4-week Yoga Class Series for Teens and Adults with Autism
Time: Fridays 6:30 - 7:30 ET
Dates: 6/18, 6/25, 7/16, 7/23* (no classes on 7/2 or 7/9)
Cost: $75 for 4 classes
Location: The comfort and safety of home!
All classes offered remotely on Zoom.
Participants will need a computer or tablet with internet access and enough space to lie down on the floor. Having a yoga mat and blocks is helpful but not essential.
Beginners are welcome. Communication partners are always invited to share the experience (scroll down to learn more about communication partners).
Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
For all classes:
- Commitment to the full 4-week session is required. No make-ups available.
- Participants ages 16 and up of of all levels of experience and ability are welcome.
- Communication partners are encouraged and invited to participate (please learn about Communication Partners below)
- For new students: Please complete and submit the registration form by clicking the link below. This form helps the yoga instructor get to know students and be prepared to best meet their individual needs.
Bring yoga safely to your participants!
Livestream classes on Zoom Ideal for Day and Residential Programs
Provide essential remote health and wellness programing!
Livestream yoga programming is available for day programs and residential programs.
Our top-quality yoga instruction is specifically developed for adults with autism and features:
Emphasis on communication and support for independence
- Visual support systems to make yoga meaningful and effective
- Professional and experienced staff of yoga teachers who are committed to serving the greater autism community
- A free 1-hour online training for communication partners (support staff, parents, caregivers) who will be participating along with our students
We are dedicated to making the sessions meaningful and accessible for each group. We are prepared to offer active yoga, chair yoga, and relaxation yoga depending on the needs and interests of the participants.
Cost: $85 per weekly 1-hour class on Zoom. Minimum 4 week commitment.
There is no limit on the number of participants who can join the session, and they can join from multiple locations at once!
Contact us for available class times
About Communication Partners:
Who is a Communication Partner?
A communication partner is anyone who knows a participant well and “speaks their language”. A communication partner might be a parent or family member, aide, residential staff or other caregiver.
What is the role of the Communication Partner?
The role of the communication partner is to facilitate the participant's success in having a beneficial and meaningful yoga practice by providing the following (as appropriate):
Technical support: Helping to get Zoom up and running and making sure audio and video are clear, and handling any technical challenges that arise during the session.
Modeling: Doing the yoga poses side-by-side with the participant. This side-by-side modeling is a powerful form of non-verbal communication. Modeling demonstrates appropriate body positions, movement, pacing and sustaining attention.
Communication: The communication partner can facilitate the use of an AAC or other alternative system that the participant might use to communicate. The communication parter can help the instructor know if a participant has a question, needs a change in pace, is showing signs of distress, wants clarification, etc.
Sharing the experience: Yoga is a powerful tool for connection to self and others. By sharing yoga practice, participants and communication partners will deepen their connection by moving together, breathing together and relaxing together. Yoga is also a well-researched and highly effective way to relieve stress, which is beneficial for everyone!
Why do we recommend having a Communication Partner participate in yoga sessions?
Voice Colors Yoga instructors are highly trained and experienced in working with students with autism. Your yoga instructor will lead the yoga sessions and provide the necessary corrections and feedback.
However, teaching remotely does not allow us to provide the same level of side-by-side and on-the-spot support that we provide at the yoga studio. The communication partner ensures that participants are able to fully access and maximally benefit from yoga sessions. In some cases if students are experienced in yoga and able to participate independently, we may make an exception to be determined by the instructor.