GREECE - Yoga for Children and Teens (Autism, Neurodiversity & Diverse Needs) LEVEL 1
Gain the knowledge and confidence to teach yoga to children and teens with diverse needs!
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Yoga for Children and Teens (Autism, Neurodiversity and Diverse Needs) Level 1 training offers fun and effective strategies for teaching yoga and mindfulness to children with diverse brains, bodies and abilities.
Dates: November 8-10, 2024
November 8th: 9am-5:30pm
November 9th: 9am-5:30pm
November 10th: 9am-5:00pm
Location: Athens Greece - Flower Kids Yoga
Unable to attend in person? OPTION TO JOIN via LIVE ZOOM - Zoom link will be provided prior to the start of the training.
Address: Ydras 3, Kallithea, Athens, 17676
Where do I stay? There are many AIRBNB options in the area near the studio
Registration Cost:
$630 EURO
Early Bird Pricing: $550 EURO
Early Bird Pricing ends October 2nd, 2024
Register Below or if you are a Non-US Resident and wish to register via an alternative method Contact XRISTINA MATSI to register
Please note registration for the course is non-refundable for any and all reasons. By registering for and paying for the course you are acknowledging that there will be no refunds given. Should there be a conflict with timing you will have the option to transfer to a future online course for a $50 rescheduling fee. Should the training be cancelled for attendance reasons or unexpected circumstances, you will have the option to transfer your payment to an online course or get a full refund.
It is suggested that participants purchase refundable travel and accommodations should any unexpected circumstances arise. We will not be responsible for any cancellation fees for travel or accommodations should the trinig have to be cancelled for any/all reasons.
Attendance in all 3 days of the training is required for completion of the Level 1 Certificate.
Participants will learn tools to support children ages 5-17 with self-regulation, body awareness, interoception, social skills, expression of difficult emotions, language and communication, social skills, reducing anxiety and much much more!
Learn strategies, supports and modifications to teach yoga and mindfulness to children including Autism, ADD/ADHD, Down Syndrome, Prader Willi, Williams Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Sensory Integration difficulties, Language Processing difficulties, Developmental Delays, Limited Mobility, Learning difficulties Anxiety, Trauma, Behavioral Challenges and more!
- Yoga Teachers
- Pediatric Physical Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Speech Therapists
- Behavior Specialists
- Mental Health Practitioners
- Educators
- School Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Therapists
- Pediatric or School Nurses
- Parents
- A.P.E/P.E Teachers
- Anyone who is passionate about sharing the benefits of yoga and mindfulness with children of all abilities!
Participants Receive:
- A copy of the Book: Asanas for Autism and Special Needs - Yoga to Help Children with their Emotions, Self Regulation and Body Awareness
- Playful and compassionate connection with like-minded community.
- Comprehensive Course Manual and Book - Asanas for Autism and Special Needs - Yoga to Support Children with their Emotions, Self-Regulation and Body Awareness
- 20% off the C.A.L.M.M Yoga Toolkit
- Hours packed full of Learning, Yoga Lesson Plans, Games, Songs, Mudras, Mantras, Chants, Stories and Activities.
- Anatomy and Physiology, Precautions and Contraindications related to children with special needs.
- Creative, Fun and Safe suggestions for Asanas (physical poses), Pranayama (breathing strategies) and relaxation and mindfulness activities.
- Suggestions for Props, Modifications, Adaptations, Tools and Supports to meet the needs of diverse cognitive and physical abilities.
- Chair Yoga for "yoga breaks" and for children with physical limitations.
- Positive Behavior Strategies
- Understanding the Nervous System, Fight/Flight/Freeze and the impact of unmanaged stress.
- Strategies and tools to support social/emotional learning and improved mental and physical health and well-being.
- Trauma Sensitive Approach.
- Poses and Breathing Strategies to support Self-regulation, Sensory Processing and Expressing/Releasing Difficult Emotions.
- Suggestions for how to structure classes and lesson plans for groups with diverse needs.
