Yoga + flamenco
= fun form of
therapy

Yomenco gets seniors
moving and even
seems to help
Alzheimer's

By S.L. Salamone,
Correspondent

April 4, 2005

Music, and not your classic big band or golden oldies sounds, could be heard from inside the senior living facility. The music was steamy and rhythmic with a heavy Latin beat.

Inside, about 35 residents of the Atria Hillcrest Inn were seated in a huge parlor with their arms in the air and waving tambourines and maracas.

As music from the Gypsy Kings filled the air, the seniors stomped out a beat on the carpet and gyrated. It was Yomenco time, the latest activity to hit the senior circuit.

A merging of yoga and flamenco dance, Yomenco was created by New York native Bruce Van Horn, in Thousand Oaks on Thursday to demonstrate the exercise therapy regimen at Atria. A certified yoga and dance instructor, Van Horn believes he has created an activity that provides not only exercise and entertainment, but also helps bring some relief to such common disorders of the elderly as arthritis and Alzheimer's disease.

AARP March 2004

Shall We Dance?

by Christina Ianzito

“There are plenty of options if you want to enter the world of emotive-motion. Bruce Van Horn, author of the 2002 video Yoga for Healthy Living, has come up with a meditative dance called "Yomenco," which combines traditional meditative yoga

poses with lively Flamenco music. "Seniors appreciate the gentle, sexy movements," says Van Horn. "It's a lot of fun." And those who aren't ready for the more challenging poses can still move their hands to the music.”

Christina Lanzito is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. Reported by Matt Brockwell.

YOMENCO

The Passion of Flamenco With The Awareness of Yoga

Bruce Van Horn is an Activity/Movement Therapist and Yoga master. He has received national media attention for his programs focused on nursing homes and senior residences. (See www.yogaforbusiness.com click on Yomenco for ABC News Clip). He has brought his passion and joy into the lives of thousands across the NY Metro region with Yomenco.

Bruce is the author of about a dozen health and wellness books including "Daily Yoga Class”. Bruce believes that Dance and Body-Mind exercises are a great way to begin to open energy patterns and promote healing. The key involves letting go of our ego and feeling of being insecure. Bruce enjoys working with seniors because they feel free to let go and enjoy being in the moment. Bruce works with seniors to encourage gentle movements and right/left brain coordination skills. The exercises are modified for those with special needs and challenges. Scientific studies reveal that such exercises have the potential to slow the progression of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Flamenco was born out of collective experience of diverse ethnic groups including Jews, Indians, Africans and Moslems and as such it speaks to our subconscious desire for healing and repair. Bruce believes Yomenco is the perfect vehicle for healing and improved mental and physical



	Articles

			Continue