Asanas for Autism and Special Needs: Yoga to Help Children with their Emotions, Self-Regulation and Body Awareness

by Shawnee Thornton Hardy

Teaching yoga to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other special needs is easy using this visual how-to handbook.Breaking down yoga instruction pose by pose, body part by body part, breath by breath, this book uses easy-to-understand language and clear photographs to show parents, teachers, yoga instructors, and other professionals how to introduce the life-long benefits of yoga to a child with special needs. These benefits include gaining greater awareness and understanding of the body, learning to self-regulate the nervous system, and developing coping skills to work through difficult emotions such as anger and anxiety. Creative yoga games, activities, relaxation exercises, and chair yoga poses are included to make learning yoga a fun, interactive, and calming experience for children with a wide range of abilities.

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2014

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a yoga teacher and parent of a child with various needs including Autism there was quite a bit of good information. As a parent we need a book that can help teachers with the more subtle cues, information, and triggers!

[Fuzzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource for both understanding the benefits as well as practising yoga with students with special needs.

[Eve Costarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving a copy of Asanas for Autism and Special Needs by Shawnee Thornton Hardy. It is such an exciting time with so much attention being brought to the many benefits of yoga and meditation for the special needs population and the wealth of books on this subject!

Asanas for Autism and Special Needs is a clearly laid out book with many fun and creative ideas on modifying yoga to make it more accessible. I especially liked the idea of using pipe cleaners and beads to make wrist bands to aid in the learning of right and left. I like it both because it is innovative and it is a craft that the children can make themselves, which only increases the learning aspect. To start the book, Ms. Hardy creates coherent descriptions of various special needs populations and offers support and modification ideas for each group. Throughout the book, there are great photographic examples for each pose, and Ms. Hardy also includes a fantastic chair yoga section, which really expands the breadth of the book.

Asanas for Autism and Special Needs by Shawnee Thornton Hardy is a necessary addition to special needs yoga books. It belongs in every library and all yoga teachers can learn from her creativity and passion for bringing yoga to children with autism and other special needs. A side note, Ms. Hardy has recently put out an accompanying set of yoga pose cards. They are a great addition to the book and are very useful when teaching and sharing with children.

Full Disclosure: The authors provided me with a copy of Asanas For Autism And Special Needs to review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I read this book. I have a son who has Asperger's and we enjoyed this book together. I even caught him teaching his younger brother. This is very easy to read and follow and a great tool for anyone who is around children with special needs. Very calming for all!!

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.