THIS COURSE IS IN PERSON IN ATHENS, GREECE OR VIA LIVE ZOOM. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE COURSE IN GREECE THERE WILL BE A FUTURE ONLINE TRAINIG SCHEDULED SEE DETAILS
Course Curriculum
Benefits of Yoga for Children with Diverse Needs
- Common Challenges
Sensory Processing and the 8 Senses
- Vestibular System
- Proprioceptive System
- Interoception
- Crossing the Midline
- Self-regulation
Body Awareness
- Visuals
- Tapping
- Songs, Games & Activities
- Right/Left
Asanas/Yoga Poses
- Categories of Poses and Contraindications
- Calming Poses and Variations
- Energizing Poses and Variations
- Chair Poses
- Poses for Vestibular Input
- Poses for Proprioceptive Input
- Poses for Crossing and Coming to the Midline
- Poses for Core-Strengthening
- Motor Planning and Bi-lateral Coordination - Accessing both sides of the body
- Practice Teaching
Supporting Complex Needs
- Adaptations, Modifications and Contraindications for Specific Needs
- Children with Cerebral Palsy
- Children with Down Syndrome and Prader Willi
- Children with Autism and ADHD
- Hypermobility and Low/High Tone
- Hyperactive/High Arousal
- Motor Apraxia, Speech Apraxia and Dyspraxia
Breathing Strategies and Visualization Strategies
- Autonomic Nervous System - Fight/Flight/Freeze Response
- Calming (down-regulating) Breathing Strategies
- Energizing/Alerting (up-regulating) Breathing Strategies
- Releasing Difficult Emotions through the Breath
- Sensory/Self-Regulation
- Digestion
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Core Activation
- Cause/Effect Breathing Activities/Tools
Guided Imagery, Visualization and Meditation for Children
- Meditation/Concentration Activities
- Chants and Sounds
- Mudras
Yoga Games and Activities
- Developing Yoga Based Lesson Plans
- Structuring Yoga Class by Age and Stage of Development
- Yoga Games and Activities
Behavior Management
- Effective Strategies for Teaching and Reaching Children with Special Needs
Your Instructor
Shawnee is a C-IAYT -Certified Yoga Therapist, Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, M.Ed., and Educational/Behavioral Specialist. She is the Founder of Asanas for Autism and Special Needs and the Founder/Director of Yoga Therapy for Youth Certification Program. Shawnee has worked with children and adults with and complex and diverse needs for 30 years. She has specialized in working with children and adults with neurodiverse needs, sensory processing challenges, communication differences, developmental disabilities, mental health challenges and trauma backgrounds. Shawnee works with private clients of all brains, bodies and abilities to facilitate health and healing. Her goal is to bring the experience of yoga to all individuals no matter their differences or challenges.
She has written two published a books, Asanas for Autism and Special Needs – Yoga to Help Children with Their Emotions, Self-Regulation and Body Awareness and her second book - Yoga Therapy for Children and Teens.- Embodying a Somatosensory Approach to Mental, Physical and Emotional Wellbeing has just recently been published and is NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE! She is also the creator of the C.A.L.M.M Yoga Toolkit and Body Sensations Curriculum.
She has a Yoga School through Yoga Alliance in order to train others in yoga approaches to support children and adults with neurodiverse needs and children and adults with complex needs needs and travels globally to share her teachings. Shawnee is dedicated to helping support youth and adults in developing strategies to cope with stress in order to live happier, healthier more empowered lives.
Shawnee has experienced first hand the benefits yoga and somatic practices can provide to health and overall well-being as she is a survivor of childhood trauma as well as multiple significant traumas in her adulthood, resulting in a diagnosis of PTSD. She is also a cancer survivor. She has a unique combination of understanding neurodiversity, developmental disability, trauma and other complex needs and knowing how to support people of all ages in connecting to their authentic self and building more capacity and resilience in order to live life in a more embodied and empowered way.
Shawnee has led several workshops at major conferences both in the US and Internationally; including MISTY (Montreal International Symposium for Yoga Therapy) and IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists) SYTAR Conference on Yoga for Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation for children with ASD, BOOST Conference (Best Out of School Time) on Yoga for Children with Special Needs , Yoga and Mindfulness for Youth and Yoga to Reduce Stress and Increase Relaxation for Educators. TRUST Conference (Teens Understanding and Reflecting Stigma Together) on Learning to Breath, Yoga and Mindfulness for Teens, including teens struggling with mental illness and UCSD Bridging the Hearts and Minds of Youth Conference on Yoga and Mindfulness for Sensory Integration and Self-Regulation.
Shawnee has written for and has had her work featured in several magazines,podcasts and online resources. See media features here.
Shawnee also offers private and small group therapeutic sessions for children and adults as well as yoga and somatic movement workshops and trainings through her company Embodied Wellness Yoga Therapy.