• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Kids Yoga Stories | Yoga and mindfulness resources for kids

Yoga cards, mindfulness resources, yoga books, yoga resources for kids.

  • Home
  • START HERE
  • BLOG
  • *FREE Resources*
  • ABOUT
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Graduate-Level Professional Development
    • Media Kit
    • Sign Up for Newsletter
    • Printing Instructions
    • Download Troubleshooting
    • Kids Yoga Monthly FAQ
    • KYM Login
    • Guest Posts
    • Privacy Policy
  • SHOP NOW
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Yoga for Children with Autism: Meet Sammy

Giselle · June 19, 2017 ·

Meet Sammy - how to teach yoga to children with autism | Kids Yoga Stories

Do you provide yoga therapy for children with autism? Today, I would love to share the story of an extraordinary teacher, Mary, who teaches yoga to children with autism. By sharing her experiences, challenges, and ideas, we hope that you’ll find inspiration for your work, as well. Feel free to share your story in the comments below—I’m sure Mary would love to hear from you, too. We are all in this yoga journey together!

In Sammy’s World: Yoga for Children with Autism

If you have met one child with Autism, you have truly met just one child with Autism. I have heard this phrase repeatedly and discovered myself first-hand how true this statement is.

I have been working with a wonderful twelve-year-old boy named Sammy. He is at the lower end of the spectrum, aged twelve with an overall functioning of a five- or six-year-old. He exhibits several of the self-stimulating behaviors common in Autistic children—making loud and sometimes strange noises, flapping, and jumping. Sammy also had overwhelming need to be “scratched” and “tickled.” This was a sensory challenge which he demanded repeatedly during our yoga sessions.

All my plans for our first yoga session together went out the window right from the start. Sammy did not have the attention span for books, flashcards, or even sitting on his yoga mat. His fine and gross motor skills were poor, as was his muscle tone. I could plan all I wanted, but it was Sammy who set the pace and the tone of our yoga sessions.


GET YOUR 3 POSTERS HERE

free yoga printables | Kids Yoga Stories
CLICK HERE to Get Your Free Poster Pack

I discovered Sammy loved traditional children’s songs, in particular songs from Barney (the purple dinosaur). Coincidentally, I love to sing—I’m not very good, according to some—but I began incorporating songs into our sessions regardless. Sammy became much more focused and engaged, often going off into a fit of giggles! We practiced holding a yoga posture for the length of the entire verse of a song, and it worked wonderfully!

Some of our favorites include:

1. Bridge Pose: London Bridge is falling down

How to practice Bridge Pose: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Rest your arms down alongside your body, with your palms flat on the ground. Tuck your chin into your chest and keep your spine straight. On an inhale, lift your buttocks. Hold for a few counts and then slowly curl your back down to the floor.

bridge pose | Kids Yoga Stories
Bridge Pose

2. Frog (squat) Pose: Two Little Speckled Frogs

How to practice Squat Pose: Come down to a squat with your knees apart and your arms between
your knees.

Squat pose | Kids Yoga Stories
Squat Pose

3. Warrior 3 Pose (airplane pose): Flying in an Airplane, from Barney

How to practice Warrior 3 pose: Stand on one leg. Extend the other leg behind you, flexing your foot. Bend your torso forward and take your arms back alongside your body. Switch sides and repeat the steps.

Warrior 3 Pose | Kids Yoga Stories
Warrior 3 Pose

Some sessions with Sammy are right on, and other times, he’s a little out of sorts, but aren’t we all at one point or another?

Do you teach yoga to children with autism? We’d love to hear your story, too!


About the Author

Mary Liberale - yoga teacher of children with autism

Mary Liberale is a Children’s Yoga Instructor who specializes with working with children with special needs. To share your story, email Mary directly at mary.liberale at gmail dot com or find her on Facebook.


Other Yoga for Autism Links

Yoga Therapy for Children with Autism and Special Needs (Amazon affiliate link) book by Louise Goldberg

Asanas for Autism and Special Needs (Amazon affiliate link) book by Shawnee Thornton Hardy

Yoga for Children with ADHD, Autism, and those who are Differently-Abled Teacher Training, Radiant Child Yoga

6 Benefits of Yoga for Children with Autism, Autism Parenting Magazine

AutismSpeaks.org yoga resources


YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Spring Yoga for Children with Autism
Therapeutic Benefits of Yoga for Kids
Yoga and Speech Therapy
Yoga and Physical Therapy
How to Teach Mindfulness and Yoga to Children with Hearing Loss

SAVE FOR LATER

Teaching yoga to chidlren with autism: 3 poses and songs | Kids Yoga Stories

If you liked this post, share it here:

Share on FacebookShare on PinterestShare on LinkedInShare on Email

Filed Under: Free Resources Tagged With: yoga autism, yoga for autism, yoga for children with autism, yoga therapy for children, yoga therapy for children with autism

Primary Sidebar

FREE POSTERS

yoga poses for kids, kids yoga, yoga printables

Welcome

Giselle Shardlow Profile Image Welcome to Kids Yoga Stories. To create the yoga books, yoga and breathing card decks, and yoga and mindfulness classroom resources, I draw from my experience as an international teacher, a world traveler, a certified yoga teacher, and a mom to a spirited child. I’ve been practicing yoga practically my whole life, and after I became a mom, I fell in love with the idea of sharing yoga and mindfulness with my daughter. Read more.

Social

  • Facebook 34 K Likes
  • Pinterest 24 K Followers
  • Insta 7 K Followers

Recent Posts

  • Summer Yoga Ideas for Kids (+ Printable Poster)
  • Robot Yoga Poses for Kids
  • Ninja Yoga Poses for Strength, Focus and Calm
  • Teach the Water Cycle in an Active, Engaging Way through Movement: Try Water Cycle Yoga!
  • Pollinators for Kids: Learn about pollination through yoga poses for kids
  • Marketing Tips for Yoga Teachers: Marketing Tools to Grow your Kids Yoga Business




POPULAR YOGA PRODUCTS FOR KIDS

Yoga Cards Collection Image
Yoga Cards for Kids
Yoga Book Collection Image
Yoga Books for Kids
Yoga Bundles Collection Image
Yoga Bundles for Kids
Teaching Resources Image
Teaching Resources
Yoga Pose Image
Yoga Pose Images for Kids

POPULAR YOGA RESOURCES

Yoga Poses Image
Yoga Poses for Kids
Seasonal Image
Seasonal Yoga Lesson Plans
Monthly Yoga Image
Monthly Kids Yoga Themes
Holiday Yoga Image
Holiday Yoga Lesson Plans
Kids Yoga Class Ideas Image
Kids Yoga Class Ideas

QUICK LINKS

About Us
Contact Us
Store
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Refund Policy

SOCIAL

Link to Twitter Image
Link to Facebook Image
Link to Pinterest Image
Link to YouTube Image

GET FREE UPDATES

Yoga tips and kids yoga resources delivered weekly to your inbox from Kids Yoga Stories!

SIGN UP

Copyright © 2023 · Kids Yoga Stories LLC · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy