Accessible yoga for adults with learning disabilities: the Yoga for Me approach

Harwood, Lisa Hillman-Rees Erika

Yoga is a practice that consists of gentle stretching, breathing exercises and meditation. It can be used as a mind-body intervention, and has benefits for physical and emotional health and well-being. Different yoga styles involve a different intensity of practice. However, the accessibility of yoga to people with physical and learning disabilities is limited. People with learning disabilities experience many health and emotional disadvantages and have a lower average age of death than the general population. Yoga provides an opportunity to increase their well-being. This article discusses the development of a method to teach yoga to adults with learning disabilities. The aim of this initiative was to demonstrate that by using a person-centred approach, people with learning disabilities can be supported to enjoy the practice and benefits of yoga in face-to-face classes and online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Learning Disability Practice is the property of RNCi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)