Breathe, Move, Connect.

Using the principles of yoga to improve health outcomes for ourselves, and the adults we support

Breathe, Move, Connect.

Breath, Move, Connect.

Using the principles of yoga to improve health outcomes for ourselves, and the adults we support

An introductory workshop for healthcare professionals, carers, and anyone who supports adults with additional needs.

The roots of yoga practices are thousands of years old. Today, many of us have experienced the benefits of yoga through practices of breathwork, movement and mindfulness (meditation). Also, the sense of community we forge through the shared experience of practising with others should not be underestimated.

Workshop Overview

How can we use yoga-inspired techniques to support our mental and physical health?

How can we share these practices with the adults with additional needs that we support?

This workshop will provide participants with practical ways to introduce simple, yoga-inspired, breath and movement techniques into their own workplace / everyday settings.

Who is the workshop suitable for?

Healthcare professionals (Nurses, Allied Health Professionals, Health Visitors)

People who care for others in a variety of settings – day centres, supported living, residential care.

Family and friends with caring roles

Yoga Teachers interested in exploring the use of yoga for adults with additional needs.

Prerequisites

Whilst there are no formal prerequisites for this workshop, please note:

The workshop has been designed primarily for participants who work with, care for, or who are friends/family of adults with additional needs (including people with learning disabilities, neurodiversities, dementia, and a range of physical and cognitive conditions).

To get the most benefit from the workshop, we recommend that participants have had some experience of yoga

If you are unsure whether this is the right workshop for you, please get in touch.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer

This workshop is not a substitute for the foundational training (200 hours accredited certifications) required to teach Yoga.

This workshop is not a substitute for the foundational training (200 hours accredited certifications) required to teach Yoga.

Workshop Detail

Workshop Detail

Breathe, Move, Connect. These three pillars underpin Umbrella Yoga’s work and provide a wonderful framework for exploring the benefits and practices of yoga: breathing, moving and connecting with ourselves and others. The workshop will be highly experiential, with yoga breath and movement practices forming the basis for theoretical discussion and exploration.

If you have any questions please get in touch.

Specifically, we will cover:

  • 1

    how breath can be used to focus attention and foster a sense of calm

  • 2

    the importance of physical movement and mobility for mental health

  • 3

    examples of movements and breathwork that can be practiced independently

  • 4

    how to role model and adapt practices for those with additional needs

  • 5

    enhancing opportunities to connect with senses (e.g. music / sound / different visual environments / touch and taste)

  • 6

    building confidence in using movement and breathwork to communicate and connect with others

  • 7

    Participants will get worksheets to take home, including all the practical exercises.

Outcomes

On completion of the workshop participants will:

be able to articulate the key benefits of breath and movement practices

feel confident in advocating for the inclusion of yoga within the workplace

be able to use breathing and movement to gain a sense of calm and control in themselves, and role model this for the people they support

For Healthcare Professionals: evidence of learning will be provided as evidence for revalidation portfolios.

For managers in NHS / health care settings: this provides an opportunity to support staff with their health and wellbeing in line with the NHS Health and Wellbeing Framework.

On completion of the workshop, participants will also receive an invitation to join the Umbrella Yoga Professionals Network (UYPN)

On completion of the workshop, participants will also receive an invitation to join the Umbrella Yoga Professionals Network (UYPN)

UYPN is a knowledge-sharing and peer-support network, focused on the use of yoga techniques for adults with additional needs, and for those who support them. UYPN members will:

  • be invited to the UYPN’s quarterly online meeting

  • gain a wealth of support from peer-to-peer learning and skill sharing across the network of healthcare professionals, carers, and yoga teacher

  • have access to recordings of quarterly meetings and presentations

  • have access to a UYPN Digital Badge to display on their website

  • have the option to be profiled in a blog post, and showcased on the UYPN webpage

Option 1

One-day in-person (in Kirklees area – venue TBC).

10am – 5pm (6 hours with 1 hour break from 1pm / 2pm)

Next courses:

  • Thursday 16th October 2025
  • Saturday 8th November 2025

Can’t make these dates? Let us know:

Option 2

Modular online – 3x 2 hour sessions:

Next courses:

Mondays
12 – 2pm:

  • 10th November
  • 17th November
  • 24th November

Thursdays
6.30 – 8.30pm:

  • 13th November
  • 20th November
  • 27th November

Can’t make these dates? Let us know:

Option 3

Bespoke training for an organisation or group who can engage Umbrella Yoga to deliver the workshop in-house.

Contact us to discuss.

Workshop Leaders

Ellie Firth
Founding director of Umbrella Yoga and a yoga teacher; specialist in cognitive disorders, autism and learning disabilities
Rachel Gosling
Director of Umbrella Yoga and senior yoga teacher; specialist in yoga for women and trauma-aware yoga.
Emma Stripe
Learning disability nurse specialist, researcher and yoga enthusiast

Umbrella Yoga

Umbrella Yoga is a not-for-profit organisation that brings communities together through yoga. We use evidence-based practices to improve the physical and emotional wellbeing of the people we connect with. Our mission is to provide accessible yoga sessions to people with additional mental and physical needs in Kirklees, West Yorkshire.

We currently deliver over 100 yoga sessions each month, across 30 venues in Kirklees, supporting around 500 individuals.

Umbrella Yoga is rolling out a knowledge-sharing approach to support community leaders and people in caring roles to put functional movement and breathing practice at the heart of their strategic wellbeing delivery. This distributed-learning technique echoes Umbrella Yoga’s core ethos – to improve people’s mental and physical health by making yoga accessible for all.