Outline for Workshop for Yoga for people with special needs, 23rd Nov 2019 with Anya Kruger; Yoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist, SNA.

Anya completed the YTI Teacher Training Course (2010), training as YTI Yoga Therapist and further training in yoga for children with the Special Yoga Centre, London (2010, 2012, 2015). Over the past 3 years she has looked into how other movement therapies can be integrated into classes for people with special needs.
She is registered with the Teaching Council of Ireland and holds qualifications as a Special Needs Assistant and in Business Administration (BA Hons). She teaches yoga for autistic children in primary, post-primary and special schools.

This one day workshop which takes place in Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Ave., Dublin 9 is intended for all those who work with people that are not neuro-typical: i.e. people on the spectrum, people with Down syndrome.

Who can attend:

Yoga teachers

Yoga therapists

Therapists

Parents

Medical personnel

Teaching staff

 

Aim and objective: to give the tools of yoga and movement therapy to people who already work with people with special needs or intend to work in that area in the future.

The workshop will run from 10am until 4.30pm and include the following topics:

  • What is different for people on the autistic spectrum, with Down syndrome and other special needs?
  • Do class size and location matter? How to structure a class
  • How to find your breath without talking about it
  • The idea of learning through movement and rhythm – how to adapt yoga poses into rhythmic sequences
  • Co-ordinating the body points the mind – using yoga movement to expand attention span
  • Working with the senses. The importance of proprioception, balance, listening and eye tracking. How to keep the senses alive with Yoga
  • Relaxation ideas
  • Comprehensive hand-out. Further reading. Props

Participants can expect to learn by doing – so bringing a yoga mat and wearing comfortable layered clothing is advised. The course is structured to include short lectures, rhythmic simple Yoga, partner exercises and role play and group discussions to allow an exchange of ideas. There will be a lots of practical suggestions on how to work with children and adults with special needs; what to be mindful of; how to approach specific behaviours and so on. So this workshop is more relevant for people who already have some experience of people with special needs; be it as a yoga teacher; school or special needs teacher or medical staff or parent.