Jacob in a focused pose during a Grounded Kids Yoga class, showing calm concentration

Inclusive Yoga for Diverse Learners

What if the starting point for our humanity is not ability, but vulnerability?

When we approach yoga through the lens of relationship and trust, we see vulnerability not as a flaw, but as a shared human truth. We learn to celebrate interdependence, not just independence. Children and teens with diverse developmental needs deserve tools that honor their full range of experience, not just their ability to meet classroom or societal expectations. Inclusive yoga supports emotional growth, cognitive development, and self-confidence by creating space for every student to participate and thrive.

At Grounded Kids Yoga, we believe inclusive teaching is trauma-aware, emotionally fluent, and built on consistent relationships. Our programs prepare educators, therapists, caregivers, and classroom professionals to adapt poses, sequences, and strategies with clarity and structure for:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Sensory processing and emotional dysregulation
  • Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and motor coordination differences
  • Anxiety, ADHD, trauma history, and learning differences

Children with diverse needs are already part of every classroom, family, and community. Inclusive yoga offers a clear and consistent way to support their development through movement, breath, and playful learning. With the right tools, every child can participate meaningfully and feel a sense of trust and belonging.

Why Yoga Helps

Inclusive yoga supports regulation, confidence, and connection across domains. These four categories represent the areas where we consistently see growth and change in children who practice yoga with skilled guidance.

  • Encourages self-monitoring and sequencing
  • Builds impulse control through rhythm and breath
  • Supports divided and sustained attention
  • Teaches structure and follow-through
  • Reinforces vocabulary tied to action, space, and timing
  • Offers repeated models of expressive and receptive language
  • Uses storytelling and imagery to invite deeper comprehension
  • Promotes confident expression and theme-based reflection
  • Builds comfort with transitions and shared space
  • Encourages grounding, listening, and turn-taking
  • Creates a consistent container for exploration and play
  • Supports self-trust and relational awareness
  • Builds core strength and postural stability
  • Strengthens motor planning and movement coordination
  • Activates the vagus nerve to support regulation
  • Supports flexible shifts between alertness and rest

What Training Includes

  • Design accessible and effective class plans
  • Support regulation with adaptable breathwork
  • Use props, pacing, and sequence structure to meet a wide range of needs
  • Recognize how physical, cognitive, and emotional development intersect in movement-based learning
More Info & Training Schedule

Learn More About Our Approach

Yoga for Children With Diverse Needs
How to Teach Yoga to Kids
Kids Yoga Lesson Planning and Curriculum

Jacob, a student with Down syndrome, autism, and cancer survivorship, seated calmly on his mat during kids yoga

One of our longtime students, Jacob, has practiced yoga with Sedef for over six years. Jacob lives with Down syndrome and autism and is also a cancer survivor. His presence in class reflects quiet confidence, focus, and trust earned through consistency and care. This year, Jacob received a volunteer service award from the City of Milton, Georgia. His growth is not just physical but relational and his practice embodies what’s possible when inclusive teaching is steady, joyful, and rooted in trust.
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Stop Foot, Go Foot

Dr. Suess’s “The FOOT Book” is a delightful tribute to the diverse and multifaceted world of feet. In honor of his fun Suess_openand quirky rhymes, I have put my best foot forward here, in a whimsical approach to show how to work your feet. When you keep your feet in line, you will stay in line. Clearly listen to your feet and discover where they tend to go. Do they turn out or in?  Are they crooked? Do you tend to have low back pain or knee pain? Often this can be traced to your feet.
When you have clarity in your feet, your life will be sweet.
As Abraham Lincoln said “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”