Hi, I'm Kit, an autistic yoga teacher
Yoga is one of my special interests, and I help neurospicy, large sized, and disabled folks feel more comfortable in their skin.
Forget tight workout clothes, loud music, bright lights and spaces that don’t make you feel welcome. Instead, come to the homestead (virtually) for accessible, neurodivergently joyful classes designed with you in mind. Join a livestreamed community class from the comfort of your own home or book a private session for more individualized support.
My interest in yoga began a few decades ago. I picked up some videos, found the teachers weren’t built like me and even the “beginner” videos were too much, and so my ADHD brain let it go…Until 2021 when I found a yoga teacher training that seemed like something I could do, and so I did. I completed both a 200 hour and 300 hour training, and the more I talked to people about the yoga, the more I realized we all shared the same frustrations.
And honestly, the more I leanred about yoga, yoga philosophy, and understanding I was a very neuropsicy individual…well the more I had to say about yoga and neurodivergence.
Because let me tell you, it’s not a “fix”. It’s not a “cure”. And while I won’t deny it helps my chronic pain conditions, it also isn’t the “cure all” that people claim it to be. So join me here at The Autistic Yoga teacher (by Chicken Yogi) where I talk “just yoga” and how it intersects with neurodivergence, disability, and accessibility.
Whether you’re neurospicy too, large bodied, or deal, like I do, with fibromyalgia or another chronic pain condition, I think you’ll find something you like here. Welcome. I’m so glad you found my page.
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Let’s focus on accessible yoga for everyone!
Recent Blog Posts
Yoga is as Important To Me as My Morning Cup of Coffee
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...
Practicing Yoga as Disability Pride
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,...
Don’t Look To Yoga As A Fix
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...
It’s Not Accessible If You Don’t Feel Like You Belong
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...
When checking in with yourself means “no one home”
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 paying attention...
Finding the Union of Autistic Liberation and 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...
Yoga Teachers, Are You Aware of the Stories You Tell?
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 the...
Watch your words. Furniture is functional; people shouldn’t have to be.
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 thought of my...
Is Your Yoga Class Too Fast To Be Accessible?
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 salutations in 5...
Welcome to the Autistic Yoga Teacher
Welcome to the AYT (Autistic Yoga Teacher) blog. In this blog I'll discuss aspects of yoga which affect autistic individuals. I'll also be putting together classes for yoga teachers to bring more accessibility and inclusiveness into their studios and onto the mats....