Yoga

My yoga journey was very much solitary.

As someone with dyspraxia, yoga is so good for my physical and mental health, but I struggled to keep up with yoga classes. Being a beat behind everyone else (because I process verbal instructions slower) and going left when everyone else went right meant I always felt self conscious.

And I didn’t get on much better following pre-recorded yoga videos online for similar reasons, although at least no one could see me being awkward!

But in 2023 I did what I never thought I’d be able to… I qualified as a yoga teacher.

Now I teach the yoga I need. Yoga that’s not just for every body, but also for every mind.

Not all of my classes are “easy” or “gentle” or “for beginners” but they’re all accessible.

They’re designed to help you feel comfortable and safe, and add small adaptations to help you follow along.

A lot of these adaptations are designed with neurodivergent people in mind, but they benefit neurotypical people too.

No one should feel excluded from yoga spaces. By creating classes and a space that acknowledges and celebrates what works for each person, my yoga becomes a safe and enjoyable space.

Some small ways I adapt my practise (and how you can adapt yours too!)

  • Less emphasis on left and right

  • More time given between instruction and action

  • Fewer steps to remember in a sequence

  • Keeping flows shorter and repeated regularly

  • The “easy” version given first

  • Longer warm up time at the start

  • More time and emphasis on what a pose should feel like

  • Less emphasis on poses looking right

  • Strength and proprioception building poses

  • Neurodivergent friendly meditation styles (you don’t need to “empty your mind” and it’s okay if you’d rather sit)

  • A space where it’s okay to be awkward!

Yoga for mental health

The way a yoga class is structured encourages the body to warm up, then work hard and raise the heart rate, then gently lower the heart rate to bring the body into peace and relaxation.

This makes it a great way to work with the nervous system and to train the mind and body to see calm as it’s normal state.

Yoga can also be a good way to process and release emotions and trauma.