I am the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC & am an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist with 25 years experience.
- I love working with kids, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- My newest passion is using yoga and other movement to engage kids of all abilities in learning and inclusive wellness activities.
Yoga Trainings:
- I am certified in the Radiant Child Yoga Program – Levels 1 & 2. (http://www.childrensyoga.com/)
- I have attended additional kid & teen yoga teacher training workshops with Asana Alphabet (www.asanaalphabet.com)
- I attended “Therapeutic Yoga: Bridging Ancient Practices with Traditional Therapy Techniques” by Julie Whitbeck, OTR/L, CYT through Cross Country Education
- I belong to the International Association of Yoga Therapists (http://www.iayt.org/).
Volunteer Work:
- I have volunteered to teach kids yoga at Educare in Oklahoma City (http://www.educareschools.org/locations/okc.php). Educare serves 200 disadvantaged children, ages birth to five years old, with year-round early childhood education programs.
Want to Donate?:
- I am looking for funding opportunities to help sponsor trainings in central Oklahoma and to cover the costs of providing inclusive wellness activities for kids & teens of all abilities.
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC
Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2
amoorad1@juno.com – Home E-mail
Disclaimer: The information shared on the OMazing Kids LLC blog, Facebook page, Twitter page, Pinterest page, YouTube channel and any other social media is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider. Therefore, the authors of posts take no responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk taken by individuals as a result of applying the ideas or resources.
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Posted by Kimberly on June 13, 2013 at 10:30 am
Hi Angela,
I am an Okie, now living in Pittsburgh and starting my own yoga for little people business. My former boss and forever mentor, April, recommended your blog when I first started teaching yoga to children, and it is such a great resource! Thank you. Is there a way that I can send you an email? I am coming home to visit my parents in August, and would love to attend/observe some of your classes, or find a way to just meet up with you. I’m very interested in enhancing my skill set, so that I can work more confidently and beneficially with children that have behavioral challenges or ASD.
If not, I totally get it, but know that you’re an inspiration!
Thanks so much,
Kimberly
Posted by OMazing Kids on June 13, 2013 at 11:52 am
Hi Kimberly – Sure! I just sent you an e-mail🙂
Posted by Be Yoga Be Love on May 10, 2013 at 8:04 pm
Angela,
I just wanted to reach out to you and let you know how inspired I am by your commitment to making all these yoga resources available to teachers and children. This site is so awesome! Being a new blogger, I can only imagine the countless hours of research and connections you have made to make all this available to us! I have already tried out some ideas and books for lessons which have been a big hit with my kids! Thank you for creating a space for yoga teachers to SHARE and LEARN from each other! Blessings, Betty
Posted by OMazing Kids on May 13, 2013 at 10:59 am
Thanks Betty! I am loving all the great things you are sharing on your blog too🙂
Posted by Tara on August 14, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Your website is amazing! I am researching yoga programs for teens with ASD for my thesis. Do you know of any books or existing curriculum for this population? Thanks!
Posted by OMazing Kids on August 15, 2012 at 11:08 am
Hi Tara – As you know Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a very broad spectrum & kids and teens with ASD vary greatly. I have worked with many teens with ASD that have Asperger’s or high functioning autism that only need supports regarding social skills to participate in a group setting. But I have also worked with many teens with ASD that are on the more severe end of the ASD spectrum and often have cognitive impairments and many other needs. These teens require alot more supports & modifications to participate in yoga in a meaningful way. This is why I have such a vast library of books & resources for kids yoga & wellness (https://omazingkidsllc.com/books-dvds-cds-specifically-designed-for-kids-yoga-or-mindfulness/). I use bits & pieces from many different resources to create yoga & wellness classes that meet individual kids & teens needs.
Many kids & teens with ASD do well with visual supports so I use them in most classes: (see several posts on my blog: https://omazingkidsllc.com/?s=visual+supports).
Posted by Tara on October 15, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Angela, Thanks for the info. I just want to confirm with you since you are more knowledgeable on the subject, there are no curriculum based programs or books targeting teens with ASD. I have lookesd at this info. here and the main target audience are younger kids.
Thanks, Tara
Posted by OMazing Kids on October 16, 2012 at 7:56 am
Hi Tara – I am not aware of any programs or books specifically targeting teens with ASD. However the following items contain elements that would be helpful for doing yoga with teens with ASD: STOP and Relax program (http://www.stopandrelax.net/), Yoga Therapy for Every Special Child: Meeting Needs in a Natural Setting ( http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Therapy-Every-Special-Child/dp/1848190271), Yoga for Children with Developmental
Challenges DVD (http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Children-Developmental-Challenges-Edition/dp/B0065S59SO/ref=tmm_dvd_title_0), Calm & Connected: Yoga Based Tools for Self Regulation (http://www.amazon.com/Calm-Connected-Based-Tools-Regulation/dp/147751533X), etc…. Again it would depend greatly on the cognitive & developmental level of a particular teen with ASD. Many of the teens I work with here at the JD McCarty Center have significant developmental delays and understand/are interested in things at a much younger level. But I have also worked with teens with high functioning autism or Aspergers who just needed visual supports added for them to be able to participate in yoga with typically developing teens. Shanti Generation has a DVD geared towards teens that could work in this situation (http://www.amazon.com/Shanti-Generation-Skills-Youth-Peacemakers/dp/B002FPX1CC).
