Empowering you to share the benefits of yoga and mindfulness with all children

This training course encompasses neuroscience, breath work, posture, yoga philosophy and mindfulness. The practices taught will enable you to inspire children with or without special needs in mainstream education to integrate yoga and meditation into their lives.

Who may join this course?

It is our intention to share yoga and mindfulness with as many children as possible. We invite anyone with a sound yoga foundation, including a current, regular practice and a love of yoga and children, to join this course. We welcome yoga teachers, school teachers or TAs, therapists or parents/carers. Some experience of mindfulness practices is also a pre-requisite. If you are not a yoga teacher please provide a letter of recommendation from your regular yoga teacher, or get in touch by emailing teachertraining@specialyoga.org.uk. Skills in an area related to yoga may also enable you to join this course.

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How this Course Benefits You

You will learn:

  • A variety of approaches to help children from the age of 2 – 13 years embrace their full potential through the practice of yoga.
  • How to include children with special education needs and additional needs into your classes.
  • How to manage challenging behaviours and teach children how to self regulate
  • Engaging and creative practices of mindfulness from highly experienced practitioners in the field
  • Extensive tools to create a mindful space for children giving them life long practises to enhance their wellbeing, confidence and self care.

Topics Covered

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

■ Topic 1 – Introducing the Yoga Practice

You will be provided with a background to the evolution of our practice and the possibilities of Yoga. Whether you are a parent, teacher or therapist, we will provide you with the personal and practical knowledge to enter various situations ready to bring the best out of the child.

■ Topic 2 – Practitioner & Child

You will be guided through how to develop relationships with children and their carers. A positive intention will be established from the outset, and you will be encouraged to celebrate the child’s strengths as you support them in embracing their potential.

■ Topic 3 – Teaching Yoga Through the Ages (Includes live kids classes)

A series of live classes displaying how to approach techniques with specific ages groups will make for a lively experience. Get a first-hand insight of how to address various requirements of a class and become more certain of your talent in delivering this discipline.

■ Topic 4 – Family Yoga

Learn how to deliver yoga and mindfulness to families.

■ Topic 5 – Sound and Breathing Techniques

Develop an understanding of how to use sound, rhythm and chanting as a valuable part of the practise.

■ Topic 6 – Asanas

Asanas are the yoga poses. They help to realign, balance and strengthen the body. The course leaders will guide you through how to adapt poses for the different ages, to build sequences and to nurture the potential within.

■ Topic 7 – Meditation and Mindfulness

Special Yoga methodology encourages a mindful practice in all aspects, inviting a deeper physical and emotional awareness of the body for both yourself and the child.

Topic 8 – Children With Special Needs

Sharing practices that will support children with special and additional needs that you will meet in mainstream education. 

■ Topic 9 – Yoga in Schools

You will be guided through a variety of styles to suit teaching yoga in schools. This will involve teaching yoga for a school play scheme, as an after-school club activity and ways to effectively integrate yoga as part of the curriculm.

■ Topic 10 – Applying Special Yoga

A series of case studies and live children’s classes will provide you with a deeper insight into how the core principles can be practically applied.

■ Topic 11 – Creating a Class

You will learn how to pose questions, challenge behaviours and become aware of a child’s range of abilities to help tailor your practice accordingly in both one-to-one sessions and group settings.

Teaching Style

We will guide you through highly effective and accessible strategies for integrating the remedial advantages of Special Yoga methodology into the lives of children. With these skills you will have the ability to tailor classes in schools, within the community and within the private sector. 

Course tutors

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

Gemma Carey Clark has worked as a teacher in mainstream and specialist provisions since 2006 and holds an MSc in Special and Inclusive Education.  Having practiced yoga since she was 18, she knew this was her path and has been sharing Special Yoga since 2015. She is also a qualified Yoga Campus teacher, accredited with yoga alliance and has been leading the ‘yoga in schools’ pilot study in Norfolk.

Beryl Lovegrove began practicing yoga over 40 years ago and has been teaching yoga to children for the last ten. She is a qualified teacher with Yoga Campus and accredited by the British Wheel of Yoga. She has trained with Jyoti Manual at Special Yoga and with Michael Chissick of Yoga at School and holds a BTEC Advanced Diploma in Teaching Yoga to Children. Beryl has also trained with Judith Hanson Lasater as a Restorative Yoga Practitioner.

Emma Naisbett Having worked as an education professional for over 20 years, Emma has an exceptional understanding of primary teaching across all key stages. Emma’s desire to support her young daughter, who was suffering from severe anxiety, sparked the beginning of a fulfilling journey. Emma teaches mindfulness in educational settings to children, teachers, parents, families and has also been a part of the Oxford University-led MYRIAD project, which is investigating the impact mindfulness has on adolescents.

Useful information

What experience do I need for this course? This course is for yoga teachers or people with a strong yoga practice or skills in a related area. If you are not a yoga teacher please provide a letter of recommendation from your regular yoga teacher, or get in touch. It is also expected that you will have experience of mindfulness practices. Regular attendees of this course include but are not limited to:

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

Fees

Course fees cover:

  • Full tuition
  • Teaching Yoga and Mindfulness to Children manual
  • Special Yoga certificate with 100% attendance
  • Observed live yoga sessions
  • Personal contact with the course leaders

What does my fee exclude?

  • Lunch
  • Parking / travel / accommodation

Timings

  • The course will run on a 9.30am to 5.30pm schedule throughout.

Course Tips
Who can do this course?
This course is for yoga teachers or people with a strong yoga practice. Occupational therapists, physios, yoga teachers and yoga therapists, trainee yoga teachers, school teachers and staff and parents/carers. If you are not a yoga teacher please provide a letter of recommendation from your regular yoga teacher, or get in touch. It is also expected that you will have experience of mindfulness practices.
Is this course recognised?
You will receive a Special Yoga certificate of accreditation after completing the course. This course is recognised by Yoga Alliance Professionals and by Asdan.
Can I practise professionally with this course?
As a training centre of excellence we offer highly regarded courses which enable you to practise professionally. Many of our students go on to teach in schools or for other organisations. You will also need to be insured and generally need to pass a DBS check. This course does not qualify you to teach yoga to adults.
What courses could I do after this course?
After completing the Teaching Yoga and Mindfulness to Children course we suggest taking a range of our CPDs or If you have not done our Special Yoga for Special Children course yet, we highly recommend that this is your next course as it provides a comprehensive guide across all conditions and is the first step towards becoming a professional practitioner.
Need help booking this course?
We are always ready to help anwser your questions regarding taking our courses. Email teachertraining@specialyoga.org.uk
"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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