MOLINE, Ill. — Graduate students at St. Ambrose University's accredited Doctor of Occupational Therapy program are volunteering their time to lead yoga classes at GiGi's Playhouse for people living with Down Syndrome. The free classes began last June and are all about connecting the mind and body.
"It's a great flexibility, balance, and mental relaxation program," GiGi's Education Coordinator Ann Cobb said
According to GiGi's, the average life expectancy for an individual with Down Syndrome has grown from 30 years in the 1980s to more than 60 years today. The free yoga program helps those living with Down Syndrome both physically and mentally, as many struggle with balance and muscle strength.
"Often our participants feel isolated, and to be able to come together as not only a group of themselves but to get people from outside of the GiGi's Playhouse family...really gives our friends a sense of community that they may not have," Cobb said.
St. Ambrose University's occupational therapy professor Stephanie Phares came up with the idea of the student-led class. She feels it's a great way to get students hands-on experience.
"I think it's really important for students to build that confidence," Phares said. "To be able to not only interact with a lot of different people, but then to be able to coach somebody through an activity."
First-year physical therapy student Molly Steffen was Saturday's instructor. "I've definitely become more comfortable in front of a group of people leading exercises," she said. "I'm encouraging them, motivating them, just overall communicating."
GiGi's offers free programs for all ages including a nutritional cooking class and tutoring in math, reading and speech therapy. Ann Cobb's final message was to "just remember to be accepting, be generous and be kind, be 'Generation G.'"
In December, second-year St. Ambrose doctorate of occupational therapy student Amber Cook joined The Current on News 8 to discuss the importance of the program and what classes have been like. You can watch her full interview here:
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