Children with disabilities benefit immensely from Seattle Kids Yoga programs. Our style of Kids Yoga addresses the physical, social-emotional, and cognitive strengths and needs of the whole child.
Teaching yoga to children with disabilities is how SKY Founder Nicole Koleshis began teaching her Kids Yoga teaching career. Inspired by how much joy and well-being her personal yoga practice was creating in her life, Nicole, an Occupational Therapist, started sharing yoga and mindfulness with children on the Autism spectrum. The children were remarkably receptive and the sessions were notably beneficial, so yoga and mindfulness became an integral part of her work as a school-based OT, spanning her 12-year career in Boston and Seattle.
Nicole has extensive experience working with children with a variety of diagnoses, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Cerebral Palsy and Down syndrome. Nicole mentors SKY instructors and other Kids Yoga Teachers on how to share yoga with children of all abilities.
“For over 8 years, I have been doing yoga with Nicole. I started out as a confused and frustrated kindergartner, and after doing yoga with Nicole, I have gained a sense of calm and confidence. I am now a teenager, and I have noticed that practices like ‘yoga breathing’ can help in everyday life.”
Yoga Benefits for Kids with Disabilities:
Increases attention, focus and concentration
Builds self-esteem and confidence
Develops stronger muscles
Addresses high and low muscle tone
Fosters language and social skills
“Nicole has been sharing Yoga with our classrooms since 2014, and we are continuously impressed with her ability to connect with our students and staff. Nearly 40% of the children in our classrooms have special needs, and Nicole uses her talent as an instructor, and training as an Occupational Therapist to ensure that every child gets to experience the benefits of Yoga. She has also conducted wonderful training events for our staff and families. Children and staff alike look forward to Tuesday afternoons with Yoga Nicole!”