Yoga therapy

What is Yoga Therapy for Children?

Yoga is a combination of mindful movement, breathing and meditation - helping children feel calm and develop motor skills, balance, strength and co-ordination. Therapeutic yoga works on individual goals for children, addressing their specific physical as well as cognitive and social/emotional needs.

How Yoga Therapy Helps

  • Creates a calm, quiet space for a sense of well-being

  • Strength building exercises develop gross motor skills and core strength

  • Non-verbal interaction through copying physical movement and aided movement builds confidence

  • Breathing exercises identify and address anxiety and help develop emotional self-regulation

  • Builds emotional resilience

  • Deep breathing soothes nervous system

  • Creates a mental map of the body, developing spatial awareness and sense of own body in space

  • Participation in choosing and creating yoga sequences helps develop sense of independence

  • Guided visualisation helps to develop imagination and creativity

  • Meditation relieves anxiety and encourages focus and concentration

What we Offer

Wild Tree Yoga runs a variety of courses and mentorships to help yoga teachers and school teachers support children with special needs through yoga and mindfulness.

Advanced Training in Yoga for Special Needs.

This mentored, online course for children’s yoga teachers is accredited by Yoga Alliance Professionals and can be completed in student’s own time. The 10 hour course qualifies students to create assessments and develop tailored yoga programmes for children with special needs.

Tailored School Training

Bespoke online or in-person training is available for SENCOs, teaching assistants and teachers wishing to provide yoga and mindfulness interventions to support their children.

Yoga Therapy Mentorships

Emma and Siobhan also work in schools in West Sussex and Johannesburg, providing therapeutic programmes for children with special needs.

feedback

"Emma has been our sons yoga teacher for over 5 years. Our son has downs syndrome and his muscle tone and balance have been a challenge for him. Regular yoga sessions with Emma enabled him to grow not just in strength and flexibility but also in well being. Emma created a space for our son where he could relax, be himself and grow in confidence.

Emma is kind, inclusive and a genuinely lovely person and talented yoga instructor. She shows patience with children of all abilities, developing and nurturing talents along with scaffolding those children that need a little bit more time. Thank you Emma for all you have done. Julie, mother of Connor

iMy year 4 class have been going to yoga classes since September and they thoroughly enjoy going! They are keen to show their postures and yoga moves in our other PE lessons, and we displayed their abilities during a recent class assembly. They particularly love the cool down session where they get tickled with a scarf! 5 of my children also take part in a smaller group session; this has had an impact on their behavior. They come back into class calmer and more relaxed. The yoga sessions are enthusiastic and all inclusive; children are supported on an individual basis and uses positive praise throughout the session.’ Diane Kavanagh, Y4 Teacher, Kingswood Primary School

"The children love going to their yoga sessions. They are incredibly fun and they are accessible to all the children, including those with a range of needs. Siobhan’s Yoga sessions offer us the ability to give targeted support for motor skills, self-esteem and confidence, and the ability for children to regulate their emotions and calm themselves down."Amy Salter, SENCO Gipsy Hill Federation

‘Emma has a very professional approach to working with vulnerable children and parents. She has an inclusive approach to her work and will adapt her sessions to fit the needs of the group. She has children in her clubs with statements of SEN, behavioural issues and emotional issues such as acute bereavement. She is very sensitive in her approach and highly confidential. She is a trust-worthy person who is able to deliver a specialised service to a high level. ‘ Wendy Fitt, Campsbourne School, London 

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