with Sarah Starr Cascading River
Sarah Starr
25-minute yoga sequence while seated in a chair; female instructor
https://youtu.be/myAcZzLKQvM
▪ Gentle Chair Yoga 10 Minutes
Cara Kircher
10-minute yoga sequence while seated in a chair; three female participants
https://youtu.be/XMps5-PIJHA
▪ Chair Yoga – Yoga for Seniors – Yoga With Adriene
Yoga With Adriene
17-minute yoga sequence while seated in a chair; female instructor
https://youtu.be/-Ts01MC2mIo
▪ Gentle Yoga in the Chair
Moffitt Cancer Center
25-minute yoga sequence while seated in a chair; male and female participants
https://youtu.be/G8BsLlPE1m4
▪ Wheelchair Yoga – Gentle Chair Yoga Routine – Yoga With Adriene
Yoga With Adriene
12-minute yoga sequence while seated in a chair; female instructor
https://youtu.be/FrVE1a2vgvA
▪ Yoga For Beginners At Home (10 Minute Yoga in a Chair)
Fightmaster Yoga
10-minute yoga sequence while seated in a chair; female instructor
https://youtu.be/BNUw_bdqO3A
▪ Mindful Chair Yoga: A 15 Minute Beginner Practice
MindfulChairYoga
15-minute yoga sequence while seated in a chair; male instructor
https://youtu.be/Fkl88Nq3BiU
▪ Gentle Chair Yoga for Beginners and Seniors
Yoga with Kassandra
20-minute yoga sequence while seated in a chair; female instructor
https://youtu.be/1DYH5ud3zHo
▪ 20 Minute Gentle Chair Yoga with Jacob Cino
Jacob Cino
20-minute yoga sequence while seated in a chair; male instructor
https://youtu.be/9kxx7CdZhEw
Spring 2020 BrainWaves Page 3
What’s Happening! Tips On...
During the pandemic, as events
were canceled, businesses were Protecting Your Skin from the Sun
closed, and people were ordered to
stay at home, we have needed to Following the “lockdown” of Many apparel companies sell
become creative with our time, to many cities across the United clothing made from special
alleviate boredom and keep life States, due to the coronavirus fabrics that block the sun’s
interesting. We would like to (COVID-19) pandemic, and as UV rays. Look for items with
share with you what our clients the temperatures get warmer and labels that say they have
and staff have been doing during the days get longer, many of us ultraviolet protection or sun
these challenging times. are eager to be outdoors. While protection factor (UPF or SPF).
still observing social distancing
Some of Our Clients:
guidelines, there are many enjoy- ▪ Use a water-resistant sunscreen
Linda has been doing chair yoga with an SPF of at least 30.
able outdoor activities that can
and stretching. (See page 2 of keep us engaged and busy this Apply the sunscreen liberally
this newsletter for some chair summer, such as fishing, bicycling, to all exposed skin at least 15
yoga resources.) She also medi- horseback riding, hiking, minutes before going outdoors,
tates using the Insight Timer swimming, gardening, attending and don’t forget your ears,
app. In addition, she has been picnics, and going to the beach. scalp, lips, neck, tops of your
listening to free audiobooks However, while outdoors, we feet, and backs of your hands.
using the Free Audiobooks app. need to protect ourselves from Reapply sunscreen every two
With the assistance of his neuro- overexposure to the sun. We all hours (even on cloudy days)
rehabilitation specialist, via need some sun exposure in order and always after swimming or
telehealth, Matt C. finished his for our bodies to make vitamin sweating.
spring college semester online at D, but too much unprotected
Middlesex Community College; exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet ▪ Be extra cautious near water,
he is considering taking an (UV) rays can cause skin damage, sand, and snow because they
online summer class. premature aging of the skin, reflect and intensify the sun’s
wrinkles, and skin cancer. Based harmful rays.
