Yoga for Neurodiversity

Join host Jivana Heyman and guest Becky Aten, founder of Yoga for Neurodiversity, for a conversation about making yoga accessible and affirming for neurodivergent students. Becky shares how their autism diagnosis at age 38 shaped their approach as a yoga facilitator and led them to create peer support spaces for neurodivergent people. Together, Jivana and Becky explore what makes a neurodiversity-affirming space different and why affinity spaces and more welcoming general spaces are both needed.

In the second part of the episode, Jivana chats with co-host Deanna Michalopoulos, in person in Dublin, Ireland, about how teachers can expand beyond their own experience and trust the wisdom in students' choices. They discuss why embodying the yoga teachings means being open to other people and conclude with an update on Jivana's upcoming Accessible Yoga Trainings.

Topics include:

The origins of the term "neurodiversity"

Why adapting an existing space is harder than building one from the ground up

Pathology paradigm and ableism

Quantum physics and yoga

The tension between yoga as a spiritual practice and the goal-oriented "wellness" model

Why yoga doesn't need to keep proving itself through Western science

Letting go of a "helper" mindset and embracing community care

Community organizing as leadership

**Learn more about the Accessible Yoga Mentorship Program and join today! We look forward to seeing you there.**