Yoga at shine

In our Saturday morning playgroup, we have been focusing on breathing and improving core strength. Students are practicing Belly Breathing which is breathing in through the nose, filling the belly up like a balloon and then exhaling through the mouth.  The benefits of Belly Breathing are to develop breath awareness, increase relaxation, practice visualization and improve digestion.

Belly Breathing is very similar to the Ready Body Breaths we use with students to self-regulate during play and academics.

To develop the students’ core strength, we are practicing a simple Table/Child pose flow. Students move between Table pose to rest in Child’s pose.  Table pose is a foundational pose which has enabled us to introduce the Balance Beam pose. From Table, students alternately lift and point their right and left hands  toward an object on the wall in front of them. Practicing the Table/Child pose flow provides students with an opportunity to use their motor planning skills and to increase core strength. Balance Beam also exercises students motor planning skills and provides opportunity to practice focusing on an object.

We close our playgroup yoga practice by saying – May Our Light Shine Bright!
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                                                                                                                        - Teri Heard Ralbovsky

Sources: Yoga Therapy for Children with Autism and Special Needs by Louise Goldberg and Asanas for Autism and Special Needs: Yoga to Help Children with their Emotions, Self-Regulation and Body Awareness by Shawnee Thornton Hardy

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