Khadi Madama has been a pioneer in the field of complimentary or alternative therapy since the early 1970′s since first introducing the concept of seated therapeutic yoga at a geriatric symposium as a guest demonstrator/speaker. She has designed therapeutic Tai Chi and Yoga programs, as well as other specialty programs for eldercare and rehab suitable for all tiers of care from Independent Living-Assisted Living-Skilled Nursing and Memory Care. Her unique stress management approach has been used by a branch of the US Navy Fleet and Family Services as well as by St. Barnabas’ Educational Nursing Department. She has spoken before various health care organizations such as The Visiting Nurses Association of New Jersey and on behalf of the NJ Chapter of the American Pain Management Association. Khadi offers an inspirational approach to the field of Alternative Therapy, offering “training the trainer seminars”, implementation and creation of unusually innovative programs such as Art Detectives and Theater In The Round. She offers speaker and consulting services and is a Wellness Possibilities Advisory Board member in New York, and a member of the Health and Wellness Professional Network of NJ, as well as a registered Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Her latest articles on the importance of the emerging concept of a newer paradigm of wellness and the need for properly trained, properly created exercise physiology recently appeared in McKnight’s Long Term Care News, where she is a guest writer.
www.about.me/madamaconsulting
Between 1996 and 2000 Khadi hosted an interactive television program on the educational station in New Jersey, Yours Truly, Yoga. Today her brand, Yours Truly, Yoga TV, www.yourstrulyyogatv.com is a platform to continue to share the wide body of healthful knowledge gleaned over her four decades of experience. In 2009 she was recognized with the prestigious honorific title: Acharya Sri (true teacher).
For our Busy Breather customers, Khadi has prepared some moves, based on Tai Chi and Yoga. They are easy to perform and require little effort, while offering a pleasant means of healthy exercise.
Lifting the Rice Bowl Towards Heaven A simple movement, safe for anyone do to is to clasp the hands together as if you were holding a bowl. Feet are about hips width apart and knees flexed. Slowly inhale through the nose as you lift your hands upwards. Rotate them so that the palms are facing out when they are at forehead height. As you exhale, again through the nose, bring the hands down, rotating them back inwards to the ‘holding the bowl’ position. Inhale again, continue bringing hands downward as you carefully bend forward towards the floor, hands still holding the bowl, until you are as close to the floor as possible. Carefully begin to straighten up (knees remain flexed), as you inhale, lifting the bowl back up to hip height. Exhale and relax hands.
Shooting the Bow and Arrow Stand with feet hip’s width apart. Place hands in the holding the bowl position. Inhale, as you lift your hands to chest level. Rotate palms outward, separate hands; form a fist with the right hand, palm open with the left; open arms with tension as if to ‘pull back the bow’. Look at your left hand. Exhale returning hands to beginning position and repeat on the right side.
Low Clouds Drifting Standing with feet hip’s width apart, hands relaxed at the sides, inhale, slowly raise arms up to waist level in front of body, palms down. Keep hands and wrists relaxed as you exhale and let them drift back down to beginning position. The motion resembles leaves or snow gently falling.
Gathering Leaves Standing with feet at hip’s width apart, bring arms to waist height, in front of the body as if holding a beach ball. Inhale and slowly open arms wide. Exhale as you circle both arms inwards, creating two circles as if you were gathering leaves into a pile in front of you. Move slowly with no tension in the arms, breathing as needed, in order to avoid breathing stress.
All of the above may be performed as often as is comfortable. All are simple and most children will enjoy them, too.
Capturing The Moon With feet about 6-7 inches apart. Inhale while reaching upwards, arm in front of the body, with the left hand, make a fist, squeezing as tightly but comfortably as possible. Exhale, relax hand and let arm back down again. Repeat on the right side. (We are avoiding bringing the arms outwards from the sides for those who may have shoulder problems. Also, to avoid movement that could agitate respiration.
