At Centered, we feel that yoga can bring therapeutic benefit to all people. That’s why we create offerings specifically for people with special needs – those with visible disabilities as well as invisible. One of the ways we do this is with our Special Needs Yoga class, taught in person and virtually every Wednesday from 1:15-2:15pm by Joshua Saxton.
This beginners’ therapeutic yoga class includes practical techniques of movement, balance, relaxation, breathwork, sound vibration, and mindfulness that empowers individuals with special needs. This adaptive yoga class is available for a wide variety of students–those who arrive in wheelchairs, those who use walkers, canes, or crutches, as well as those with invisible special needs–and is open to all ages, abilities, and cognitive levels.
Who should take this class?
Special needs yoga is available and adapted for students with esoteric autoimmune or idiopathic diseases. This includes those who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, osteogenesis imperfecta, scleroderma, down syndrome, autism, ADHD, PTSD, hip or knee replacements, cancer, traumatic brain injury, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, developmental delays, or any other special need.
What happens during class?
The special needs yoga class is an adaptive yoga class where each pose will be visually demonstrated and verbally described and modified to meet the needs and abilities of each student. Adaptive yoga uses props: chairs, walls, blankets, yoga blocks, yoga straps, mats and yoga straps. Props are there to provide stability and do not necessarily make the pose easier but assist in allowing the yogi to be in a pose for longer periods of time and breathe with more comfort and security.
Why does it work?
Yoga is a slow and meditative process and it helps those with special needs to slow down and deepen their attention and focus. Yoga increases mobility, strength, coordination, flexibility, and digestion and increases individual awareness of breathing, muscle control, and greater stamina.
Let’s talk logistics…
The special needs yoga class will meet weekly on Wednesday at 1:15pm at Centered or virtually via our Zoom-integrated class booking and hosting platform, Wellness Living. Each class will cost $15 per student for in-person attendance (packages are available) or $10 for virtual, will be an hour long, and will take the yoga practice to the mat. Centered has the necessary props to accommodate 10 students on the floor with plenty of room for those who need to be seated in a chair or who come in their own wheelchair or adaptive ambulation aid. If the yoga student has a caretaker present, there will be instruction provided to allow for assisted partner yoga poses for this student.
If this sounded like something you or a loved one would enjoy, use the button below to register for the next available class! ALL new students get their first class for FREE, so you can try it out with no commitment whatsoever.
More about Josh…
Joshua has led yoga classes in Kentucky since 1997. He is a graduate of two 200 hour Yoga Teacher Trainings and will be leading the Yoga for Special Needs portion of Amanda McMaine’s 300 hour extended Yoga Teacher Training beginning in 2018. He currently shares special needs yoga classes at Latitude and Employment Solutions and is a passionate advocate in sharing yoga with those of all abilities. Read more about Josh’s training and experience at his profile on our website here.
We’d Love to have you in our space for this class and many others – you can see our full schedule at centeredlex.org/calendar. To read more about Josh, check out this article from an interview between himself and Centered’s owner, Lauren Higdon.
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