Universal Design Yoga

1. Universal Design Yoga PEPnet2 training institute/ahead2014 Susan Mann Dolce, PhD, otr/l, RYT

2. Presentation Overview • Welcome • Beginning practice • Universal Design Yoga • Making yoga classes more welcoming to students who are deaf, HH, blind and low vision • Practice • Questions and discussion

3. Beginning Practice • Now we will do a simple seated five minute practice. • Please participate in a way that is comfortable and works best for you today. • Sit back in your chair, if it works for you put your feet flat on the floor or wheelchair pedals. • Notice your breath (don’t try to change it or judge it, just become aware of the breath going in and out) for a few minutes.

4. Using the Breath • As you breathe in become aware of a gentle lengthening from the low back to top of head. • As you breathe out become aware of the chair beneath your legs and the support under your feet. • Continue like this for five inhales and exhales.

5. Noticing Change • Return to your normal breathing. • Notice how you feel; some of you may fell a change, some may not. • Try doing this everyday for a few minutes. • Questions?

6. 2012 Universal Design Definition • Universal Design is a process that enables and empowers a diverse population by improvinghuman performance, health and wellness and social participation. • Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA) UB

7. Goals of Universal Design • Body Fit: accommodating a wide range of body sizes and abilities • Comfort: keeping demands within desirable limits • Awareness: ensuring critical Info is perceived • Understanding: making use intuitive and clear • Wellness: contributing to health promotion • Social Integration: treating all with dignity and respect • Personalization: Incorporating choice and individual preferences • Cultural Appropriateness: Respecting cultural values and social context

8. Universal Design Yoga • Yoga that is safe, welcoming and comfortable for everyone who chooses to attend. • Spring 2008 through spring 2014, will continue fall 2014. • Video • Questions?

9. Universal Design Yoga Effectiveness • 98 % or more of over 600 student participants in a Universal Design Yoga class since 2009 strongly agreed or agreed that: • They were able to fully participate in Universal Design Yoga class they attended. • They felt comfortable in the class. • They felt safe in the class. • They are interested in taking more Universal Design Yoga classes. • That it is a positive thing to do for themselves.

10. 9 of 44 write in comments from Universal Design Yoga students spring 2014. In general how do you feel after taking today’s Universal design Yoga class? • Amazing • At ease • Awesome • Balanced • Better • Calm • Centered • Collected • Connected

11. Students with DisabilitiesPercent of total attendance

12. Visual and Verbal Yoga Teacher Course with Lila Lolling

13. Top Complaints of Deaf and HH Yoga Students • Having to look around the room to see what is going on. • Not being able to close eyes during class. • Not being able to relax at the end of class. • Not understanding warnings given to other students, for example high blood pressure. • Being ignored. • Teachers over annunciating • Not getting the breathing part of the practice. • Told they are not “OMing” correctly, or being forced to “Om” • Not understanding how to do the pose in a way that works for them.

14. Visual Yoga Tips • Welcome all students to class and determine best communication. • If student is Deaf or HH determine how you will let them know to open eyes (light touch, fan, etc). • Make sure teachers face and eyes are able to be seen at all times. • Use body to “show” the pose before having class do the pose. If possible have student demonstrate so teachers face can be seen. • Be clear, simple and concise in explanation. • Use head “yes” and “no” to clearly indicate warnings. • Use arms, fingers and hnds to depict body parts. • Use thumbs up to indicate position is correct.

15. VIYM Rossettus

16. Verbal Yoga Tips • Welcome all students and introduce yourself. Clarify if they are ok with touch guidance while doing poses. • If student is blind or low vision ask them if they would like a tour of the room, where bathrooms, yoga mats are etc. Describe surroundings in a low key way. • Use clear, simple and direct verbal instructions for poses. Use orientation to the student’s own body as opposed to the room. For example, “step your right foot forward and to the right six inches as opposed to step your right foot toward the windows”. Try to give an endpoint to directions, “inhale arms in front of you and up toward the sky”, instead of just “inhale the arms up”. • If a sensory yoga mat is available as student if they would like to try it and orient student to the mat. If using a regular yoga mat encourage student to trace the edges. • Position student near a wall for orientation or have a chair close by for orientation and support. • Consider slowing the class down, this benefits all students. Use a calm floor drum at end of relaxation.

17. Practice • Seated inhale exhale like beginning of session • Seated forward fold • Seated forward fold with arms option • Seated extension • Seated twist to right • Seated twist to left • Quiet relaxation (about twenty balanced breaths, eyes open or closed)

18. Questions and Comments • ? • samann@buffalo.edu • Thank you.