Who are the yoga teachers who teach people with learning disabilities?

I know I’m not the only yoga teacher who teachers yoga to people with learning disabilities. But who are my fellow teachers and how did they begin to teacher yoga to this amazing group of yogis?

In September 2021 I submitted a questionnaire on several yoga teachers social media forums. The focus of the questionnaire was to obtain information about my fellow yoga teachers who teach yoga to teenager and adults with learning disabilities. Who are they? Where are they and what influenced them to teach yoga in this niche area?

Despite these social media groups, in combination, having significant numbers of members there was only a small response. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those yoga teachers who did respond. The information they provided has truly enlightened me regarding the variety of teaching and teaching approaches to making yoga accessible to people with learning disabilities.

Age Demographics:

The yoga teachers age was predominantly 46-55years, 50%, with a split between 36-45 and 56 - 65 age groups., 22% each. With 1 teacher, 7%, within the 25-35 age group.

Location?

86% of respondents resided in England with 7% each for Wales and Republic of Ireland. There were no respondents from Scotland, Northern Ireland or other country

Qualifications?

Yoga teacher training is not regulated in the UK and this is represented in the responses with the variety of training undertaken by teachers. Yoga teacher qualifications varied with 36% 200hr with Yoga alliance, 15% British Wheel of Yoga diploma, 7% 500hr Yoga Alliance. There was a 43% other response with teachers reporting their trainings with BWY certificate, IYN 360hr Diploma, CFY Teaching Diploma, Ya 200 & IYN 360 hr, 500hr IYN and yoga elder and Yoga 200hr trained in Europe.

Specialist Training?

58% of respondents completed additional training to teach yoga to adults with learning disabilities. For those 42%who respondent no to this question 7 % stated they were self taught, 43% stating they were not self taught and 50% shared their experiences that developed their yoga teachings for people with learning disabilities. This included registered Nurse in Learning disabilities, Qualified Special Needs teacher, Training received in teaching gymnastics to people with special needs, parents of child with Downs Syndrome, attendance at local sports workshop on how to integrate and adapt sports activities for people with learning disabilities, experience in volunteering with this group and the people themselves taught me. This brings a wealth of expertise to the yoga they share with people with learning disabilities.

Personal or Professional Interest in teaching yoga to people with learning Disabilities?

28% respondents stated they had a personal interest and 28% had professional interest the remaining 44% stated both.

These personal and professional connections were important to the yoga teachers in teaching yoga to this group. I asked if some teachers had a close connection with a person with a learning disability? 14% were parent, 14% sibling, 72 % stated other and this included distant family members, friends children had learning disabilities, SEN teacher, Registered Learning disability nurse, became involved with people with learning disabilities as friends support working with this group and now become involved and volunteering with this group.

Yoga Classes?

85% respondents hold yoga classes specifically for adults with learning disabilities 15% don’t hold a specific class but include people with learning disabilities in their regular yoga classes.

For those teachers who held yoga classes specifically for people with learning disabilities, I asked if the classes are held for specific groups? The response was 7% autism/ADHD, 79% mixed classes for people with different types of learning disabilities. 15% provided an answer for ‘other’ explaining that the class is for people with physical and learning disabilities.

When asking about attendance of people with learning disabilities 28% yes, 28% no and making the class inclusive 42% explained how they made adaptations to their classes.

This included:

• good communication

• reasonable adjustments and adapting poses

• creating an environment that puts the person at ease and comfortable

• Explaining everyone body is unique and all make different shapes with our bodies

• repeating instructions and changing language or terminology

• gentle flow and movements

• Include more sensory activity experiences and 1:1 intensive interactions for people with ADHD/severe autism

• 2 teachers in yoga class, one seated the other standing and both doing the same poses to demonstrate the variations. Participants online asked to pin the teacher they wish to follow.

Conclusion

This small survey provides a snapshot of the wealth of personal, professional experiences and passion, that yoga teachers bring to yoga classes for people with learning disabilities. It highlights the expertise, innovative thinking in developing yoga to make it inclusive and accessible for this amazing group of people.

I am privileged to be part of this group of yoga teachers and if you are inspired by the findings in this survey please contact me for further information.

Lisa

echoyoga@hotmail.com