Special Yoga and Mindfulness for Autism & ADHD
Practical, compassionate tools to help children feel calm, safe and connected.
Your nervous system can become their safe place.
Live Online training. Starts 21st March
Our training equips you with the skills and confidence to support all neurodivergent children, fostering their unique way of experiencing the world while enhancing their well-being and development - through connection, calm and nervous system regulation.
While Special Yoga & Mindfulness for Autism & ADHD is designed to give you the knowhow to benefit every child, more common diagnosis that are covered in the course are ASD, Anxiety Disorders, Dsypraxia, Epilepsy, OCD, PDA and SPD.
You’ll learn how to reduce overwhelm, support emotional regulation, and create a sense of safety - while feeling more confident and resourced in yourself.
The course is delivered over three months, allowing time to integrate and reflect between sessions.
About the training
This course offers a gentle, body-based approach to supporting neurodivergent children.
Rooted in the principles of Special Yoga, the training brings together breath, movement, relaxation and mindful connection to support the nervous system and create a sense of safety and ease.
You’ll explore simple, adaptable practices that can be used at home, in schools or in therapeutic settings - meeting each child exactly as they are.
The emphasis is not on “fixing”, but on listening, responding and building trust through connection.
What you will explore
Simple breathing practices to support calm and regulation
Gentle movement and positioning for different needs and abilities
Relaxation techniques to reduce tension and overwhelm
Co-regulation and the role of the adult nervous system
Ways to build trust, connection and communication
Adapting practices for individual children and group settings
Who this training is for
This course is open to anyone supporting children with autism and ADHD, including:
Parents and caregivers
Teachers and teaching assistants
Therapists and professionals
Yoga teachers wishing to specialise
No previous yoga experience is needed.
4 Live Webinar Dates
Tuesday 21st April - 6.30-9.00pm
Tuesday 19th May - 6.30-8.30pm
Tuesday 9th June - 6.30-8.30pm
Tuesday 7th July - 6.30-8.30pm
3 Assignments
The assignments will be given you to when the course starts and there will be specific dates for delivery to your study group leader.
Course Structure
4 live online training sessions
4 live small group study and integration sessions
Guided home practice and self-paced learning
Access to session recordings for 3 months after course end date
4 Live Study Group Dates
Exact dates and times for study groups are arranged at the opening webinar. They will be held during the weeks commencing:
26 April, 31 May, 14 June, 28 June
Course Structure and Dates
Graduates at:
What Others Have Experienced
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I didn’t think I’d be able to connect so deeply with children who have additional needs. This training changed my mindset entirely, showing me that patience and a different approach can make all the difference."
Jen
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I didn’t realize how much I needed this training—not just for the children but for myself. It gave me the tools to stay grounded and reminded me why I chose this path in the first place
Liza
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An amazing experience—can't wait to do the advanced course next. I feel ready to share yoga with children and make a difference in their lives."
Karolyn
The Special Yoga journey starts with the breath. You learn about cultivating awareness to honestly check in with yourself, your emotions and how you are breathing.
Combining mindfulness with the postures and associated healing practices, the power of regulated breathing begins to blossom for you.
Your heightened self-awareness and transformation is a revolutionary tool, your ability to self-regulate, allows the children in your care to co-regulate, once this is possible everything changes. The space you are sharing the practices form is now one of calm, and this coupled with the powerful practices, mean that anything is possible.
And many students notice the changes as soon as they start the course.
Meet the Trainers
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Claire Baker
ADVANCED PRACTITIONER & TEACHER
Claire is delighted to be part of the Special Yoga practitioner family and has trained with Jyoti Manuel for over 10 years.
She has worked with children and adults with disabilities in the voluntary sector all of her working life, offering respite care, and then began to share yoga with them when she had experienced how settling it could be.
In the years since, Claire has continued her own training and worked for Special Yoga as a senior practitioner and course teacher.
She has enjoyed sharing yoga in a number of settings with children and young adults, in mainstream and special schools, with family and autism groups, online and in one-to-one sessions.
For the last couple of years Claire has lived in Cumbria where she now works for a youth development charity. Yoga continues to be her "heart" job and her passion is working with children with autism and ADHD. -
Jazuela Wall
ADVANCED PRACTITIONER & TEACHER
I have worked in Special Education since completing my Psychology Degree in 2016; working with a range of needs but predominantly Autism. During this time, I have worked as a: LSA, Behaviour Specialist, SENDCo and am currently a Pastoral Manager. I have also trained as a Thrive Approach Practitioner and completed a Masters in Applied Behaviour Analysis.
