A how-to manual for yoga with kids in classrooms and therapeutic settings. If you are a parent of a child with special needs or a professional who works with one, you know how challenging it can be for them to sit still, to cope with change, to focus on self-soothing strategies, and to interact successfully with others. For these kids, yoga therapy can provide crucial support. Behavior and focus, strength, flexibility, balance, and self-regulation are all improved through yoga, making it an ideal practice for children on the autism spectrum, with ADHD, sensory processing and emotional/behavioral disorders, and other exceptionalities. For use in school, at home, or in therapeutic settings, Yoga Therapy for Children with Autism and Special Needs is a how-to manual that meets children where they are, providing a yoga therapy "lesson plan" that will engage them; promote play, social interaction, speech, language, and motor development; and enhance their self-esteem. It teaches an array of CreativeRelaxation techniques using posture, breathing, and mindfulness designed specifically for children with autism and special needs. Drawing on her 30 years of yoga therapy experience with children and those who work with them, the author walks readers through yoga strategies that both calm and energize, emphasizing sensory and bodily awareness and the "sacred space" that is so important for these children. Learn the best ways to use your voice and body effectively when working with children; how to minimize distractions and ease transitions; and how to create personalized yoga breaks to enhance independence and avert meltdowns. Featuring 60 illustrated poses, 89 photos, and 65 lessons, songs, and games, child-friendly instructions are provided for posture, breathing, and mindfulness exercises. All poses and routines include suggested adaptations and precautions for use, and are organized to address specific sensory skills. Current research on the benefits of yoga for health and learning is summarized, and readers learn how, through yoga practice, the brain’s response to stress can be effectively mitigated. With this book, parents, therapists, and educators alike have the tools to successfully develop a therapeutic yoga program for the very children who can benefit most from it.

Teaching yoga to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other special needs is easy using this visual how-to handbook. Breaking down yoga instruction pose by pose, body part by body part, breath by breath, this book uses easy-to-understand language and clear photographs to show parents, teachers, yoga instructors, and other professionals how to introduce the life-long benefits of yoga to a child with special needs. These benefits include gaining greater awareness and understanding of the body, learning to self-regulate the nervous system, and developing coping skills to work through difficult emotions such as anger and anxiety. Creative yoga games, activities, relaxation exercises, and chair yoga poses are included to make learning yoga a fun, interactive, and calming experience for children with a wide range of abilities.

This deeply compassionate and inclusive resource explores the practice of yoga therapy, mindfulness, and somatic enquiry with children and young people who have complex needs. Suitable for working with ages 5-18, the book explores a wide range of conditions, including sensory processing disorder, autism, Down syndrome, hypermobility, scoliosis, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Chapters also include comprehensive theory on the nervous system, child development from the age of 3+, the benefits of expressive arts, and regular reflective prompts for the adults. It is supplemented with over 100 photographs to ease learning and is an invaluable resource for therapists working with children and teens with complex needs.

An innovative and easy-to-follow program for parents, educators, yoga teachers, and health care professionals. The book includes: A step-by-step, integrated system of yoga poses designed to increase cognitive and motor skills in children with learning and developmental disabilities. Specialized breathing exercises and relaxation techniques to improve concentration and reduce hyperactivity. And early intervention program to assure the healthy formative development of infants and toddlers.

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Help teens access the therapeutic power of yoga and mindfulness in their daily lives with this guide. Explaining the science of yoga and how this ties in with adolescent physical and neurological development, the book also gives concrete ways to use yogic techniques to overcome issues such as anxiety, bullying, relationship issues, depression and sleep deprivation. The applied yoga in this book includes not only asana, pranayama, meditation and yoga nidra exercises, but also throws the net wider to include visualisations, philosophy and modes of thinking. Including the latest research and evidence on yoga therapy, it shows how yoga's positive influence extends beyond specific issues. The methods in this book will instil a long-lasting sense of optimism and self-regulation among young people both on and off the mat.

New and unique exercises for children and adolescents in yoga, meditation, guided imagery and somatic explorations fill this comprehensive skills guide. This book is brimming with 115 practical and easy to use tools and stories supporting critical life skills for families, classrooms and therapy sessions. Holistic strategies include: •Meditation to support body-mind-spirit connection •Yoga pose adaptations for Autism, sensory processing & special needs •Trauma sensitive and grounding guided imagery •Parenting tools to tune to our somatic self and enjoy silence and nature •Designing a personal mantra and contemplation •Classroom interventions for building life skills