Summer Celebrations

Interestingly, this summer I have had unexpected contact from students who I originally taught mainstream yoga in my Grove Park Yoga Centre some 42 years ago. As well as hearing from some YOU & ME Yoga Trainers, including Jo Osbourne who has given permission for her email to be shared on this blog:

'Hi Maria, I thought it was about time I let you know how much your work continues to help the children of New Zealand.

'I trained with you in London many years ago and have been living in New Zealand for the past 14 years. I just wanted to let you know that I continue to use YOU & ME Yoga with my paediatric physio clients on a regular basis (one-to-one usually) with great success. I still use the resources you provided and continue to enjoy teaching yoga to my clients and their siblings as an activity they can often do together. 

'Well done on keeping it going
Jo Osbourne'

Children’s Physiotherapist, YOU & ME Yoga Trainer, NZ International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM).

This article ‘London school sees positive effects in 10 months’ sums up Jo’s first yoga group that was published by British Wheel of Yoga, SE Newsletter, 2008

Mandy ffrench

Earlier this summer I met up with Mandy ffrench who first attended my Grove Park Yoga Centre in 1976 and soon after became the student’s registrar. Then she became a reflexologist with her own training school and 15 years ago moved to Australia. During Mandy’s visit to her family, her daughter Paula Lloyd organised healing camps at two music festivals in Kent, The Food Fest and the auspicious Black Deer Festival.

Paula invited three other healer friends to offer a variety of massage, Mandy and Paula offered reflexology, and I taught chair yoga. Our healing camp (as seen here with Paula) was very popular at these festivals. People were able to chill-out in a serene, comfortable area and it was very therapeutic for us six to spend two weekends together in such a special way!

Then during Mandy’s last weekend in England, her, Paula and I attended a Massage and Meditation Retreat at Osho Leela in Dorset which was such a lot of fun. The weekend course reminded me of the benefits of massage and of living in a well-organised commune, meditating, eating and sharing with many others.

Rosie and Nick met at Grove Park Yoga Centre and ended up getting married 37 years ago. I was invited to their wedding reception, where they hired a double-decker red bus to drive their family and friends to Brighton beach for their reception on the promenade grass area. 

This summer, I was invited to their big family party with 26 members. We had a glorious time in a beautiful spot with scrumptious food and delightful people.

How blessed I am to have made such wonderful friends to share and to have fun with since teaching them yoga. And to learn that YOU & ME Yoga continues to benefit Jo’s paediatric physio clients on the opposite side of the world.

Celebrating 40 Years - Free Training

It will be 40 years this September that I’ve taught yoga to people with learning disabilities, and I will be celebrating with YOU & ME Yoga events and special offers. 

The first of which I’m pleased to offer throughout this Summer to experienced yoga enthusiasts the opportunity to train one day with me in YOU & ME Yoga for just the purchase of a set of the YOU & ME Yoga teaching materials @ £325 (originally £345). 

There is no fee for my time teaching you how to effectively use the materials and sharing with you several case studies of clients benefitting from the system (anonymously and with permission). This training offer is available up to the end of Aug 2018, at my studio in Kent; and it can also be arranged online for 3-hour session via FaceTime or Skype, to suit mutual convenience.

Details of all the 14 YOU & ME Yoga Training Materials can be found on the website: http://www.youandmeyoga.com/modules/ 

NB This offer will give you the teaching materials to develop your practice in line with the YOU & ME Yoga Modular Training Programme as portrayed on the website, with substantial reference to the listed ‘learning outcomes’ from your own teaching experience, in due course.

If you’re interested in this exceptional offer and would like to start teaching YOU & ME Yoga next term, please don’t hesitate to reserve your place, which will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

I look forward to hearing from you and if there are any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.

In Yoga and Light,

Maria Gunstone

YOU & ME Yoga, Author and Consultant

07734 014876

maria@youandmeyoga.com

Testimonials:

“I spent a day with Maria learning the basics about YOU & ME Yoga. It gave a good insight into her yoga programme. Working one-to-one meant we could focus it on my needs and interests as a teacher. Maria is friendly, warm and very knowledgeable.”  J.B. Satori Yoga, Sheffield. 

"The most comprehensive and useful course materials I have ever received. Very clear, structured and detailed."  E.B. BWYoga Tutor, S.N. School Teacher, Yorkshire.

"Excellent materials - very well researched; a wonderful resource for future use. Highly recommended." J.R. BWYoga Teacher, Wakefield.

"The beauty of the YOU & ME system is that it can be adapted to everyone's needs, regardless of their ability.” S.G. Trainer, Distington.

“After learning YOU & ME Yoga, I was able to create an experience for my clients that took them on a journey of self-discovery. The colour coded system and the character of Eddie was something easy to relate to, non-threatening and fun; which is important when dealing with people with autism.”  A.L. Occupational Therapist, London.

My Son has Down's Syndrome

I met Professor Thomas, who was wearing a vivid yellow bow tie. Out of the blue He mentioned, "Life is very different these days." I enquired if He was referring to the IT evolution. "Not just IT, it's everything. Life as it is now isn't any better or worse, it's just so different." 

I courageously announced that I am digitalising my books for IT platforms and He asked, "Are you an author too, have you written more than five books like me?" I replied "I have written seven books on the subject of Yoga for disabled people." He revealed his recent book was on the History of Radiography. "Not as appealing as Yoga", he added. He then further explained his personal interest was because he had a 29 years old son with Down's Syndrome.

