The first year that I taught Special Education Yoga I worked as a volunteer.  I taught just one weekly class at the Furnace Brook Middle School.  The kids in the class were considered “severe” most of them non verbal with strong opinions.  I was told by some that I was “wasting my time”, that “these kids are stubborn” and “these kids don’t like to move” and I faced a lot of negativity and doubt.  Luckily, their teacher felt differently.  She saw the potential in these children and she encouraged me to go ahead with the class.  She helped to teach me about each child and how to work with them.  It took weeks for some of the kids to learn to stay on their mats.  They all refused to participate in the beginning, but I encouraged them with praise and positive reinforcement.  They were rewarded for their efforts with bubbles and we used the bubbles as tools to get them to stretch and reach further as they tried to pop them.  At the end of each session, I gave out stickers and they wore them proudly as they walked through the halls of the school.  After just a couple of months, I would come into class and I would find them waiting on their mats with giant smiles on their faces.  They learned to loved their yoga classes and l would beam with pride whenever I came to visit.     
            Over the next few years, I expanded the program to 4 weekly classes.  Challenges with funding have brought us down to 3 weekly classes.  It would break my heart to have to reduce this program any further.  I have been working with some of these kids for over three years.  It took me two years to get some of them into a down dog and now every time they do it their faces light up and you can see how proud they are of what they have accomplished.  Three years ago, I chased these kids around they gym spending most of the time guiding them back to the mat, but now they do a full routine.  They do postures that most adults can’t do.  They face challenges that we can not even begin to relate to and yoga brings them confidence and joy.  The stretches are good for their body and they also help calm their minds.  The “higher functioning” students are learning breathing and meditation techniques.  Skills to help them cope with stress, anxiety and social challenges.  ALL of my students have come so far.  They have found a healthy activity that they enjoy, but they can’t just drop into any yoga class.  They need a class that understands their unique challenges and they need a teacher who will take the time to support them and help them work through these challenges.  I would love to continue to be this teacher for them.  Please help our program.