Special Yoga has transformed the way in which I work with the children, treat myself and connect with those around me. I think everyone deserves to feel seen, understood and loved – Special Yoga reminds us of this!
I have witnessed the power of these practices and truly believe they are of value to everyone. Most of all, I hope to empower young people and the adults around them with tools to navigate life. -
Jyoti Manuel
FOUNDER & TEACHER
With her depth of knowledge and many years of experience, Jyoti Jo Manuel is recognised by many as one of the worlds leading authorities on therapeutic yoga for children. Her personal yoga journey started in 1974 and she began teaching in 1989.
Jyoti has travelled extensively implementing Special Yoga programmes in orphanages, social care, education and health care and for paediatric therapists and psychologists.
As founder, lead and spiritual head of Special Yoga she has trained senior practitioners to support the effective and impactful delivery of Special Yoga for children with special needs meeting them wherever they are.
Three months from now this could be you!
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SYMA gave me a great chance to deepen my knowledge of practices to support neurodiversity holistically. As a TA in mainstream education, I deeply benefited from the support offered and the opportunity to reflect on the paramount importance of self-care.
Maria
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I feel confident to share yoga in a special way with kids that need it most. This course gave me the tools I needed to make a real impact.
Sandra
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I decided to study with Special Yoga because I wanted to learn how to bring yoga to my special child. I already had yoga in my life but I didn't know how to reach him through it. I could never have imagined the profoundly positive impact the course would have on my whole family.
Josie
Frequently Asked Questions
All Your Questions Answered Here
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Special Yoga is for everybody, the practices can be learned by anyone and will benefit every child, teen and adult regardless of their condition.
Although developed specifically for children with ASD and related diagnosis’, the practices will help every child calm and live to their full potential.
Practitioners who themselves have an ASD will also benefits as they learn and embody the tools. -
The course is ideal from toddlers to young adults.
For those keen to work with older populations, explore our Special Yoga for Adults - Disabilities & Autism course.
We explore working with babies in more depth in our Senior Practitioner Training, which can be accessed on completion of Special Yoga for Autism and ADHD. -
Absolutely not!
While we do have yoga teachers taking our trainings, the courses have been designed to be comprehensive to everyone, so that the benefits are accessible to all. -
When you book a place on the course you’ll be given access to our all essential course information and core practices so you can begin to build a daily yoga habit.
After the opening webinar you’ll get access to the remaining content which is drip-released to you as you work your way through the lessons.
After the date for submitting your final assignment you’ll be able to revisit all of the course content for three months.
Taking our senior training will give you access to the complete Special Yoga Foundation Practices Video library. -
You can start practising right away, learning to self-regulate is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves.
You can share as you learn if practising with your own child, to share with other children you will need to be certified as having completed the course and this will enable you to get insured.
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Absolutely. Alongside the live webinars, you will be allocated a senior practitioner as your study group leader able to assist with any questions that come up for you on your journey.
One to one mentor sessions with senior practitioners are also available to book at a small additional cost. -
If you are keen to take your studies deeper we have our Senior and Advanced Special Yoga for Special Needs trainings which can be taken sequentially after completion of this training.
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The Special Yoga methodology can be used in the home, schools, yoga studios and anywhere there are children, so you upon completion you are ready to go and start helping change the lives of children.
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we encourage you to attend all of the webinars and study groups - to become certified you need to attend the first webinar (you’ll need to watch video recordings of any you don’t attend) and three of the four study groups.
Additionally you will be asked to complete 85% of the pre-recorded lessons and submit three personal assignments including a film of you working with a child.
Upon each submission you will receive supportive and constructive feedback from your study group leader.
After this we will be very happy to send you your Special Yoga Practitioner certificate. -
While you don’t need to study Special Yoga & Mindfulness for Autism & ADHD, when working as a freelance practitioner your employer will require you have insurance.
If this approach resonates with you, we would love you to join us.
This training offers a gentle and practical way to support children, while also resourcing yourself.
Start date: 21st April 2026
Duration: 3 months
Location: Live online
Investment: £495
Payment plan available
Spaces are limited to keep the group supportive & personal.
