Full Course Description

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Yoga to Improve Sensory, Self-Regulation and Motor Skills in Kids: Autism, ADHD, Developmental Disorders, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy

Program Information

Objectives

1. Communicate therapy goals reflecting each of the five components of well-balanced yoga practice.
2. Implement yoga poses/techniques to improve strength & balance and range of motion.
3. Select yoga poses/techniques to improve self-regulation and social & emotional skills.
4. Design simple, well-balanced, yoga routines for children with special needs.
5. Adapt yoga poses & techniques for a variety of settings, abilities & age levels.
6. List the 5 components of a well-balanced yoga practice.

Outline

Yoga Poses and Techniques For: Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Breathing exercises for awareness & regulation
• Poses to calm & relax the nervous system
• Partner poses for facilitating dyadic cooperation
• Meditation for strengthening attention
• LAB: Practice techniques

Exercises for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)

• Breathing exercises for calming the nervous system
• Centering exercises for reigning in attention & bringing energy levels down
• Facilitating focus via balance & core strengthening poses
• Relaxation for calming the body & mind
• Meditation to improve attention span
• LAB: Practice techniques

Behavior and Emotional Problems

• Addressing resistance
• Precautions for dealing with childhood trauma, abuse and neglect

Developmental Coordination Disorder

• Breathing exercises for assisting with focus
• Promote motor planning via sequenced poses
• Relaxation for relieving anxiety
• LAB: Practice techniques

Special Needs: Cerebral Palsy & Increased Tone

• Breathing exercises for awareness & strengthening the diaphragm
• Elongate flexors/adductors for improved range of motion & movement
• Stretch hamstrings for improved posture
• Relaxation for increasing body awareness
• Meditation for assisting with focus & visual motor skill
• LAB: Practice techniques

Downs Syndrome & Low Tone

• Breathing to invigorate the nervous system
• Body awareness activities
• Poses for strengthening core muscles
• Meditation for focus & awareness
• LAB: Practice techniques

Yoga Games

• Body awareness
• Creativity
• Gratitude
• Trust and cooperation
• Quiet games
• Listening and focus
• Partner poses
• LAB: Practice techniques

Adapt Yoga for Different Age Groups & Settings

• Infants, Toddlers & Preschoolers, School age
• Clinic, classroom, home

Target Audience

• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Psychologists
• Therapists
• Educators
• Marriage & Family Therapists
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapist Assistants
• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapist Assistants
• Nurses
• Other Mental Health Professionals

Copyright : 11/29/2018

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Attachment & Emotional Self-Regulation Skills for Children: Empowering Positive Behavior From the Inside Out

Program Information

Objectives

1. Articulate how attachment style impacts children’s self-regulation and its effect on behavior and learning.
2. Communicate the neurophysiological and social impact of anxiety and stress in children.
3. Implement customized strategies that sustain self-regulation in children of a variety of ages/abilities.
4. Demonstrate techniques that calm the nervous system in children such as alternate muscle contraction and progressive muscle relaxation.
5. Design interventions including social stories, video modeling, mindfulness, visualization and affirmation techniques to promote positive behavior in children.
6. Create and implement programs to deal with a variety of challenging behaviors in children including tantrums, sensory issues and sleep and elimination problems.
7. Integrate behavior modification techniques to reduce challenging behaviors in children.

Outline

The Neurobiology of Regulation

• Attachment & How Relationships Impact the Brain 
• Mirror Neurons
  • Therapeutic implications & techniques
• Oxytocin
  • Therapeutic implications & techniques
• Attachment styles & their impact on behavior
• Attachment & attunement to support & empower therapeutic relationships
• Therapeutic use of self with difficult kids

Effects of Anxiety & Stress on Self-Regulation

• Stress response patterns as survival strategies
• Consequences of stress on mental & physical functioning
• Anxiety & brain research
• Moving from fight, flight, freeze to rest & digest for better learning
• Quick stress busters for kids

Strategies to Support & Sustain Self-Regulation

• Developmental sequence of self regulation
• Strategies for each stage 
• Scaffolding: moving kids from where they are to the next level

Calming the Nervous System

• Techniques for infants to young adults
• Quick relaxation breaks
• Formal relaxation strategies
• Stress reduction lab: practices for lower to higher functioning individuals

Empower & Motivate Kids for Emotional Independence

• Game-Changing Interventions for Positive Behavior from the Inside Out
  • Mindfulness
  • Social stories
  • Video modeling
  • Visualization
  • Affirmations
  • Building confidence
  • Developing autonomy & intrinsic motivation

Techniques to Deal with Difficult Behaviors

• Minimize or Eliminate: 
  • Tantrums
  • Elimination problems
  • Troubling sleep patterns  
  • Eating issues 
  • Transitions  
  • Sensory issues

Utilizing Behavior Modification Techniques for Effective Interventions

• Positive discipline 
• Alternatives to punishment
• Gradual exposure to broaden tolerance
• Self management to empower kids

Self-Regulation Problem Solving Lab

• Case studies to link what we have learned to your caseload

Target Audience

• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Special Education Teachers
• General Education Teachers
• School Administrators
• Educational Paraprofessionals
• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapists Assistants
• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Psychologists
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Case Managers
• Nurses
• Other helping professionals who work with children ages 0-21

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