FACULTY
"When we seek to find the best in others, somehow we bring out the best in ourselves."
FOUNDER & LEAD TRAINER: Shawnee Thornton Hardy is a C-IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist, M.Ed, and the Founder of Asanas for Autism and Special Needs, Founder and Director of Yoga Therapy for Youth and the Founder of Embodied WellBeing Yoga Therapy
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She has worked with children and youth for over 3 decades, specializing in working with children and teens with diverse needs and behavior challenges. She has worked with children with Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Prader Willi, Developmental Disability, Sensory Processing Challenges, Learning Difficulties, Motor Coordination Difficulties, Language Processing deficits, Mental Health issues, Behavior Disorders & Children who have experienced significant Trauma and Abuse.
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Shawnee is a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner through the Trauma Institute, developed by Peter Levine. She has also studied with Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell with an emphasis on working with developmental trauma, as well as NeuroAffective Touch with Aline LaPierre. She integrates Somatic work in her Yoga Therapy sessions with children, teens and adults.
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She is passionate about Ayurveda and serves as an Ayurvedic Wellness Guide in her private practice.
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Shawnee is the Author of Asanas for Autism and Special Needs- Yoga to Help Children with their Emotions, Self-Regulation and Body Awareness and the creator of the C.A.L.M.M Yoga Toolkit and My Body Sensations Curriculum.
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She is excited to have recently published her 2nd book through Singing Dragon Publishers: Yoga Therapy for Children and Teens with Complex Needs - A Somatosensory Approach to Mental, Emotional and Physical Wellbeing
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She has presented at conferences in the US and Internationally on Yoga for Autism, Yoga Therapy for Sensory Integration & Self-Regulation, Yoga & Mindfulness for Teens facing Mental Illness, Yoga & Mindfulness for Youth and Yoga to Reduce Stress for Educators and has written articles on topics related to yoga & mindfulness for youth for various magazines and online journals. Her work has also been featured in several podcasts, blogs and magazines/journals. See media. Shawnee leads trainings in the US and internationally to empower others to bring yoga & mindfulness to youth and adults of diverse needs and backgrounds
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