You can contact us for teaching tips and health and safety, or if you have an individual or group with mixed abilities you would like some guidance? Maria Gunstone is offering online consultation with supported learning.
Contact Maria Gunstone, Author, Director and Tutor of YOU & ME Yoga.
The YOU & ME Yoga training programme involves teaching practice with students with learning disabilities. In order to gain the expertise and confidence you need, Maria Gunstone, the author of the system, is offering a unique opportunity for you to address your learning needs and send your questions to her for supported learning online. This can be arranged at a mutually convenient time.
From research and experience I found that no one Posture (asana) has a specific therapeutic effect without a general tone-up of the whole bodily system. With this in mind, the Whole-Body-Movement system was formulated. The basis of the YOU & ME Yoga system - colour coding of the body and Postures - enables trainers to teach appropriate yoga techniques to their clients with learning difficulties and special needs. This is done by reference to the seven coloured areas of the body and twenty appropriately coloured Postures - from which individual sequences of Whole-Body-Movement are determined. The techniques are organised to suit the needs and abilities of the individual. Each sequence contains Postures to ensure that the whole body is being toned while the client is made aware of each part.
The aim of Whole-Body-Movement is to treat the whole person and not just a particular part in isolation. This is done by acknowledging the area of the body needing most attention, identifying the colour associated with that area and selecting a Main Posture in the same colour. Then, one of each of the six remaining coloured Postures is chosen to complete a sequence of Whole-Body-Movement. The value of practising Whole-Body-Movement is that it helps clients gain awareness of their feelings and bodily sensations, which leads to a greater sense of being in control.
Disabled people have unusual individual needs, and practice of Yoga Postures will vary from one client to another. Clients who have a normal range of movement can usually do the Postures in the normal way. In addition, clients with a limited range of movement can also practise some modified techniques as shown in ‘YOU & ME Yoga Postures and Variations for Special Needs’. However, prior to practice of any yoga postures or variations of them, it is necessary to understand the clients’ abilities, to be aware of what they must not do, and to establish a good relationship with them. This all adds to the inclusive spirit that exists within the YOU & ME Yoga System. Practice is aimed at improving general health, span of attention, motor coordination and social interaction.
The suitability of yoga techniques for people with special needs have been worked out with careful consideration. This includes simple yet effective techniques involving the Joint Looseners for establishing the range of joint movements and the related Yoga Postures for safe practice. These 42 techniques do not require too much balance or physical effort and have been found adequate in dealing with a wide range of problems. Apart from being simple to grasp and relatively easy to perform, they lend themselves well to adaptation. It has also been found that using simple techniques allows the teacher to be more effective.
YOU & ME Joint Looseners and Variations for Special Needs (with 247 variations) and YOU & ME Yoga Postures and Variations for Special Needs (with 462 variations) are now on offer here.
It is not necessary to be still to benefit from relaxation. Various forms of recreation including walking outside are good ways to relax the body and mind, broaden one’s horizon and find peace!
The following guidelines will give trainers some ideas on what they can point out to their students. Trainers can select relevant sections which can be used before, during and after the walk.
‘Be aware’ is your watchword on this walk. Use your senses to the fullest as far as you can - see, hear, smell, feel. The only sense you cannot safely use is that of taste! Some country herbs are very beneficial, but some are poisonous, and you cannot take any chances.
Trainers should prepare students for the ‘mindful’ walk by informing them where they are going, what they are to do as and when mindfully walking. Students should wear comfortable walking shoes and suitable clothing for the weather on that day. Where appropriate, some students could take with them an exercise book for sketching and jotting down their experiences and ideas. Also audio or visual recorders could be used to record some individuals’ experiences.
The following gives trainers ideas for increasing students’ mindfulness while walking. Of course, language that is appropriate to the student’s level of understanding must be used.
a) On arrival, take a quiet moment to tune into the environment.
b) Make friends mentally with the environment and all the living things present. Remember that liking others encourages them to like you.
c) Realise that there’s enough room for everyone and allow others their space. This is good for developing socialiation skills.
d) Close your eyes and notice how you feel inside yourself now that you are in fresh surroundings.
e) Do not chatter to make conversation.
f) Be quiet and look around to see what is there, And listen to the sounds of the life all around you.
g) Experience walking in the open with awareness of the sky, fields, hills, trees and horizon.
h) See the small things: the different colours of grass and flowers, insects. Look at the petals and leaves of a flower.
i) See the larger things: the different shapes of the hills, rocks, trees and buildings.
j) Look into the far distance.
k) Look to see anything which moves. Observe what is not moving.
l) See any creatures such as insects, birds, butterflies, sheep, cows, rabbits (and other wild animals) . Notice how they respond to you when you are quiet and sensitive to them. Any sudden noise or movement always frightens wildlife. Approach them gently, making soothing sounds and you may get a friendly response.
m) Observe the details of an a creature’s face. See their marks and expressions.
n) Observe how creatures communicate with you through their faces and their sounds. Notice how they communicate with one another as well. You will be surprised!
0) Spend time listening to everything around you, such as: the birds singing their joyous songs, the cows moo-ing to make their presence known, the wildlife rustling in the hedges and bushes.
p) Notice things which are not making any sound.
q) Listen to the sound of your breath.
r) Walking along and softly humming will open up the mind and deepen the breath.
Extract from YOU & ME Relaxation Techniques for Special Needs, by Maria Gunstone
