Our New Foundation Course:

Special Yoga for Special Children Foundation Course

Join us on the first stage of our flagship development programme and discover how the Special Yoga methodology provides you with the confidence and tools to encourage a child’s full potential to flourish.

2020 Courses

This course is one of a series developed by Jyoti Manuel

Jyoti has led the path in the UK for the delivery of therapeutic yoga for children with special and additional needs.

It is with great humility and gratitude that we welcome you to Special Yoga for this course to teach you to work with children with special needs. This course aims to give you an understanding and experience of yoga and meditation to support your work with the children. Over the many years of being blessed to share yoga with thousands of children, what we see over and over is the extraordinary power of yoga that allows us to truly reach our fullest potential. That potential is certainly not only physical, but mental, emotional, physiological, energetic, neurological and spiritual. Through Special Yoga we want the children to gain the most strength and balance they can in every way, to release their fears and to achieve what they have come into this life and this body to do. Yoga gives them this opportunity.

THE SPECIAL YOGA PATH

Your Foundation

This Special Yoga for Special Children Foundation level course introduces you to the Special Yoga methodology, teaches you accessible practices and adaptations to begin to teach children with special and additional needs. After taking this course you will be able to progress to our Special Yoga for Special Children Level One training which will build on the knowledge and skills you have learned here and may lead to accreditation as a Special Yoga Practitioner.

IN THIS COURSE

The Special Yoga for Special Children Foundation course

Right from the start of our foundation course you will be guided through highly effective and accessible strategies for integrating the remedial advantages of the Special Yoga methodology into the lives of children with special and additional needs. On our courses you’ll learn the three different aspects of the Special Yoga methodology taught using a variety of tools with mentor and community support throughout.

Special Yoga’s methodology includes the classical yoga practices of movement, breathing, deep relaxation combined with sound, rhythm, massage and sensory integration techniques.

How this Course Benefits You

  • You will have the opportunity to study online resources at your own pace, join webinars and study groups delivered live via Zoom, be supported through your journey in one to one mentor calls and have the time to embody the practices and embed the methodology of Special Yoga.
  • You will feel empowered to deliver Special Yoga to children with special and additional needs.
  • You will observe a variety of videos filmed at training events and with different children to witness the impact of Special Yoga.
  • You will learn how to develop a tailored practice both an individual and group setting to fully support the wellbeing and potential of the children.

Course tutor

Jyoti (Jo) Manuel

Founder of Special Yoga and a leading expert in Special Yoga for children and the creator of this course. Jyoti Manuel has devoted her life to increasing awareness, knowledge and practical experience in the therapeutic effects of Special Yoga and making the practice available to as many children as possible.

Teaching Style

You will be guided through highly effective and accessible strategies for integrating the remedial advantages of the Special Yoga methodology into the lives of children with special needs. With these skills you will have the ability to tailor various settings to the specific needs of the child or group you support.

Topics Covered

Please note the topics covered are provided as a guide on what to expect throughout the experience.

INNER WORK – Learn how your state matters.

We start by seeing how our state matters and look at the value of our self care and self observation in relation to the children. Throughout every day our state changes, we may have moments of anguish, joy, fear, anger, agitation, happiness, sadness, contentment, etc. and it is so important, especially with any of the more challenging emotions, to learn to be gentle and kind with ourselves. When we truly learn to embody and to live with humility, patience, loving kindness, empathy, compassion and trust not only does it change our inner landscape and our relationship with ourselves but it also changes our relationships with others.

PRACTICE TOOLS – Special Yoga’s methodology includes classical yoga practices.

■ ASANA – using deeply effective postures and movements.

Special Yoga uses a few simple but deeply effective postures and movements to bring balance, core strength, flexibility, motor planning and coordination, and calm. A therapeutic yoga programme gives us the understanding of the value of the postures energetically, emotionally and physiologically creates a natural flow of movement that supports each child. This module will offer a variety of techniques on how to share these postures with the children and how to create useful sequencing.

■ BREATHWORK – engaging the breath to regulate and calm.

Our breath is our best friend. It is always there for us. The emotions and the breath are intertwined. Our breath changes our emotions and our emotions changes our breath. The brain listens to the lungs. The deeper we breathe, the more we oxygenate our bodies, the calmer we are and the more the varying systems of the body are improved. We will share a variety of practices to support the child to find their breath and support the child’s vital energy and emotional regulation.

■ SOUND & SONG – using the vibration of sound to calm the nervous system.

The value of sound is becoming more fully understood. Sound is a vibration and can be used to calm the nervous system. The vibrational quality of simply singing stimulates vagal tone which in turn impacts the nourishment of the nervous system. This module will also introduce you to the rhythmic sequencing of movement to sound to help develop concentration and motor coordination.

■ RELAXATION – help the child(ren) drop into the deepest place of relaxation.