Crystal has been working on
organizational projects in her on guidelines from the American
Academy of Dermatology
▪ Keep babies under six months
home, including decluttering her old in the shade as much as
carport. (AAD), below are several tips on possible. The AAD recom-
how to protect our skin from the mends that babies not spend
In April, Matt B. started working
sun’s harmful UV rays: time in direct sunlight.
for a landscaping company.
Kent planted tomatoes, peppers, ▪ Seek shade whenever possible. Applying sunscreen to their
and cucumbers in a backyard Try to avoid direct sun sensitive skin should be
garden, and set up a soaker hose exposure between the hours avoided.
system for watering it. of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.,
when the sun’s damaging rays
▪ Avoid tanning beds. There is
In addition to his usual stretching no such thing as a “safe” tan.
and exercise routine, Jesse has are the strongest.
UV light from tanning beds
been riding his tricycle more, ▪ Wear a hat with a wide brim can cause skin cancer and
and hopes to ride at least weekly. to shade your face, head, ears, wrinkles.
He also uses the Insight Timer
app for his daily meditation.
and neck.
▪ Drink plenty of nonalcoholic
Kasey has been making friend- ▪ Wear sunglasses that block fluids to keep your body (and
ship bracelets. He also has been UV rays. skin) hydrated.
rereading the Harry Potter book
series. ▪ Whenever possible, wear With these tips in mind, let’s
protective clothing, such as a have fun in the sun, protect our
(continued on page 4) long-sleeved shirt or pants. skin, and stay safe this summer!
Page 4 BrainWaves Spring 2020
What’s Happening! Creativity Corner
(continued from page 3)
Word Search: Think Positive!
Some of Our Staff:
Renee helped her two sons with During these challenging times of uncertainty, we could all use some
their online learning to finish words of positivity to help us remain hopeful. So, we thought we would
out the school year. She and create a word search puzzle using only positive words. We hope you have
her husband spent time outdoors fun solving the puzzle, and that it reminds you of the positive people and
teaching their sons to ride their things in your life. (The word search was created using the free website
bicycles without training wheels. www.puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com.) The words at the bottom
of the page are hidden in the block of letters below. They may be written
Eric and his family became
vertically, horizontally, diagonally, forward, or backward. When you find
jigsaw puzzle aficionados, the words, circle them. After (not before) you have found and circled as
putting together puzzles each many as you can, turn to page 7 to see how you did. Good luck!
evening as a family.
With the help of her friends,
R E S I L I E N T Z Q W C R C
Megan made and donated
approximately 3,000 protective
L U F E T A R G D Z Q N I E R
face-covering masks. She also
volunteers once a week at Berks
Encore, grocery shopping for S U O E G A R U O C S T T S E
senior citizens.
F E H D L K N S T E N A S O A
Phill has been baking A LOT!
He has made many different
E E L K E I Q N I E L T I U T
cakes and cookies, but said he
burned off those extra calories
cleaning out his basement and L N I B Q N E C D W R U M R I
doing landscaping in his yard.
U R C U A I I I H U U F I C V
April bought a new bicycle and
has been biking daily with her
F L E O T P F M S E R I T E E
family. She also purchased a
fishing license and has been
fishing at local lakes. P S O A U N A T R I E D P F S
Using Zoom, Skype, or the
L T P V O R W C E E T R O U K
telephone, Sandy reconnected
with family members and old
E R G C I O A N Q P T H F L P
friends, one of whom she had
not spoken with in over 25 years!
H O S A R N D G C Y S E J U I
Heather has been facilitating
virtual Zoom meetings with the
X N J T X L G I I G G Q D M L
Boy Scout troop she leads.
Cheryl and her husband F G H P Y F A H O N E S T X U
repurposed a space in their
yard and created a firepit/ F Y N N U F R H S L G F G P V
conversation area with a
retaining wall and flower beds.
