It’s easy to think of yoga as a simple workout routine, a way to relax or lose weight. But Elizabeth Thompson BBA ’07 has found a deeper purpose for this popular exercise: supporting pediatric cancer patients.
After graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in finance, Thompson started her career in accounting. That experience gave her the business savvy she needed to establish Jollie, a mindful movement company that specializes in yoga accessories. She has practiced yoga since she was a teenager. When she was 18 and hurt her back playing soccer, practicing yoga helped rebuild the damaged muscles, relieve the pain, and give her a sense of stability. This helped open her eyes to the uses of yoga in health care.
“Moving your body is necessary for both children and adults beyond the physical benefits,” she says. “It’s good for your brain, for endorphins, and for managing your stress and emotions.”
Elizabeth Thompson has used her past experiences to further her knowledge of yoga and its benefits for both the body and mind. (Photo by Meredith Flaherty)
Thompson is committed to bringing these benefits to young cancer patients by donating yoga-themed games and accessories to 13 major children’s hospitals across the country. Every time someone purchases a yoga mat, Jollie donates one to a child in need. These products help sustain yoga therapy programs where Thompson says yoga can be practiced in any position including “a hospital bed, chair, or wheelchair.”
“Yoga is something different that you can offer to a child in such a stressful situation,” says Thompson. “It’s something they can take with them to manage their anxiety and confusion. Teaching them the right poses and breathing techniques can have a major impact on alleviating their stress and helping regain control over their body.”
Thompson finds yoga to be a fulfilling way to relax and regain energy. She also uses yoga to connect with her two young daughters. They and the other children who use Jollie yoga mats love the fun prints and designs on mats that are perfectly sized for them. Butterflies and rocket ships soar under their hands and feet as they practice their poses.
Moving your body is necessary for both children and adults beyond the physical benefits. It’s good for your brain, for endorphins, and for managing your stress and emotions.” — Elizabeth Thompson, founder of the mindful movement brand, Jollie
Thompson spent years teaching children’s yoga classes and part of her motivation comes from not only the physical and mental benefits but how much fun the children have. Like many yoga instructors, she used storybooks to teach different poses. Children stretch into butterfly pose during The Very Hungry Caterpillar and reach up to the sky in tree pose during The Snowy Day.
“Even if they’re not doing yoga poses, they’re moving creatively and learning how to tell a story with nothing but their bodies and their imaginations,” says Thompson. “Being able to move around and get lost in your own imagination is a beneficial skill that we sometimes lose as adults and is especially vital for children.”