Daily Life Therapy (Higashi) for Autism

Daily Life Therapy (DLT) method also known as Higashi was developed in the 1960s by Dr. Kiyo Kitahara at the Musashino Higashi Gakuen School in Tokyo, Japan. She developed the method through what she learned from teaching a child with autism in a mainstream education kindergarten class. Her main objective was to develop self-esteem of the autism children and create emotional security for them.

Higashi is a Japanese word which means ‘hope’ and it is a holistic approach to integrate autism children with other normal children to study together in one group. There are a few methods used in this approach such as providing a systematic education by involving group dynamics, modelling, physical activities, art, music, academic, and vocational training.

How DLT (Higashi) works

Behavior management in DLT does not involve the measurement of neglect, punishment, time-out procedures or through medication. DLT is not to treat or to cure Autism Syndrome Disorder (ASD), but is believed to provide other important benefits such as improving the skill of ability, flexibility and function appropriately when they are with internal community and also activities involving family. Activities are group-oriented and highly structured with an emphasis on learning transmitted from child to child through synchronisation and imitation.

The Higashi approach emphasises group learning in the context of a programs which includes vigorous physical activity to develop both strength and concentration. Physical activity is one of the academic curriculum’s of children with autism and it is a challenge for their ability level as well as … Continue Reading ...

Rome: City of Seven Hills

Rome, the capital city of Italy, is historically known as ‘City of Seven Hills.’ According to Roman mythology, the seven hills of early Rome were the Cermalus, Cispius, Fagutal, Oppius, Palatium, Sucusa and Velia. But now the modern ‘City of Seven Hills’ includes Myrtle, Blossom, Clock Tower, Jackson, Lumpkin and Old Shorter hills and Mount Aventine.

In the beginning, all the seven hills were occupied by different small hamlet and were not grouped or recognized as a city called Rome. The residents of the seven hills started participating in a series of religious games which started bonding the groups together. The city of Rome thus came into being as these separate settlements acted as a group, draining the marshy valleys between them and turning them into markets. Rome became the most beautiful city in the world that soon started governing the whole world.

Five out of seven hills of current Rome are populated with monuments, buildings and parks. The Capitoline now hosts the Municipality of Rome and the Palatine Hill is an archaeological area. The monuments of Rome still stand as a reminder of Rome as one of the greatest centers of western civilization.

The Eternal City is home to rich heritage and art. There are many lavish ancient palaces and one of them is the ‘Golden House of Nero’. Built on about 200 acres of land, the palace has a 150 foot statue of Nero in the nude at the entrance. The only ancient building which remains intact today … Continue Reading ...

Living In New York City – A Cultural Melting Pot

New York City is the most exciting city in the world. This is true for many reasons – one reason being the diversity that can be found here. New York is home to all kinds of people, ranging from the rich and famous, to important businessman, to students and recent immigrants. People living in NYC now have come from every continent in the world. With over 8.2 million residents within an area of 322 square miles, New York City is the most densely populated major city in the United States. 36 percent of the people living in the city are foreign-born and City hall has translators for 150 different languages.

New York City has been known as a melting pot of culture since the early 1900s and as this has continued through the present day, the city has become rich with different cultures. Just walking around the streets of the city can be like walking around the halls of a cultural museum. In fact, it might even be better since you’re actually a part of the diversity and culture. If you are looking to experience a culture other than your own, you probably won’t have to walk more than a few blocks outside of your door.

You can easily experience many aspects of different cultures by going to the different ethnic neighborhoods that exist throughout the city. For example, if you could just never afford that trip to China that you’ve always dreamed of, when living in New York City … Continue Reading ...

Affirmations for Self Esteem: Easy Ways to Get Your Daily Dose

So many people today are aware of the importance of daily affirmations in their lives. If you are suffering from low self esteem, you can truly benefit from instituting positive affirmations in your life every day. These are messages that can help to give you small boosts of self confidence each day, and over time, reading them can result in a mental shift that equates to a much higher level of self esteem. So just how can you enjoy daily affirmations for self esteem? Here are some very easy ways to get your daily dose.

Books

There are so many different books that are designed to give you daily affirmations for self esteem. These are generally books that are divided up in to short passages, paragraphs, or chapters, and you are intended to read just one very positive and uplifting section each day. Some of these are religious in nature, and others may have a humorous undertone. These are quick and easy to read, and some people will read them on their lunch break, and others will read them with their breakfast in the morning or before bed at night.

Audio Books

Just as there are books that have affirmations for self esteem, you can also find a number of audio books as well. These are great for people who either don’t like to read or don’t have time. You can listen to them in the car while you drive to and fro in your busy day, or you can … Continue Reading ...

5 Benefits of Practicing Daily Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is now a common practice by persons targeting deep tissues including ligaments, tendons and joints. This involves limited movements where a person stays in one position for an extended period of time, usually between 3 and 5 minutes. The poses involved work great for parts of the body with more connective including thighs, pelvis, spine and hips among others. Most of the poses involved are practiced when lying or sitting on the floor, and these are usually held for around three to five minutes. It is, therefore, important to wear comfortable clothing. As a beginner, you should not aim to hold the poses for long, but you should start with what you can handle without overstretching your limits. It will only be a matter of time before you start noticing some improvements.

The major benefits that you will enjoy when practicing Yin Yoga include:

1. Strengthening connective tissues: There are numerous functions associated with the body’s connective tissues with some good examples being promoting mobility, maintaining posture and promoting the proper function of blood vessels among others. By practicing Yin Yoga, you will be strengthening these tissues, and they will be performing their functions more efficiently. This will also help to reduce cases of injuries.

2. Improved energy flow: You can rely on Yin yoga to enhance the flow of energy through various body channels and this helps to boost the health functions of different organs. These exercises are also known for boosting the body’s immunity and slowing … Continue Reading ...

This Key Factor Affects Our Health On A Daily Basis, Can You Guess What It Is?

This is beyond doubt that our ancestors lived a longer and healthier life than an average person does today. Besides the obvious pollutants present in the environment, there is an even more important factor that is slowly deteriorating our health on a daily basis. The culprit is hidden in our kitchen – yes, it’s your cooking pot!

Although our eating habits have a direct impact on our health and well-being, for example, eating too much of junk food increases cholestrols levels and creates a deficiency of proteins and vitamins. Even if you are having a healthy diet regularly with just the right balance of essential nutrients, you may not see the desired impact on your health. This is because how you cook your food greatly decides its nutritional value.

If you are cooking food in conventional cookware, you are greatly reducing its health value. The metal and chemical toxins from metal and ceramic pot leach into food and contaminate it. The harsh heat destroys delicate nutrients like complex carbohydrates, flavonoids, phytonutrients etc. and their effect is clearly visible when the cooked food tastes bland and loses its natural color.

The water soluble nutrients can not be stored in the body so we need them from food on a daily basis. These are available as steam during cooking that has to be released before you can open the pot’s lid due to extreme steam pressure. Just like other delicate nutrients, the water soluble nutrients are lost as well.

Can you guess Continue Reading ...