Carrie lives on a farm with her Capable Determined Helpful Resilient
family and has spent time caring Cheerful Encouraging Honest Resourceful
for their baby calves, camping Confident Friendly Loving Strong
in the woods, and hiking. Courageous Funny Optimistic Trustworthy
Creative Grateful Patient Unique
Spring 2020 BrainWaves Page 5
Creativity Corner
(continued from page 4)
Trivia Time: It’s All about the Brain
Fill in the blanks to complete these compound words or two-word phrases, using the hints that follow. Then, see
how you did; the answers are below (upside down).
1) brain ____________________ intellectual capacity; mental ability
2) brain ____________________ a puzzle that demands mental effort and acuity for its solution
3) brain ____________________ rhythmic fluctuations of voltage between parts of the brain, resulting in the
flow of an electric current
4) brain ____________________ a group technique for generating ideas and solving problems
5) brain ____________________ portion of the brain that consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata;
controls basic body functions, such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate
6) brain ____________________ a product of one’s creative efforts
7) Brain ____________________ the name of this newsletter
7) BrainWaves
ANSWERS: 1) br ainpower ; 2) br ainteaser ; 3) br ain waves; 4) br ainstor ming; 5) br ain stem; 6) br ainchild;
A Great Art Show!!
Staff and clients of Community
Skills Program have been impressed
with the participation and artistic
creations of persons with disabilities
who displayed their talents at the Art
Show organized by Abilities in
Motion (AIM) in past years. One of
our clients, Farrah Jackson (who
showed her artwork there in 2018
and 2019), and her neurorehabilita-
tion specialist, Julie Schlauch, M.A.,
LPC, CBIS, CESP, are pictured below.
This year’s Art Show may be pre-
sented virtually, but will undoubtedly
include interesting, high-quality
artwork of various kinds.
Please note: There is no cost to participate in the show. The deadline for submitting
artwork is Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
Page 6 BrainWaves Spring 2020
Upcoming Events
Due to social distancing guidelines that are in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), many
traumatic brain injury (TBI) support groups have suspended in-person meetings. However, several TBI support
groups have continued to meet virtually via Zoom videoconferencing technology. We have identified those
groups below. You do not need to be a member of the support groups listed below to be part of their virtual
meetings; anyone is welcome to participate. In addition, you do not need to have access to a computer or the
Internet; you can use your landline phone or cellphone to call in to the videoconference. (You will not be able to
see anyone that way, but you will be able to hear everyone.) To obtain the Zoom videoconference link, you will
need to call or e-mail the contact person listed below:
▪ Lancaster Area Brain Injury Support Group, Lancaster, PA
Contact: Kathleen Meade (717/394-3466, ext. 173; e-mail: kmeade@acadiarehab.com)
This group typically meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Next Zoom meeting: July 2, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
▪ Heads On Straight for TBI Survivors and Families Support Group, Langhorne, PA
Contact: Mike Hrabowski (215/741-4196; e-mail: mikkar@comcast.net)
This group typically meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
Next Zoom meeting: July 7, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
▪ Lost & Found in Pittsburgh (West Penn Hospital Brain Injury Support Group), Pittsburgh, PA
Contact: Amanda Burgy Allemang (412/608-0713; e-mail: acburgy@gmail.com)
This group typically meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Next Zoom meeting: July 15, 2020 at 6:15 p.m.
▪ TBI Support Group at Hope Community Church, King of Prussia, PA
Contact: Todd Buzby (610/574-0827; e-mail: toddbuzby@yahoo.com)
This group typically meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Next Zoom meeting: July 15, 2020 at 7:15 p.m.
▪ Shadyside Brain Injury Support Group, Pittsburgh, PA
Contact: Monica Bielawski (412/956-1694; e-mail: shadyside.tbi.group@gmail.com)
This group typically meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Next Zoom meeting: July 20, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
▪ Penn Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group, Philadelphia, PA
Contact: Erika Silverman (215/662-9724; e-mail: erika.silverman@pennmedicine.upenn.edu)
This group typically meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m.
