namaste, i’m carla

I have over 15 years as a Special Education teacher working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectually Disabled, Emotionally Disturbed, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Tourette’s Syndrome and other special needs. I also have my Master’s in School Counseling. I began going to yoga to take a break from running over 10 years ago. I fell in love with the way I felt leaving class and days later. My mind was clear, and my body felt strong! It wasn’t until the last couple of years that I thought, why not teach my students a few yoga moves and ways they can control their emotions. I have been searching for a yoga program that specialized in children with Autism. I found Shawnee Thornton Hardy’s Asanas for Autism and Special Needs and loved everything she stood for. I left her first training (Level 1) feeling a since of calm, and excitement knowing I found a program that aligned with all my future goals of teaching yoga to children with special needs. Craving more knowledge, I set myself out to San Diego to complete my 95-hour Children’s Yoga Certification. I am now currently working on my 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher Certification through Brooke Cheatham Yoga.      

I am so passionate about making yoga accessible to all children! Teaching them how to cope with the everyday stressors they currently are experiencing, helping them gain awareness of how their body feels when they are anxious, angry, sad or happy. I want to bring out more of the child happiness! They so deserve that!! I want to bring their smiles back! When I hear children having fun, laughing, being creative makes my heart filled with joy! 

• Enhance coordination- gross and fine motor

• Develop strong coping strategies

• Lessen anxiety and stress levels

• Develop language and communication 

• Improve academic performance

• Decrease behaviors