I casually commented about there's not so many Down's syndrome babies being born these days. When instantly He raged about the expulsion of them before birth is outrageous and such an appalling lose to humanity!

In earnest I replied, "Down's syndrome people are the nicest people I know. For they have the natural human qualities of inspiring, endearing affection.  Furthermore, they take to Yoga like 'ducks to water' with their flexible bodies and ability to be 'in the present moment' more so than most of us." The professor nodded and grinned in agreement.

This conversation inspired me to write about Down's Syndrome and Yoga.

The hallmark of people born with Down's syndrome is that they have: characteristic facial appearances,  hyper-mobile joints,  a variety of associated medical conditions, some degree of intellectual disability and variable self-care skills.

Up to the last decade or so, this condition occurred in every 700 births, more often in boys than girls. Most of the people with Down's syndrome I know are good-natured with a good sense of rhythm, however some do have a stubborn personality.



Congenital heart disease is present in approximately half born with Down's syndrome. In which case, care is needed with techniques requiring lying on the back and must be avoided in severe cases.

Down's syndrome people respond very well to Yoga. Because they are good mimics and can copy the yoga movements quite well with their flexible joints. 

Their supple mobility is not a problem, but there is a need to be aware of possible atlanto-axial instability (misalignment between the first two vertebrae of the neck, just below the skull) hence care is needed to limit extending the neck. 

People with Down's syndrome often have tight heel cords. Yoga movements that stretch the heel cords are very beneficial to people with Down's syndrome. They tend to have weakness, especially in the abdomen with poor core-stability, and limited strength in the shoulders and the hips, as well as the ankles. 

Usually they have poor isolation of movement, which is more to do with their awareness of limbs. If you instruct them to move the leg, they can copy you, but if you say 'move the leg', it's the understanding of where the leg is, and to isolate that movement, that is their difficulty. Terms such as 'back', 'other side', 'turn round' are difficult concepts for people with Down's syndrome to understand. 

The practice of YOU & ME Yoga Postures will definitely help improve their understanding and improve their performance of the movements in quite a short time. As well as help strengthen their muscles and control of the joints. Needless to say, the most important aspects to teach people with Down's syndrome are: body awareness, spatial awareness, coordination and breath control. 

Here is a young man performing his Ostrich, Twist and Lotus Postures.

• The Ostrich helps with progression towards achieving full arm extension. Using a chair to support bending forward assists balance and promotes confidence. 
• The Twist Posture is excellent for improving awareness of 'behind'.
• Usually the Lotus Posture is quite easy for persons with Down's syndrome to do, because of their loose hips. The aim for this posture is to sit up straight while focusing on breathing. When sitting back to back with a teacher or a peer the feeling of the breath can be experienced in the partner's back.

Excerpted from the YOU & ME Yoga Modular Programme.

Introduction to YOU & ME Yoga – DVD

Fabiola Wiseman recently joined the YOU & ME Yoga Modular Training Programme. On her very first day of home study she watched the 24-minute Introduction to YOU & ME Yoga – DVD, completed and submitted her first assignment explaining what the film meant to her. She was pleased to allow me to include it in full as follows: 

While watching the Introduction to YOU & ME Yoga - DVD, I noticed firstly how my enthusiasm for starting the YOU & ME Yoga Course increased, and that I have, no doubt, chosen the correct course. I think this was due to the fact that there were marked benefits and improvements in all aspects for the students – proving that the YOU & ME Yoga system works!

The fact that the colour system is so simple and yet so effective, struck me

immediately. I am beginning to understand how the students can identify the

colours with the different body parts and how that in turn allows them to

identify which part of the body is being strengthened. Allowing the students to match the cards with the body parts and then move their bodies into shapes on the mat, really encourages them to take part individually and as part of the group, and begin to follow precise instructions. Allowing students to describe how they feel also gives them greater awareness of body and mind and confidence in their practice. The 20 postures are such that every one allows for variations to suit the individual student, which is absolutely essential due to all the clients having differing abilities and challenges.

The wonderful use of sound was very interesting too, as this feels so natural, for example when breathing out, saying ‘Ah’. This, and the use of words, pictures and song to help people of all ages and abilities enjoy the benefits of yoga, is marvellous.

I think the thing that struck me most was the clear and proven benefits that the YOU & ME Yoga system continues to provide for people. This is to do with the fact that every posture can be modified to fit individual physical needs, but the modifications are also possible on an emotional and mental level, so that every person can have a version of yoga that improves their life.

As a teacher it is crucial that I can assess a student and modify sequences according to what they can do, what they need to improve on and what will be most beneficial to them. The fact that students found the YOU & ME Yoga enjoyable, relaxing, gained more muscle control, are more responsive and observant in their activities; and in general appear to be healthier is the perfect incentive for me to succeed in the course.

Fabiola Wiseman, YOU & ME Yoga Module 1.1

Extracts from 'Introduction to YOU & ME Yoga' - DVD

Starting to Teach Special Needs Yoga

You can contact me for yoga teaching tips and guidance for working with individuals or mixed abilities groups with learning difficulties/disabilities, right across the age range.

Maria Gunstone is now offering private training and online supported learning.