THIS COURSE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED, NEXT COURSE STARTS APRIL 2021

This course will equip you with the skills you need to share yoga in group or one-to-one sessions in a variety of settings.

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

The strategies taught throughout this course will be applicable to a range of special needs including, but not excluded to, people with:

  • ASD 
  • ADD/ADHD 
  • PDD 
  • Anxiety disorder 
  • Learning difficulties 
  • Motor planning issues 
  • Developmental delays 
  • Neurological disorders
  • Sensory impairment

Course Structure

This course has been developed for both 'live online group learning' and at 'home private study'. Practise and journal through the summer using the pre-webinar classes, videos and content available from 28th June. Bring this learning to the first live webinar on 6th September when you'll be able to ask questions and learn more. After this there will be more Home Study until our final webinar on 13th December. To gain certification you will need to complete all modules, attend the live webinars and sessions with your mentor, and complete questionnaires placed throughout the course.

  • 2 live webinars - 6th September and 13th December both from 10.00am - 1.00pm

  • Access course content before and in-between webinars for self study and practise throughout the summer.

  • Interact with fellow students throughout using our course community page and receive mentoring from our Special Yoga senior practitioners.

Your Course Teachers

Richard Kravetz

Trainer for Adult/Chair Yoga

Richard has been teaching yoga for over 15 years to adults, children and for special needs. He holds a BWY Dip for teaching adults and children and served as County Rep for North London & City 2005-13. His interest in special needs originated when his second child was born with Global Developmental Delay. Richard currently teaches at day centres, special schools and residential homes. Richard’s training enables practitioners to deliver yoga therapy to the wider population and helps facilitate the practice of yoga for people with special needs.

Karuna Jackman

Senior Practitioner and Trainer

Karuna is one of our Senior Practitioners, working with adults and children with special needs for over 8 years. She is a British Wheel of Yoga and Integral Yoga trained teacher bringing her compassionate gentle nature to all her clients. She has also trained in Hanna Somatic Movement, a form of neuromuscular re-education that helps to ease chronic stress in the body. Karuna’s classes are rooted in compassion; aimed to develop a loving relationship to where we are right now and a chance to explore one’s full potential.

Jodie Spiers

Practitioner and Trainer

Jodie has worked with adults with additional needs since 2012, then training as a Yoga teacher and subsequently becoming a special yoga practitioner and trainer. She has been able to merge her experience as a manager of adult day centres with her experience and passion for Yoga and now delivers group and 1:1 yoga to adults. Jodie is also a trained Yoga Therapist with the Minded institute and specialises in working with adults with learning disabilities and mental health challenges. She endeavours to offer a space for people to find ease and grow within themselves to find a more peaceful way of being in the world.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome to Yoga for Adults with Special Needs

    • A Welcome Message From Your Teachers

    • Use of the Special Yoga Methodology

    • Welcome - About This Course

    • Navigating This Course

    • Course Schedule, Homework and Assignments

    • Study Resources

    • Before we begin...
  • 2

    Webinar Recordings

    • Opening Webinar Sunday 6th September

  • 3

    Module One: Introduction

    • Module One Handout Booklet to Download

    • Overview

    • Lesson 1: Introducing the Practice

    • Lesson 2: Why yoga?

    • Lesson 3: The Heart of the Special Yoga Methodology

    • Lesson 4: The Importance of Self-Practice

    • Lesson 5: Grounding and Soothing Yoga Practice

    • Lesson 6: Gentle Chair Yoga Practice

    • Lesson 7: Special Yoga Precepts and Self Learning

    • Lesson 8: What Are We Trying to Achieve in Our Yoga Sessions?

