The Center for Independence and TCI Partner with Ashram's for Autism

The Center for Independence and the Children’s Institute are partnering with Ashrams For Autism to raise money to fund more yoga classes for children and young adults on the autism spectrum at The Giving Tree, a special fundraising event on February 6 from 6-10 p.m. at The Park Avenue Club in Florham Park.

“This is a great partnership,” said Kimberley Rushmore, LCSW, Director of The Center for Independence in Livingston. “I think partnering with community agencies like Ashrams for Autism is paramount to providing services to help the quality of life for people with autism.”

The Center for Independence, which is part of The Children’s Institute in Livingston and Verona, serves adults ages 21 and up who are on the autistic spectrum and have related disabilities. The Children’s Institute, which has preschool, elementary, middle and ninth grade programs in Verona and a high school and young adult programs in Livingston, serves students on the autism spectrum with related disabilities.

Ashrams for Autism currently offers three classes per day for adults at The Center for Independence which help the center’s participants relieve stress and anxiety and adapt to healthier lifestyles, Rushmore said.

“Yoga helps people with autism form personal relationships and perform better at their jobs in the community and get along better with their families at home,” she said. “Many people with autism have anxiety and have difficulty forming personal relationships.”

Sharon Manner, the founder and creator for Ashram’s For Autism in Madison, has enjoyed yoga for 35 years and thought it could potentially benefit her daughter, who is on the spectrum. Manner said she was amazed at the positive effect it had on her daughter’s life.  “I attribute my daughter’s progress to yoga,” she said.

“Yoga is not just stretching or a fitness class-it’s a way of life,” Rushmore said. “It’s diet, breathing, how you handle stress. It helps your sleep and digestion. You have a healthier body.”

So Manner created Ashrams for Autism to train yoga instructors to work with people on the autism spectrum. Manner said she will also be working with medical experts to discuss other ways how yoga can help people with autism. In many cases, the holistic approach can help reduce the number of medications that people with autism need to take, she said.

“Our ultimate goal with yoga is to help create peaceful and useful lives for people with autism.” Manner said. The program also offers classes at other programs for people with autism in West Orange, Chatham and Union City.

Manner said her goal is to provide yoga for free daily for adults at The Center for Independence.

Rushmore said she implemented a pilot program four years ago with Manner as part of the extended summer program for young adults at The Children’s Institute and picked several students with high anxiety to participate in the program. After 30 days, all of the students were less anxious and more relaxed.

The Giving Tree will take place Feb. 6 from 6-10 p.m. at the Park Avenue Club. The event will feature dinner, a silent auction, music, henna art, yoga etc. Tickets are $175 a person. For information, visit http://samadhisun.com/giving-tree-benefit/.