Our intention at Special Yoga is to help the child(ren) drop into the deepest place of relaxation. We know that when our system is at rest and peace, our brains and beings are in the optimum state to reach our potential. This module offers a variety of different practices and tools to support the child to deeply relax and find that deep connection within, helping all the systems of the body to balance, calm and bring inner peace.

■ MINDFULNESS – managing and accepting our human emotions.

This module offers a variety of mindfulness practices to help children become more self-aware and bring an understanding of what is happening in their brains. We will share a variety of mindfulness tools to help the children to manage their emotional state compassionately and kindly. Learning how to manage and accept our human emotions of frustration, rage, anger, emotional meltdowns, as well as fear and anxiety is an important life skill.

■ MASSAGE AND ENERGY – enhancing the wellbeing of children with special needs.

This module will offer a variety of massage techniques that we have learned and used at Special Yoga to enhance the wellbeing of children with special needs. These are not full modules in any specific modality but will offer practices within each. These include Indian Head Massage and acupressure. We will also share some energy medicine techniques for calming, reducing anxiety, increased immunity, and concentration

■ WORKING WITH THE FEET – to open up the body.

Undo a lot of the bodily tensions through the feet. This module teaches you how to work with the feet to open the body up, stimulate the lungs and digestive organs, and support the health and wellbeing of the child.

ADAPTATION KNOW-HOW – Discover how different practices can be adapted for different children.

Discover how different practices can be adapted for children with different diagnoses and energetic states. With these skills you will have the ability to tailor this therapeutic intervention in various settings to the specific needs of the child or group you support. These include autism and ADHD, down syndrome, PMLD, sensory processing disorder, OCD, sensory impairment and cerebral palsy.

Fees

You will be asked to register online and make payment to finalise your booking. An interest free payment plan is available.

What does my fee cover?

  • Full course tuition
  • ‘Special Yoga for Special Children Foundation’ course manual, delivered in downloadable chapters in pdf format.
  • Special Yoga Certificate of Attendance and opportunity to take our Level One training for accreditation as a Special Yoga practitioner.
  • Live Zoom webinar and study group sessions.
  • Personal contact with your own mentor.
  • Access to the course community page to connect and share with fellow students.

What does my fee exclude?

  • Face to face, in person training

Course Certificate

A Special Yoga for Special Children course certificate will be awarded with 100% attendance, completion of the course quizzes and assignments and submission of a film demonstrating your understanding of the Special Yoga methodology through your work with children.

Useful information

What experience do I need for this course?

This course is open to all, including people who do not teach yoga professionally. Regular attendees of our courses include but are not limited to:

  • Occupational therapists and physios
  • Yoga teachers and yoga therapists
  • Trainee yoga teachers
  • School teachers and staff
  • Parents

Can I become a Special Yoga practitioner after completing this course?

Completing the ‘Special Yoga for Special Children Foundation Course’ will be the first step towards building your knowledge to support all children with special needs.

Special Yoga is a yoga training organisation of excellence. We pride ourselves in appropriately preparing you towards a career. Following this course you will be able to enroll in the Special Yoga for Special Children Level One course which in turn leads to the Level Two course. Form here you may be considered for further development as a Special Yoga mentor supporting the development of practitioners and our worldwide community. If you are interested, this will be discussed during your course.

Can we support you in choosing your course?

If you have any queries please let us know at training@specialyoga.org.uk.

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Course Tips
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"The approach and core philosophy espoused integrates so well with our ethos and practice for managing stress, conflict and challenge and so it will embed into and enhance our practice. I will recommend the programme to other Special Heads." — Freddie Adu, Head, Queensmill School | November 2017
Freddie Adu, Head, Queensmill School | November 2017
"Special Yoga has allowed Zachariah greater control over his emotions and impulses. We use special yoga breathing as part of his daily routine."
Parent – Jane
"“Best nights sleep I’ve had in a while after the first session”
Teacher – Cassandra
"There was a parent assembly and one boy was sad about his dad leaving and had a melt down… “Once he calmed down he came back to the teacher and said his guard dog was barking and didn’t let the owl speak.”
Teacher – Stephen
Special Yoga means "mindfulness" to me - I enjoy being relaxed.
Kate Aged 14
"It helps Nicolas with being mindful & using relation techniques to control his anxiety." (aged 11)
Parent – Rebecca
"This session for Zaydan is his personal ‘recharging’ activity for the week. It is an opportunity for Zaydan to let his body and mind both speak freely and get the appropriate sensory relief needed." (Aged 11)
Parent – Jonathon
Through Special Yoga Oliver has become aware of his body and the space around him. He focuses on the movements and has learnt to relax and become less anxious. The Sessions are invaluable. (Aged 30)
Guardian – Robert
To be entrusted with carrying forward your life's work, in my small way, see the results in action and know the differences that so many can come to know, has been a privilege that I'll always value.
Richard Fedorko – SYSC Student
It’s a brilliant practical course with integration of the material shared. Christine is a wonderful teacher and her professional experience and knowledge are essential for this fantastic CPD.
Student – Reflex Points to Compliment Yoga for Special Needs
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