by Kit Caelsto | Sep 6, 2024 | Autism, Mental Health & Well Being
Being multiply neurodivergent means that I deal with a lot of stressors in my life. And I know I’m not alone. Now that I understand I’m neurodivergent, it’s not just “nerves” that makes my stomach upset and suppresses my appetite. I...
by Kit Caelsto | Jul 12, 2024 | Accessible Yoga Thoughts, Mental Health & Well Being
My morning ritual involves taking care of the livestock, then going to my office cabin where I light a stick of incense on my altar and brew the first cup of coffee. While the coffee is brewing, I turn on the computers, check on Skittles (and now Strudel) the office...
by Kit Caelsto | Jul 5, 2024 | Accessible Yoga Thoughts, Autistic Liberation, Trauma Informed Yoga, Yoga & Disability
As someone who is disabled both through the medical as well as the social model of disability, I’m aware that within the chronic illness community, and growing within the neurodivergent community, that yoga has a bad rap. Coming from a medical model of deficits,...
by Kit Caelsto | Aug 9, 2023 | Accessible Yoga Thoughts, Autism, Autistic Liberation, For Yoga Teachers
When I visit the databases at my college library looking for research on yoga and autism, what I find is study upon study about how yoga can help kids focus, do more in school, and yes, be cured of their autism. There’s nothing about adults, many of whom are...
by Kit Caelsto | Jul 12, 2023 | Accessible Language, Accessible Yoga Thoughts, Autistic Liberation
Accessible yoga has become a buzzword lately. People talk about making their yoga accessible, trauma-informed, inclusive, and I am glad to hear these concepts being discussed. However, when the discussion is still being had in groups that center the able-bodied...
by Kit Caelsto | Jun 14, 2023 | Autism, For Yoga Teachers, Perioperception, Trauma Informed Yoga
A common phrase I see not just in yoga classes, but among coaches in general (especially the short social media posts designed to garner interaction and feed the algorithm) is to “check in with your body” or a various body part. This checking-in means...
by Kit Caelsto | May 24, 2023 | Autistic Liberation, Yoga Spirituality
An often quoted passage from the Bhagavad Gita states that yoga is the path to the self, through the self, and this is at the heart of yoga spirituality. When we look at Patanjali’s 8-Limbs of Yoga, some of stated his goal was the absolute separation of physical...
by Kit Caelsto | May 17, 2023 | For Yoga Teachers, Trauma Informed Yoga
Offering a trauma informed space means working to cultivate safety in all aspects of your yoga classes–on and off the mat. This includes the icebreaker games you play before classes and the stories you tell online. Recently I attended a yoga teacher seminar and...
by Kit Caelsto | Apr 12, 2023 | Accessible Language, For Yoga Teachers
Recently I watched a yoga series for low back issues and the instructor looked at the camera, smiled, and said something to the effect of, “you really want to spend 20 minutes a day doing this so you can remain functional.” My heart sank. I immediately...
by Kit Caelsto | Mar 15, 2023 | For Yoga Teachers, Perioperception
Imagine your student cuing up your yoga video. You walk them through the sun salutation at a moderate speed; you think you’re doing it slowly enough. Then, you tell your student you’re going to do them more quickly. You might even suggest 10 sun...
