Barbara Neiman – Yoga and Mindfulness for Children and Adolescents: Proven Self-Regulation and Trauma-Informed Strategies

Yoga and Mindfulness for Children and Adolescents: Proven Self-Regulation and Trauma-Informed Strategies – Barbara Neiman

• Strategies for: Completing tasks, managing emotions, increasing attention, communicating and meeting challenges
• Reduce trauma, anxiety, and depression with guided meditation
• Regulate emotions with 6 breathing techniques and reduce impulsive behaviors
• Build self-regulation, self-esteem and confidence

Many of my clients have limited movement quality and repertoire, poor attention, trauma and sensory issues.

When I began to teach clients yoga, developmental movement patterns and simple breathing techniques, they became more integrated in their motor responses and their attention improved drastically!

Trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness created an immediate shift in clients’ body awareness, ability and tolerance. Clients were empowered by tuning into the body to a place of relaxation, control and confidence. Learning mindfulness and yoga reduces stress and increases movement repertoire.

As a therapist, the more I quieted my mind, the more effective I was in teaching my clients to self-pace and access the brain body connection somatically. My work became more successful as the clients felt less stressed and more focused.

Come experience this brain-body seminar and learn trauma-informed yoga strategies for children and adolescents with ADHD, autism, trauma and sensory issues. Learn techniques for attention, following directions, managing emotions, completing daily tasks, socializing and communicating.

1. Utilize the elements of relaxing guided meditation for autistic children and young adults.
2. Apply engaging yoga activities and breathing in classrooms and clinics.
3. Regulate emotion, calm and attention with embodying techniques.
4. Apply mindfulness principles to daily life and therapist’s tool box.
5. Create successful yoga breaks, circle time, and class transitions using yoga.
6. Identify how to utilize trauma-informed yoga principles with clients.

MIND-BODY TECHNIQUES

• Research on yoga in schools
  • The Brain: Regulate emotions
  • Activities to quiet the mind: Reduce trauma with the witness
  • Link emotion and attention to breath
  • Teach 8 simple yoga principles to kids

TRAUMA-INFORMED YOGA

• How to adapt and self-pace
• Body Sensing
• Completing Daily Tasks
• Grounding column for ADHD
• The orchestra breath and attention
• Following directions: Mindfulness walking

MANAGE EMOTIONS WITH SELF-REGULATION: WHERE IN MY BODY IS MY REACTION

• Sensory feeling wheel: Reduce panic attacks, anxiety, anger
• Manage PTSD
• Noticing negative thoughts: Shifting pain

COMMUNICATING: SHIFTING MOODS TO WORDS

• Find words with tracing bones
• Shift depression with Mudra’s and Ha breath
• Write mantras for positive thinking
• Thought bubbles: I’m the boss of my thoughts
• Reduce stress: 3-step contemplation

MEETING CHALLENGES: TECHNIQUES FOR CLINICIANS TO STAY STEADY

• Engage kids where they are
• Sensory circle time – preK-5th
• Special needs adaptations
• Reduce behaviors and anxiety
• Guided meditation for autistic young adults

POSES AND ALERTING TECHNIQUES

• Standing and seated poses
• One-foot balance
• Vinyasa
• Warrior series
• Backbends

TOOLS FOR CALMING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Restorative: Desks and Sensory corners
• Short meditations: Golden Ray
• How to use guided imagery effectively
• Breathing to stillness