Yoga for the Special Child®LLC

Course Details

Yoga for the Special Child®LLC is a comprehensive program of yoga techniques designed to enhance the natural development of children with special needs. The style of yoga is gentle and therapeutic, and safe for babies and children with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Microcephaly, Autism and other developmental disabilities. The methods taught on this program also provide an effective treatment for children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and learning disabilities.

During this course, Sonia Sumar will teach the practical techniques of Yoga for the Special Child®LLC, and will give lectures on working with children with special needs. Graduates of the course will be equipped to work safely with special needs children. Please see www.specialyoga.com for more information.

Curriculum

• Background to Sonia Sumar's work with special children

• Explanation of yoga therapy and yoga in the recovery of health

• Yoga as a restorative lifestyle for special children

• How yoga helps to stimulate physical coordination, mental clarity and social development in special children

• The parents' role as guide and inspiration for the child

• Working with parents

• Conducting interviews and telephone counseling

• The use of touch, facial gestures, hand signals and voice to achieve bonding and integration with the student

• The theory of early intervention and the four stages of development

• Presentation of the methods and techniques of yoga taught, in the four stages of development

• Techniques and methods for teaching group classes of children and adolescents

• Evaluating the child and setting up a yoga routine

• Individual instruction versus group classes: how to know when a child is ready to advance

• The value of mainstreaming the special child in a group yoga class.

Daily Schedule (Tentative)

Presenter

Sonia Sumar
Sonia Sumar is author of the book, “Yoga for the Special Child” and a long-time disciple of Swami Satchidananda (a senior disciple of Swami Sivananda).. She started teaching yoga for children with special needs after the birth of her second daughter, Roberta Sumar who was born with Down Syndrome. The changes that Sonia Sumar saw in her daughter, inspired her to teach this method to others. Yoga for the Special Child®LLC is taught at yoga congresses, centres and ashrams internationally. Please see www.specialyoga.com for more information.

Prerequisite

This course is open to all yoga practitioners, to certified yoga teachers from all traditions and to professionals working with children with special needs (school teachers, sports instructors, pediatric practitioners and others) who have an established yoga practice.

Certification

Graduates earn a certificate from the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat and from Sonia Sumar's school of training, Yoga for the Special Child®LLC. This school is recognized worldwide.

This program is eligible for:

• 40 hours for nurses
• 40 hours for occupational therapists
• 70 hours for yoga instructors (YA)
• See CEU page for more information

Yoga Alliance Credit

Certified yoga teachers can apply for credit toward RYT500 Yoga Alliance accreditation.

Cost

Tuition: US$895. Add 8 nights' accommodation. For accommodation rates see rates.

Arrival and Departure

The course begins at 8:00am on the first day, and ends at 10:00am on the last day.

Please plan to arrive at the Yoga Retreat at least one day before the start of the course and to leave at least one day after the course completion.

We recommend that you spend at least a few days in the Yoga Retreat before the start of your course. This allows your body and mind time to rest, re-energize and be nourished by the ashram environment. You can then begin your study feeling relaxed and refreshed. You may also wish to stay for some days after the end of the course to allow the learning from your study to integrate more fully into your consciousness within the supportive environment of the ashram. If you decide to arrive early and to stay longer, please register for the Yoga Vacation Program for those additional days. Please see calendar of events for guest programs on offer around the time of your visit.

Reservations

To register for this course, please go to register on line or print the application form and fax it to the Yoga Retreat at fax number: 1-242-363-3783. Then call us to give a credit card deposit and to confirm your reservation at 1-866-446-5934 or 1-242-363-2902 . A US$150 deposit is required for your registration. For our cancellation policy please see cancellations.

Tuition Discounts

If you enrol simultaneously in more than one course, discounts apply as follows:

2 courses 5% discount
3 courses 10% discount
4 courses 15% discount
5 courses and more 20% discount

Payment for all courses registered for is required in full on arrival in the ashram.