At Special Yoga, we know that no two children are the same. Even when two people share a diagnosis, their bodies, communication, sensory needs, movement and ways of connecting with the world can be completely different.
Our Foundation Trainings give practitioners a flexible toolkit and, importantly, encourages us to observe, listen and adapt to the individual rather than simply follow a set sequence.
Within both Special Yoga for Special Children and Special Yoga for Adults, there are modules that introduce practitioners to Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Profound & Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), providing an overview of these populations and some of the considerations when working with them.
For those who would like to explore CP and PMLD in greater depth, our CP/PMLD Course Extension offers the opportunity to build on this foundation and develop a deeper understanding of working with these specific needs.
Going deeper into CP & PMLD
The extension explores ways that Special Yoga can be adapted for people with different presentations of Cerebral Palsy and PMLD, including quadriplegic CP and hemiplegia.
It looks beyond the physical practice of yoga, exploring ways to support communication, sensory engagement, relaxation, connection and physical ease.
The intention isn't to find one 'right' way to work with CP or PMLD.
Instead, it is about developing more ways of listening to and connecting with the individual in front of you.
Expanding your Special Yoga toolkit
The extension includes four online modules exploring additional practices that can be incorporated into your work, including:
- Working with the feet
- Sound, music, rhythm and mantra
- Relaxation techniques
- Additional practices and adaptations for working with CP and PMLD
These can offer different pathways into connection and communication.
For someone who may communicate through movement, sound, facial expression or subtle changes in their body, these moments can be incredibly meaningful. A rhythm, a sound, a movement or a moment of relaxation can become an important way of connecting and communicating.
Learning to notice the subtle
Working with children and young adults with CP and PMLD often asks us to slow down and become curious about the smallest responses.
A breath.
A change in muscle tone.
A movement of the foot.
A sound.
A change in facial expression.
A softening of the body.
These may seem like small moments, but they can tell us a great deal when we learn how to notice and respond to them.
The CP/PMLD extension gives practitioners the opportunity to explore these areas in greater depth and to develop greater confidence in adapting their practice to the individual.
Go deeper with specialist guidance
A particularly valuable part of the extension is the opportunity to learn directly from practitioners with specialist experience.
Alongside the four online modules, the course includes a 2-hour live webinar led by experienced Special Yoga Advanced Practitioners, providing an opportunity to explore the specific considerations of working with CP and PMLD in more depth, ask questions and learn from their experience. This webinar is recorded.
This is followed by a live Q&A clinic, giving participants another opportunity to bring questions from their own practice, explore particular challenges and deepen their understanding.
So while the CP and PMLD modules within our Special Yoga for Special Children and Special Yoga for Adults courses provide a valuable introduction, this extension allows you to really immerse yourself in these populations and the ways Special Yoga can support them.
Who is the extension for?
The course extension is open to anyone who is currently studying Special Yoga Foundation Training, has completed Foundation Training, or is studying at Level One or Two and would like to develop more in-depth knowledge and practical tools for working with Cerebral Palsy and PMLD.
It can be particularly valuable if you are working, or planning to work, with children or adults with complex physical, learning or communication needs and would like to expand the range of practices you have available.
Continuing to learn, adapt and explore
At Special Yoga, our approach has always been about meeting each individual where they are.
There is no single practice that will work for every person, and our role as practitioners is to keep learning, observing and adapting.
The CP/PMLD Course Extension is an opportunity to go deeper into one particular area of practice, adding to the knowledge and experience you are already developing through your Special Yoga journey.
If you are currently studying Foundation or a higher-level Special Yoga course, or have already completed your training, and this is an area you'd like to explore further, we'd love to welcome you.
Explore the CP/PMLD Course Extension
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