Woman’s new yoga business helps those with disabilities

Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder caused by a brain injury or a malformation while the fetus is in the uterus.

Sufferers of Cerebral Palsy, or CP, often find it hard to get their arms, legs, hands, feet and fingers to obey orders.

Muscle control is often a problem with muscles constricting, impacting motor skills and speech.

Jeff is a 56-year-old Palmetto man with CP who has struggled with the aforementioned issues.

A little more than a year ago, Jeff, whose last name is not being used to protect his privacy, began getting visits at his United Celebral Palsy group home in Palmetto from Cheryl Albright, an occupational therapist with 14 years of experience who is also the owner/operator of a new Bradenton yoga business that makes house calls called Soul to Soul Yoga.

Albright, who has received her registered yoga teacher training of 200 hours, now offers Intregal Yoga to people of all ages with disabilities to improve their breathing, movement and their performance in their daily living skills, she said last week.

She felt she could help Jeff by pointing his attention to his breathing, not unlike countless yoga devotees do daily.

“When one of Jeff’s muscles fired, his whole body started moving,” said Albright, a 2003 graduate of East Carolina University, where her focus was occupational therapy.

“I felt that if I could calm his muscle system down, I could get him to have more muscle control,” Albright added.

It took repetition, but, eventually, with Albright’s help, Jeff began to learn how to focus all of his attention on his diaphragm and on the way his belly gently went up and down with each breath.

“Once Jeff did that, he learned how to isolate movements,” Albright said. “The first time the left-handed Jeff was able to move his left arm and hand by themselves was an amazing moment.”

“I think he said, ‘Holy expletive,’ ” Albright said. “He’s a funny guy. The first time he realized he could hold his body still he was afraid to smile because once one muscle moves, the whole body might move.”

Albright is excited to see what Jeff’s isolated left arm and hand could mean for his future.

“Maybe he will be able to feed himself,” Albright said. “Or maybe he will be able to get into a power chair if he has enough muscle control. The bottom line is we are working to increase his independence.”

A broad range of patients

Integral Yoga, as taught by Sri Swami Satchidananda, aims for an easeful body, a peaceful mind, a useful life and the realization of one’s true self, according to the Integral Yoga Institute of New York City website, iyiny.org.

“It doesn’t matter if you are a child or an adult, when you come to one of my classes there are usually five parts to it,” Albright said. “We start with singing and imitation to try to engage the patient, then eye and breathing exercises, actual yoga postures and then relaxation.”

Albright believes Integral Yoga is effective in helping patients with CP and other neurological disorders as well as scleroderma/rheumatoid arthritis, Down syndrome and other conditions and diseases.

Jon is a 10-year-old from Sarasota with Down syndrome.

Albright was hired by Jon’s mother, Shelley Lauters, to help her son focus his mind so he can learn.

“In general, yoga calms the nervous system down so they are ready to learn,” Albright said. “It gets them so they are not in a constant flight or fight or worried or anxious about something. So, in Jon’s case, he becomes more attentive so he can learn different things. He is talking a lot more now and building a lot of strengths.”

“Cheryl has been teaching my son yoga for almost a year,” Lauters said. “She is knowledgeable, patient and engaging. He looks forward to her private class with him each week. I am aware of the immense benefits yoga brings to him emotionally, physically and spiritually.”

Putting yoga and disabilities together

Albright grew up in Rochester, N.Y., with an older brother who was autistic and non-verbal and an aunt who had Down syndrome. When she was 14, Albright helped children with special needs at Rotary Camp Onsewaya. In high school Albright adapted swimming lessons for children with special needs.

“I think my youth directed my career path,” Albright said.

While living and working in New York as an occupational therapist after graduating from college, Albright was thumbing through an occupational therapy journal one day and saw a week-long seminar offered by Sarasota’s Sonia Sumar called “Yoga for the Special Child.”

“I thought a week in Sarasota sounded good,” Albright said.

But Sumar’s class made a lasting impact and when Albright told Sumar she wanted to start a yoga business for people with disabilities, Sumar said, “Why don’t you just move down and do it here?” Albright said.

In January 2016, Albright started Soul to Soul Yoga, LLC, whose name was suggested by Sumar.

“I started with one class at The Haven,” Albright said.

A year and a half later, she has private clients and has partnered with United Celebral Palsy, Easter Seals, Face Autism, Sarasota Park and Recreation.

“I primarily see people in their homes, but I have also have group classes,” Albright said.

For rates or other information: 941-702-2035.

This story was originally published July 10, 2017 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Woman’s new yoga business helps those with disabilities."