5 favourite yoga games: voted for by my learning disabilities yoga class
These are the top 5 favourite yoga games as voted for by one of my learning disabilities yoga classes. Adults with a learning disability will be honest with what they like andf don't like. Giving them a voice and provide input into the yoga class ensures they feel valued and enjoy yoga.
Painting by HB from my Monday yoga group
1. Yogi says
The yoga version of Simon says. This is played with some favourite music and when the music stops 'yogi' says a pose for everyone to do. everyone takes turns in being yogi. This is great game. They all love dancing and it uses their memory and ability to recall names of poses and demonstrate the pose to the group.
2. Spinner games
By using a fidget spinner and cards with yoga poses, this game of chance provides so much fun! You could swear they had won the lottery when the spinner lands on their favourite pose. I only use 4 cards at a time to make sure there is easy selection. You can either use pre printed cards such as yoga pretzels or print photos if yourself in poses.
3. Matching pairs
Using pre-printed cards or photos of myself in yoga poses everyone takes a turn a selecting 2 cards. One from each group of 4 cards. Only 4 cards are used to ensure people aren't overwhelmed when they chose their cards. This works in their memory, recall of poses, ability to take turns and in all games they support and cheer each other when successful selection has been made.
4. Dice game The game of chance provides so much fun. Taking turns to roll 3 dice and then select one of the poses for the group to do. My original dice I printed from the internet for children's yoga but I've now bought new yoga dice (www.yogamatters.com) with different poses. These are wooden dice which have far better to withstand use. They are also very tactile so even those in the group with poor fine motor skills can participate. The poses are a bit more advanced but with teachers licence for simplifying the pose, we have many more yoga poses to try!
5. I AM
Everyone holds a card an takes it in turn to select a card a person holds. They can either do this by looking at the cards or saying a person's name and taking a chance on pose selection. Fun is the key to this game.
These are my group's 5 favourite games and they bring laughter and learning! When incorporating yoga games into yoga class for adults with learning disabilities the key is to maintain an adult theme. The group's opinion is important and they are included in class planning as I ask what game they would like to play the following week.