Momentum in Motion: Why I’m Bringing Yoga into Speech Therapy

 If you walked into my speech room at Fiddler's Elementary or visited my Post-High transition group lately, you might have been surprised to see us doing yoga poses and flows.

As an SLP, my goal has always been to help students find their voice. But after practicing yoga in various yoga studios and completing my 200-hour teacher training at the Integrated School of Yoga, I realized that "voice" starts much lower than the throat—it starts with a strong core, regulated breath, and a sense of physical safety.

The "Why" Behind the Mat

For our neurodivergent young adults, the transition to the "real world" requires more than just vocabulary; it requires vocational readiness. I’ve started integrating movement-based mindfulness to target three specific areas:

  • Receptive Language: Following a "flow" is just a series of complex, multi-step directions. When a student moves from Mountain Pose to Tree Pose, they are processing spatial concepts and auditory cues in real-time.

  • Core Stability & Vocational Safety: You can’t safely navigate a workplace if you don’t have the physical balance to prevent falls. Yoga builds the "inner armor" students need for community-based employment.

  • The "Growth Mindset": Much like our work with Depth and Complexity icons in the classroom, yoga teaches us that "hard is okay." We use Minecraft and Harry Potter themes (shoutout to Cosmic Kids Yoga!) to make those difficult motor-planning tasks feel like an adventure.

Bringing Digital Media & AI into the Flow

One of the coolest parts of my recent work—supported by some amazing ICSD minigrants—has been using generative AI to brainstorm. I’ve been using tools like Google and kidsyogastories.com to help synthesize "Holiday-Themed" yoga sequences. Whether it’s a "Werewolf Pose" for October or a "Horse Stance" for St. Patrick’s Day, these high-interest themes keep my Post-High students engaged and motivated to move.

What’s Next?

I am thrilled to announce that I’ve submitted a proposal to present this work as a virtual poster at the ASHA 2026 Convention! The theme this year is Momentum: Where Vision Meets Action, and I can’t think of a better way to describe the progress my students are making.

Please check out my YouTube channel, Lisaslivelylife, for some quick pose demonstrations you can use in your own home, classroom or clinic!

Namaste & Happy Talking, Lisa

This post was generated with assistance from AI

#yoga #speechtherapy

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