Charlotte Cooke spoke to Jenny Watson, who teaches yoga to children with alternative needs and is also a volunteer here at Brighton Yoga Foundation.
With 46 out of the 68 primary schools here in Brighton already using yoga as a tool for their pupils, it is evident that the awareness of its many benefits for children is on the rise.
But did you know that yoga is even more beneficial for children with alternative needs, who struggle to sit still, self-soothe or even communicate with those around them? These benefits include:
- Releases tension, fear and frustration
- Calms their breathing
- Relaxes nervous system
- Releases nervous energy
- Helps develop self-confidence
- Decreases hyperactivity
- Increases attention and concentration
- Improves motor planning and control
- Develops body awarenessReduces obsessive behaviour
- Helps cognitive skills
MEET JENNY
Jenny Watson is one such advocate for the benefits of yoga for children with alternative needs, and as her own personal yoga journey began when she discovered the joys with her own children, it is not surprising that this is where her main focus lies.
Jenny has always worked with children, and was a SEN (Special Educational Needs) teacher for 23 years, focusing on children under 11. She incorporated the use of yoga as an alternative therapy into her role, as she was very aware that yoga had changed her own values, lifestyle and wellbeing, and she wanted to use it to similarly support the children she worked with.
After attending training with British Wheel of Yoga, and in the Sonia Sumar Method led by Jyoti Manuel at Special Yoga, Jenny started using the techniques she learnt with the nursery- aged children she worked with. Further training followed, both in Jyoti’s own methods, and from other disciplines. Becoming even more absorbed in yoga and the many benefits it had on the children, Jenny decided to give up general teaching, and has focused on teaching yoga ever since, to all age groups.
Jenny describes her two main aims as:
Ø Supporting each and every child to maximise their full potential
Ø Encouraging parents to use yoga as part of their child’s weekly – if not daily – routine
Jenny’s sessions are suitable for children of all ages, abilities and needs, and she has worked with:
- Children suffering from high anxiety
- Children on the autistic spectrum
- Children with Downs syndrome
- Children with ADHD
- Children with general learning difficulties, such as dyspraxia
- Children with sensory processing and complex needs
COVID AND CLIENTS
Before COVID-19 put a stop to everything, Jenny offered:
Group classes
One-to-one classes
Workshops
Home visits
Jenny is very proud of how she has adapted her practices during the pandemic and two lockdowns. Previously, she found home visits especially useful and beneficial for children with alternative needs, but she has luckily been able to carry out one-to-one sessions via Zoom, which is particularly vital for children who struggle with changes to their routine. Having supported many of her clients for several years – her longest-running client is now 22 years old – Jenny is grateful that technology has allowed her to continue to work with them throughout the pandemic.
Positive feedback from parents includes:
“It was wonderful seeing my daughter’s progress. She can get into and out of poses with minimal help. It has also changed her sleep pattern.”
So how does Jenny create sessions that are child-friendly and accessible for all? She has spent time building up a repertoire of tools and techniques, which include:
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TOOLS/TECHNIQUES
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EXAMPLES
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Fun names for poses or breathing techniques |
Pizza rolls Train breath Bee breath Feather blowing |
Encourage noises for animal-related poses |
 
Bark like a dog Roar like a lion Hiss like a snake |
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Use games, dance or storytelling alongside yoga poses |
Use the Plough pose, where the children lie in a circle and have to pass a ball to the person next to them using their feet |
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Focus on all the senses
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Use sensory bags as a relaxation aid at the end of the session
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Tailors the sessions where required
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The sessions can heighten or lower sensory needs, depending on what is appropriate for each child
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WORKSHOPS APPROVED BY BRITISH WHEEL OF YOGA
Although Jenny teaches other forms of yoga, working with children – especially those with alternative needs – has become her main focus in recent years, and she would love to expand on this by helping other people to teach it too. For this reason, she used her time in lockdown to develop a training course approved by British Wheel of Yoga.
Due to run weekly from April 17th 2021, the course consists of five workshops and is aimed at those who appreciate the benefits of yoga, and who want to use it as a tool or calming technique for the children they work with. The course will therefore offer ideas and activities to help create classes aimed at children, especially those with alternative needs.
Jenny can’t wait to pass on her knowledge, passion and enthusiasm about the benefits of yoga for children with alternative needs, so if the idea of this interests you, then watch this space!
ENDNOTE
Jenny’s website (https://breatherelaxsmileyoga.wordpress.com) is currently under refurbishment, but to find out more about her and what she does, or what she could offer you, take a look at her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/breatherelaxsmileyogabrighton