A PRE-WRITING SIX STEP
TO WARM UP AND RELAX
DESIGNED BY REANNA SHAW
Yoga provides life-long benefits to children with special needs, to include gaining greater awareness and understanding of the body, learning to selfregulate and development of emotional intelligence relative to coping, empathy, and Theory of Mind (ToM) skills. In addition to supporting our children with special needs, yoga creates mindful relaxation and calming strategies that will support adult caregivers and parents. Yoga helps create a mind-body connection, as you begin to link your movement with your breath, reports Reanna Shaw, a yoga instructor certified to work with children and adults. Reanna notes, "Yoga can be calming and improve your ability to focus, while also strengthening your body and increasing flexibility in your body."
At right is a warm-up for writing or keyboarding designed by Reanna Shaw, to support parents and kids at home in preparation for homework. This flow serves to warm up the joints and muscles connected to writing or keyboarding, as well as calming the system in preparation for the demands of the upcoming task. Also, it is a fantastic support for parents as they prepare for their own daily tasks on the computer. When doing this with your child focus upon engagement and affirmation, rather than form. As you present each pose, state the instruction aloud so children can follow along. Then state the affirmation and ask your child to repeat it.
1A Inhale to flex your palms forward away from your body as you point your fingers upward. 1B Then, exhale to flex your palms backward toward your body as you point your fingers downward. AFFIRMATION: My wrists are flexible and strong.
2A Inhale to flex your palms toward your body as you point your fingers inward. 2B Then, exhale to flex your palms away from your body as you point your fingers outward. AFFIRMATION: My hands and fingers are ready to work.
3A Inhale to open your heart to learning, open your throat to language, and flip your palms upward to knowledge. 3B Exhale to honor yourself with a hug and feel expansion across your upper back. AFFIRMATION: My proud heart is open for learning.
4A As you sit tall, inhale to extend your arm upward and exhale to reach your arm over and above your head. Feel the side of your torso lengthen. 4B Switch sides and repeat the steps. AFFIRMATION: My whole body is open and ready for learning.
5A Inhale, open your arms wide (like the letter T). Then tuck your thumbs in behind your other fingers as you make fists with your hands. 5B Exhale to rotate your fists downward and backward. AFFIRMATION: My entire body is ready to grasp and embrace learning.
REVERSED NAMASTE & NAMASTE: At our core we are the same. 1A Inhale to flex the tops of your hands to meet at your heart's center with your fingers pointing downward. 1B Exhale to bring your palms together at your heart's center with your fingers pointing upward. AFFIRMATION: I honor myself as I learn and I honor others who support my learning.
READY AND BEGIN AFFIRMATION: I am ready to begin my learning journey.