Next Zoom meeting: July 27, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
▪ Adult Survivors and Family Members Group, Norristown, PA
Contacts: Catherine Chambers (610/279-9068) or Charlene Towers (610/999-0713)
This group typically meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
Next Zoom meeting: July 27, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
The Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania (BIAPA) has been hosting “pop-up” Zoom support group
meetings. The first one was held on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 4:00 p.m., and the second was on Thursday,
June 4, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. The June 4th meeting began with a five-minute mindful exercise with Blue Buddha
Healing Arts, whose staff have been trained by LoveYourBrain Foundation (see page 1 of this newsletter for
information on LoveYourBrain Foundation). BIAPA has indicated that they will advertise future “pop-up”
Zoom meetings on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BIAPenn). BIAPA is asking for ideas for topics
and any special requests for future meetings; you can message them on their Facebook page or send e-mail to
survivorsupport@ biapa.org.
Spring 2020 BrainWaves Page 7
Word Search Solution Published Quarterly by
Community Skills Program®
(Puzzle on page 4)
BrainWaves is a joint project of the clients and
R E S I L I E N T Z Q W C R C
staff of Community Skills Program® of
Counseling and Rehabilitation, Inc. and
L U F E T A R G D Z Q N I E R Counseling and Rehabilitation of New Jersey, Inc.
S U O E G A R U O C S T T S E Editor: Sally Kneipp, Ph.D., LPC, LRC, CRC
F E H D L K N S T E N A S O A Publication Assistant: Lisa Sechrist
E E L K E I Q N I E L T I U T BrainWaves is free of charge.
It is available by e-mail (preferred method),
L N I B Q N E C D W R U M R I
by mail, or online at our website,
U R C U A I I I H U U F I C V www.communityskillsprogram.com.
F L E O T P F M S E R I T E E To be placed on our list to receive BrainWaves,
please return the form below to:
P S O A U N A T R I E D P F S
L T P V O R W C E E T R O U K Community Skills Program®
Counseling and Rehabilitation, Inc.
E R G C I O A N Q P T H F L P 1150 Berkshire Boulevard, Suite 210
H O S A R N D G C Y S E J U I
Wyomissing, PA 19610
(610) 376-3380
X N J T X L G I I G G Q D M L Toll-free: (877) 728-5616
Fax: (610) 376-3392
F G H P Y F A H O N E S T X U E-mail: CSPNJPA@aol.com
F Y N N U F R H S L G F G P V Website: www.communityskillsprogram.com
Help Us “Go Greener”!
Community Skills Program is still trying to “go greener” and save trees, by cutting back even more on our paper usage.
You can help by receiving your copy of BrainWaves by e-mail instead of regular mail. Please join us in our efforts to
protect our planet by checking the box below. If you do have e-mail, PLEASE help by checking the first box and
providing your e-mail address. (Note: If you do not have access to e-mail, you do not need to take any action—we will
continue to send BrainWaves to you by regular mail.)
□ Please send me BrainWaves by e-mail; my e-mail address is: ___________________________________.
(By checking this box, I understand that I will no longer receive BrainWaves by regular mail.)
To become a new BrainWaves subscriber, or to update the contact information we have on file for you, please check
the applicable box and complete the form below:
□ Please place my name on the list to receive BrainWaves, by (check one) ____ e-mail or ____ regular mail.
□ Please send me additional information about Community Skills Program®.
□ Please change my name and/or address, as indicated below.
□ Please remove my name from the mailing list.
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Job Title (if applicable): ___________________________ Company (if applicable): ________________________
Street Address: __________________________________ City: _______________________________________
County: ________________________________________ State: ______________ Zip Code: _______________
Phone #: ________________ Fax #: ________________ E-mail Address: _______________________________PRESORTED
BrainWaves STANDARD
Community Skills Program® US POSTAGE PAID
READING, PA
Counseling and Rehabilitation, Inc.
PERMIT NO. 218
1150 Berkshire Blvd., Suite 210
Wyomissing, PA 19610
Page 8 BrainWaves Spring 2020
Serving individuals with brain injuries in New Jersey and Pennsylvania since 1981You can also read
