What is Yoga for Additional Needs?
Yoga for children with additional needs includes the classical yoga practices of movement, breathing, deep relaxation combined with sound, rhythm, massage and sensory integration techniques.
The children are absolutely able to be themselves. The session is for them. With no expectations. Meeting each individual where they are at.
Everyone is special. Regardless of abilities, appearance, culture, gender, race or the assumptions society has placed on us.
Yoga sessions focus on the following areas:
- Breathing practices
- Physical postures
- Deep pressure massage
- Sound therapy
- Mindfulness
- Relaxation
The benefits can include:
- Improving motor control and motor planning skills
- Developing physical strength, muscle tone and balance
- Promoting flexibility and correcting postural misalignment
- Increasing self-awareness
- Establishing calm, organised mental states
- Improve concentration
- Reduce hyperactivity
- Relieve respiratory ailments
- Develop the ability to relax
- Release tension
- Reduce fear, frustration and stress
- Enrich the quality and quantity of sleep
Having completed training with Special Needs Yoga my understanding is that we can help take children out of their stressed state and help them move into a relaxed state that creates the optimum condition and possibility for positive change. Simply starting by meeting every child with a pure intention to create a practice that encourages them to reach their fullest potential and celebrating the strength within each child we work from there.
Movement Based Learning techniques are incorporated into the yoga sessions with the children. Movement-based learning has come to be known in the neurobiological field as any brain-based learning that stimulates the growth of neural pathways through movement of the body.
Through observation of postural and behavioral cues develop a movement program that will enhance a more integrated way of learning. This will allow for the child to accomplish his goals in life with greater ease – the goal may be walking, talking, self-feeding, reading with ease, organizing classroom tasks, relating to peers or learning to self-regulate behaviors.
I offer yoga for people with a variety of additional needs and vulnerabilities, including
- Autism
- ADHD
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down’s Syndrome
- Learning disability/ difficulties
- PMLD
- Tourette’s Syndrome
I have been awarded the SCOPE Inclusive Activities Award which helps me to follow best practice in every aspect of my services and gives teachers, parents and carers the confidence they need when choosing activities for their children.
Where can you access these sessions?
I offer 1:1 sessions as well as family sessions in studios or at your home.
- Wednesdays 1-6pm in Leeds
- Thurs 5-7pm in Leeds
- Fridays 11-1pm in Saltaire
Book now for our Accessible Yoga Sessions for Parents/Carers of children with Disabilities or Additional Needs starting Wednesday 5 Nov until 17 Dec at 11:15am – 12:15pm at Body Mind Agency, Chapel Allerton.
Yoga with Charities
I also teach sessions in conjunction with various organisations including Sunshine and Smiles, SNAPS, Mencap, Little Hiccups Moortime and educational settings.
Testimonials about these sessions with the children
What parents say about these sessions…
“My daughter has been having bi weekly sessions with Debs for over two years, my daughter has complex needs, wheelchair user, and a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. A strong and comfortable relationship and bond has been established, my daughter benefits physically, emotionally and mentally from these sessions and I could not recommend Debs enough she is truly amazing and always ready to adapt sessions to my child’s needs.”
“Yoga with Debs was miraculous on Saturday for my children. One was very dysregulated beforehand and the yoga gave him the sensory input he needed and also really helped him emotionally – it was the calmest I’d seen him all week. My other child spent the whole day telling everyone how she’d been doing yoga to help her clear her mind! Debs is amazing with the children and was even able to offer some tips to help with some physical issues. Thank you Debs and Snaps!”
“Whenever the kids have done yoga with her there is a noticeable positive difference all day.”
What Jo, Children’s Services Manager SNAPS, says…
Yoga, Movement & Sensory Balancing Course
These can be delivered through schools, not-for-profits or private settings. To organise a course at your organisation or a 1:1 for your child, please get in touch.
6 sessions which build upon each other, each focusing on a different discipline: Yoga, Balance, The Breath, Movement Based Learning, Mirroring and Interaction, Massage and Sensory Integration. Each session is based on the principles of movement, body work, breathwork and exploration. This approach creates a space for exploration, inspiration and sharing. The sessions:
- Develop yoga as a joyful and calming tool
- Build upon each other, each focusing on a different discipline
- Are opportunities to build your support network and learn from fellow expert parents.
Testimonials about these sessions with the children
Teachers say:
“… the deep breathing exercises are extremely helpful for him and a strategy we have been teaching him to use when he is in his calm area in school.”
“.. noticeable changes in his behaviour and is able to articulate his feelings and needs much more than he was before.”
Parents say:
“The whole programme was useful; the group worked really well and Emily and Debs were fantastic”
“I learnt a lot of strategies to support … with his core and relaxation techniques”
For more information please get in touch.
