September Letter from the Editor

September 1, 2012 by

Greetings eFitFamily readers!  Thank you for visiting and we invite you to explore our site to find information and inspiration as you take simple steps towards a healthier lifestyle.  This month we celebrate Childhood Obesity Awareness Month as well as National Yoga Awareness Month.

We continue to face a crisis of childhood obesity in our country.  According to the American Heart Association, approximately 1 in 3 children ages 2-19 are overweight and obese (BMI-for-age at or above the 85th percentile of the 2000 CDC growth charts.)  www.heart.org  Join us in creating awareness and making healthy choices for your family.  As actions speak louder than words and children learn by example, tackle this challenge with us by selecting healthier choices at the grocery store and engaging in exercise and creative activities with your children.

One FUN form of exercise that also helps improve relationships is family or partner yoga.  Research continues to prove that yoga helps increase self-control/self-regulation, self-esteem, and focus.  Yoga also strengthens flexibility of body and mind and connection between the two, as well elevates mood and improves sleeping habits.  Stretch your body and mind, and experience a fun way to bond as a family while preventing childhood obesity.

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Filed Under: Child/Teen Exercise, Child/Teen Health, Yoga
About Kimberly Rodgers, LCSW, RPT-S

Kimberly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Florida and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor through the Association for Play Therapy. She also supervises clinical social work interns pursuing licensure. She has worked as a psychotherapist for twelve years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia and Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Central Florida.

Her experience includes foster care, adoption, youth shelter, youth related research, school-based counseling, and sexual assault crisis center settings prior to private practice. She specializes in counseling children, families, and adults struggling with stress, anxiety, trauma, and adjustment to life transitions. Kimberly is a current Board member of the Mental Health Association of Southwest Florida and former Vice-President of the Southwest Florida chapter of the Association for Play Therapy. She is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers and EMDR International Association.

Kimberly is founder of Monarch Wellness (originally Monarch Therapy), an integrative center focused on empowering individuals and families through emotional and behavioral metamorphosis. In addition to counseling and play therapy, the center offers other supportive modalities to further enhance emotional healing and stress management including support groups, yoga, laughter yoga, breathwork, integrative relaxation, and sound therapy. Monarch Wellness' sister site eFitFamily.com offers health related information and inspiration for everyday families to live healthier every day. The center is also involved with House of Gaia community center and other community and service focused organizations. More information about Kimberly and her practice can be found online: www.MonarchWellness.net.

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