    • Lesson 9: Physiological Systems and Yoga

    • Lesson 10: Group Dynamics

    • Lesson 11: Managing Behaviours

    • Module One: Test your learning

    • Homework

    • Resources for you to explore
  • 4

    Module Two : Working with the Breath - Pranayama

    • Overview and Disclaimer

    • Module Two Handout Booklet To Download

    • Lesson 1: Introduction to the Breath

    • Lesson 2: Introduction to Your Breath Q&A

    • Lesson 3: Entrainment

    • Lesson 4: Touch Supported Breath

    • Lesson 5: Touch Supported Breath From Sitting

    • Lesson 6: Touch Supported Breath from Standing and Q&A's

    • Lesson 7: Developing Breath Awareness

    • Lesson 8: Reverse Breathing

    • Lesson 9: Coherent breathing

    • Lesson 10: Coherent Breathing From Sitting

    • Lesson 11: Up and Down Coherent Breathing

    • Lesson 12: Three Part Breathing

    • Lesson 13: Ujjayi Breathing

    • Lesson 14: Alternate Nostril Breathing

    • Lesson 15: Teaching Alternate Nostril Breathing

    • Lesson 16: HA breath for ADHD

    • Lesson 17: Lions Breath

    • Lesson 18: Kapalabhati Breathing

    • Lesson 19: Kapalabhati Examples of Practice

    • Lesson 20: Pressure Points to Assist Breathing

    • Module Two: Test your learning
  • 5

    Module Three : Yoga Postures and Lesson Planning

    • Module Three Handout Booklet to Download

    • Overview

    • Lesson 1: Introduction to the Asanas

    • Lesson 2: The Postures

    • Lesson 3: Forward Bends

    • Lesson 4: Sitting Positions

    • Lesson 5: Postures on hands, knees and/or feet

    • Lesson 6: Prone Positions

    • Lesson 7: Supine Poses

    • Lesson 8: Standing Poses

    • Lesson 9: Balances

    • Lesson 10: Eye Exercises

    • Lesson 11: Lesson Planning and Sequencing

    • Lesson 12: Chair Yoga

    • Module Three: Test your learning

    • Module Three: Study Group Homework
  • 6

    Module Four: Adult Mental Health

    • Overview

    • Module Four: Test your learning
  • 7

    Module Five : Massage and Energy Medicine

    • Overview

    • Lesson 1 : Benefits of Massage and the quality of touch

    • Module Five: Test your learning
  • 8

    Module Six : Yoga Nidra and Relaxation

    • Overview

    • Lesson 1

    • Lesson 2

    • Lesson 3

    • Module Six: Test your learning
  • 9

    Module Seven : Sound, Music, Mantra and Interactive Practices

    • Overview

    • Lesson 1 : Introduction to sound and OM

    • Lesson 2 : Songs and movement to music

    • Lesson 3: Interactive Practices

    • Lesson Four: Affirmations and Mantras

    • Module Seven: Test your learning
  • 10

    Module Eight : Yoga for less mobile Adults with Special Needs

    • Overview

    • Lesson 1: Yoga for Adults with Cerebral Palsy

    • Lesson 2 : Yoga for Wheelchair Users

    • Lesson 3 : Chair Yoga Session

    • Module Ten: Test your learning
  • 11

    Module Nine: Yoga for Ambulatory Adults with Special Needs

    • Overview

    • Lesson 1 : How to work in Care homes

    • Lesson 2: Yoga for Adults with Learning Difficulties and Autism

    • Lesson 3 : Yoga for adults with Downs Syndrome

    • Module Nine: Test your learning
  • 12

    Module Ten : Yoga for the Elderly and Neurological Conditions

    • Overview

    • Lesson 1 : Working with the Elderly

    • Lesson 2: Joint Mobility

    • Lesson 3: Neurological Conditions

    • Module Eleven: Test your learning
  • 13

    Module Eleven: Yoga for Adults with Sensory Impairment

    • Overview

    • Lesson 1 : Adults with Visual Impairment

    • Lesson 2 : Adults with Hearing Impairment

    • Lesson 3 : Multi-sensory Impairment

    • Module Eight: Test your learning
  • 14

    Module Twelve: Yoga for Carers

    • Overview

    • Lesson 1

    • Lesson 2

    • Lesson 3

    • Module Twelve: Test your learning

Pricing options

If you prefer to spread your payments you can do so with our six month payment plan with six payments of £55. Please note that if a payment is missed you will be sent one reminder before payment is attempted again. If this second attempt is unsuccessful access to the course will be suspended

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