program creation to cater students with special needs

1. Namaste Kids
Yoga for kids with special needs
By:
Anna Marisol V. Rueda

2. What’s in the name?
“Namaste” is a customary Hindu greeting
upon meeting or departure. It is a Sanskrit
word meaning “I bow down to you” and it is a
gesture of respect usually spoken with a
slight bow and hands pressed together like
in prayer.

3. Why choose the program?
Numerous studies have been conducted about
the effect of yoga to children with special
needs such as ADHD, emotional and
behavioral problems, autism, mental
retardation and Down’s syndrome. These
studies showed improvement not only in
physiological aspect but as well as socio-
emotional and behavioral. Some of the
results of yoga practice include improvement

4. Why choose the program?
in focus and concentration, better sleep
pattern, eating habits, social adaptation,
coordination and good academic
performance.1
Namaste Kids is inspired by these studies. It
is a multi-level yoga program to provide an
alternative therapy for children with
various disabilities.

5. I. Clientele
Admission
- boys and girls aged 4 – 10 years old with
ADHD, mild autism and mild to
moderate MR

6. II. Curriculum Goals
Mission
To provide a comprehensive therapeutic
program to children with special needs
through yoga practice

7. II. Curriculum Goals
Vision
For children with special needs to increase
their awareness of the body and mind and
improve bodily strength through yoga
techniques such as pranayama (breathing)
and asanas (poses) which can help them
improve focus and concentration

8. II. Curriculum Goals
Course Objectives
A. General Objectives
For children with special needs to develop a
lifelong yoga practice to help improve their
overall socio-emotional, behavioral and
physiological health

9. II. Curriculum Goals
Course Objectives
B. Specific Objectives
1) To help children with special needs improve
focus and concentration through mindful
yoga practice

10. II. Curriculum Goals
Course Objectives
B. Specific Objectives
2) To provide children with techniques to
manage stressful situations through
different breathing practice
3) To foster a well-balanced physical
development (strength, flexibility,
balance, motor skills, breathing)

11. II. Curriculum Goals
Course Objectives
B. Specific Objectives
4) To provide opportunities for children with
special needs to socialize through group
classes

12. III. Philosophical Framework
Namaste Kids will follow the
Sonia Sumar Method™. Sonia
Sumar is an internationally-
acclaimed yoga teacher for
children with special needs. Her
method is used by an
international program called
Yoga for the Special Child

13. III. Philosophical Framework
help babies and children with
cerebral palsy, Down’s
Syndrome, autism, ADHD and
learning disabilities. The
method is an integration of
traditional yoga practice with
modern techniques to
accommodate the special needs

14. III. Philosophical Framework
of children such as the use of
props and blocks, guided
imagery and manual guidance
in the movements, and
coordination of age and
developmentally appropriate
breathing techniques and
asanas (poses) to improve

15. III. Philosophical Framework
respiratory function, focus and
concentration. The breathing
and sound work such as the
Ocean Breathe are also
adapted.2 It also addresses the
social problems of children with
special needs since yoga classes
are often in groups and
provides an opportunity

16. III. Philosophical Framework
to the children to socialize,
relate and communicate with
each other. In addition, children
learn how to listen, follow
instructions and manage
emotions.

17. IV. Curriculum Content
The program is divided into 2 categories
according to the students chronological age:
the Yogi Babies for children 4-7 years old and
Yogeens for 8-10 years old. The rationale for
these subcategories is to target same age
group for their play and socialization.

18. IV. Curriculum Content
Yogi Babies (40 hours)
Integrative play (5 hours)
Breathing exercises (5 hours)
Basic Yoga 1 (20 hours)
Basic Yoga 2 (20 hours)
Practicing yoga

19. IV. Curriculum Content
Yogeens (65 hours)
Being mindful (10 hours)
Breathe in, breathe out (5 hours)
I Am Strong (10 hours)
Basic Yoga 1 (20 hours)
Basic Yoga 2 (20 hours)
Intermediate/Practicing Yoga

20. V. Evaluation
Each program will be evaluated through
Authentic and Formative assessments. Use of
rubrics and checklists will be utilized to
evaluate the progress of the students.

21. VI. Learning Environment
a. Teaching methods
- Kinesthetic and Auditory
- modeling
- meditative
b. Teaching materials
- mats, props (blocks, ropes, stretch bar)
- meditative music
- age-appropriate toys

22. VI. Learning Environment
c. Class size
- small group (1 teacher: 3-5 students)
d. Time allotment
- 1 hour a day

23. VI. Learning Environment
e. Venue
Yoga practice is both physical and
meditative in nature. An environment
which will provide solemnity to the
practice is necessary. Since the students
also have problems on focus and
concentration, it should ensure that
the practice area is free from any
distractions.

24. VI. Learning Environment
Thus, a plain, simple and quiet space
with enough room to accommodate the
students. It should be well-lighted and
well-ventilated. Since the practice
focuses on breathing, natural
ventilation is a priority.

25. VI. Learning Environment
To provide accessibility to the students,
the studio should be in a ground floor of
the building.