VOICE COLORS YOGA
What is Voice Colors Yoga?
Voice Colors Yoga is a non-profit that offers a comprehensive, visually-based yoga curriculum developed specifically for individuals with autism. We offer unique training to people who want to teach yoga to students across the spectrum. Our ultimate goal is to help yogis of all abilities access the health and wellness benefits of a lifelong yoga practice.
The program was developed by Eve Megargel out of necessity. At the age of 15, her son Billy’s physical health deteriorated. He was uncomfortable, often in pain and emotional distress. At the time, there was no diagnosis and Eve was looking for a way to provide Billy a modicum of relief.
Yoga became a lifeline. She recruited certified yoga teacher Hannah Gould and together they built a program for Billy. It started with simple, restorative poses that invited Billy to rest. But then, over several years, Billy’s gastrointestinal and other health issues stabilized, and his yoga practice expanded. He began to use the Voice Colors model to learn Vinyasa flows, meditation, and other complex yoga sequences. Soon, other local people with autism joined Billy’s yoga sessions, which became a source of true community.
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Voice Colors Yoga is a highly beneficial practice on its own, and also enhances therapeutic services such as Occupational Therapy, Recreational Therapy, Adaptive PE or Speech and Language. Voice Colors Yoga works in a variety of settings: 1-1 or groups, day habilitation programs, clinical practices, and recreational and educational settings.
Yoga & Autism
Yoga addresses many aspects of autism as a systems disorder. Individuals with autism tend to experience medical challenges, including gastro-intestinal issues, seizures, and sensory disorders, that can be chronic and uncomfortable. Yoga is a lifelong practice that can alleviate these issues and improve balance in the mind, body and nervous system.
Yoga can be taught visually rather than verbally, playing to the strengths of students with communication challenges.
Yoga is an effective way to manage stress and develop self-awareness and self-regulation skills.
Yoga provides exercise that enhances strength, motor planning, flexibility, and overall physical well-being essential to maintaining good health.
Yoga provides a way to connect with others through meaningful social experiences shared in the community.
Yoga can be adapted to meet the needs of individuals at any level of physical fitness or ability.
To learn more about Voice Colors Yoga,
