MONTVALE, N.J. (May 9, 2022) — Zensational Kids is proud to announce its partnership with Yoga International to present an all-new, two-day live training entitled Yoga and Mindfulness for Neurodiverse Children. The live training will take place in two online sessions on Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14, 2022. The training will be led by Zensational Kids founder and CEO, Ms. Allison Morgan, MA, OTR, E-RYT.
“I couldn’t be happier, collaborating with Yoga International for such a unique training on such an important topic,” said Ms. Morgan. “Often, children with diagnoses such as autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder struggle to connect to the active world around them whether it be within their own family/home, school or community. Well-meaning professionals and caregivers work tirelessly to help them ‘fit in,’ by communicating and connecting with others in ‘neurotypical’ ways. The approach I have been teaching draws upon the inner beauty and natural gifts that these children bring. Rather than focusing on the a-typical behaviors which are often considered to be maladaptive, hyperactive, withdrawn or disruptive, we bring light and awareness to their true potential. That’s why I hope people will join me for this training, to discover ways we might help unlock a multitude of gifts and share techniques and tools with them that they can apply to build inner safety, control, confidence, and joy.”
Yoga and Mindfulness for Neurodiverse Children, presented in participation with Little Flower Yoga, will focus on yoga and mindfulness practices that can be used to support neurodiverse children. The training is open to anyone who works with children – parents, caregivers, etc. – although the content has been designed primarily for yoga and mindfulness instructors, special education teachers, and clinicians. Participants can expect to learn engaging and interactive yoga and mindfulness activities that are not only fun but have deep transformative power. Over the two-day course, participants will:
- Explore sharing guidelines for yoga and mindfulness with children who may be non-verbal, have delayed motor skills, and have difficulty focusing.
- Learn how to encourage body awareness, self-regulation, and inner behavioral control.
- Understand how to appropriately choose activities to support sensory and motor development.
- Develop a plan for managing behavior that honors individual nervous system needs.
- Invite natural skill development and connection to self by integrating adapted breath, movement, mindfulness, and relaxation.
- Delve into neuroscience and developmental research along with best practices for working with this special population.
The training will be divided into two three-hour sessions. Session 1 will begin at 12:00 pm on Friday, May 13, and Session 2 at noon on Saturday, May 14. The topics for each day are as follows.
Session 1: May 13, Noon – 3:00 pm
- Attunement, Intention, and Co-regulation: Setting Yourself Up for Success
- Understanding Neurodiversity
- Tools for Balancing the Nervous System
Session 2: May 14, Noon – 3:00 pm
- Adapting Movement and Mindfulness to Support Sensory Processing
- Building Body Awareness and Integrating Primitive Reflexes
- Techniques for Improving Behavioral and Emotional Regulation
Yoga and Mindfulness for Neurodiverse Children comes at a time of exponential rises in children diagnosed with neurological, developmental, and learning challenges, making strategies to support these children in all facets of their everyday lives more critical than ever. Yoga and mindfulness practices can help them discover their inner power to regulate their nervous system, develop awareness of their bodies, manage their own behavior, and navigate their daily lives with greater function, joy, and connection. This training teaches participants how to help them achieve that by leading engaging activities that respect each child’s individual cognitive, physical, emotional, social, and sensory capacity.
For full program details and to register for Yoga and Mindfulness for Neurodiverse Children, please visit http://yogainternational.com/allisonmorgan. Participants who sign up during the pre-registration period – now through Thursday, May 12 – can receive $50.00 off of their registration fee. To contact Allison Morgan directly, please visit www.zensationalkids.com, or email her at allison@zensationalkids.com.
About Zensational Kids, LLC
Zensational Kids brings evidence-based yoga and mindfulness practices to educational communities worldwide, through workshops designed to empower children, and the adults who care for and serve them, to cultivate the inner resources needed to thrive in life at every age. Programs are offered for educators, parents, mental health professionals, and allied health professionals, to help them develop skills such as self-awareness, management skills, compassion, and resilience, so they can share these skills with children, helping them build social and emotional learning, coping skills, and self-regulation strategies of their own.