Hope this helps🙂
Angela
Posted by Tara on October 16, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Yes, you are very helpful & this is a wonderful website! I hope to offer yoga in my area in the near future. I basically wanted to state in my paper to my knowledge there are not programs/books targeting teens with ASD, but I agree with everything you are saying. I thought you might be more of an expert in this field so just wanted to confirm that I was headed in the right direction with that statement. Thanks!
Posted by Marlowe Bechmann, Swingset Mamas on March 28, 2012 at 5:38 am
Thanks for posting about and promoting the Swingset Mamas! Perhaps we could do some tie-ins together. I do music primarily in classes with autism right now and am putting together a songbook for kids of all ages and abilities. Let me know if you would like any of our CDs for your yoga practice. 🙂 Marlowe
Posted by OMazing Kids Yoga on March 29, 2012 at 6:09 am
Hi Marlowe – Thanks for checking out my blog! I sent you an e-mail🙂
Angela
Posted by catalita on February 17, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Thank you so much Angela!!🙂
My webpage is a work in progress, but I´ll share it with you as soon as it´s ready😉
Pax.
Posted by catalita on February 17, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Hello Angela!
First of all: Congrats on the beautiful and selfless work you do! I admire you from the distance, hopefully one day we´ll shake hands🙂
I am wondering if you´d be so kind to recommend me MUSIC/artists to use during kids yoga classes? Also, and probably most important: Do you have any advice on how/where can I download music from?
Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation!
Much love and respect to YOU.
Posted by OMazing Kids Yoga on February 17, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Hi Catalita! Thanks for the kind words🙂 The music I use in kids yoga groups greatly depends on several factors:
* the age of the kids
* the sensory processing issues of kids in the group – some kids can’t tolerate music at all & some need the beat of the music to help keep them alert…. why it’s so important to know the needs of the kids in the group.
* the theme of a particular group
* the particular asanas (poses) or breathing activities we are doing that day
I have reviewed several great kids yoga CD’s here on my blog and have included playlist recommendations in many of the kids yoga lesson plans I have posted.
When I am looking for music, I first do a Google search to see if I can find a free mp3 of what I am looking for. Then I tend to use Amazon.com because I like how you can search for mp3’s, filter the searches, & usually can buy individual mp3 tracks (I only purchase an entire album if I like several songs on it – enough to make it worth getting the entire album). I also sometimes use iTunes & CD Baby as resources to purchase great kids music to use in yoga groups.
I literally have hundreds of mp3’s now and have many “playlists” saved on the mp3 player in my phone. For some of my favorite themes I have also burned a CD of music to use for that theme (like my playlist for Dr. Seuss’s My Many Colored Days).
But there are often times I don’t use any music in the group at all….. I only use music in a kids yoga group if I feel it will enhance or add to the experience.
Hope this helps! If you need ideas of music for a particular theme, feel free to comment again below or e-mail me at amoorad1@juno.com.
* Do you have a blog, website and/or Facebook page that I can check out?
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids Yoga, LLC – inclusive yoga for kids & teens of all abilities in Norman, Oklahoma
Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2
E-mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Blog: http://omazingkidsyoga.com
Posted by Anne on November 17, 2011 at 1:16 am
Angela,
Just wanted to say thank you for providing such a wonderful resource for kids’ yoga. You are a great inspiration. Thank you.
Anne
Posted by OMazing Kids Yoga on November 17, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Hi Anne – How sweet! I’m glad it is helpful info🙂 Doing yoga with kids is one of my favorite things!
Do you have a blog, website and/or Facebook page that I can check out?
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids Yoga, LLC – inclusive yoga for kids & teens of all abilities in Norman, Oklahoma
Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2
E-mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Blog: https://omazingkidsyoga.wordpress.com
Posted by Anne on November 17, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Well, we “know” each other through facebook already-> Kinder Books
and my website is http://www.kinderbooks.ca . I am an ambassador for Barefoot Books, preschool teacher and kids’ yoga teacher, and not to mention last, a proud mom of two little yogis (3 and 5) ….
Posted by Renee Sherkness on October 15, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Namaste:
I am a former educator and certified children’s yoga instructor. I have just released my new book: Stories That Come Alive Through Yoga, a fun, entertaining, instructional book where children and adults experience yoga with stories. This book is from my Nurturing Nature collection: connecting”with care”to our world. Books creating a healthier “us” and a healthier”world”.. My goal is to spread healthy awareness to the many benefits of yoga to all, including our young. It may dove tail well with your excellent children’s program.
Please take a look to see if you may be interested in purchasing my book for your students/families or your staff. Additionally, my book can be purchased in print and e book on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Borders.com, and apple I pad.
Visit my web site for more information:
http://reneesherkness.webs.com/
And may I thank you so much for all the wonderful work you do to bring awareness to the benefits of yoga to all you encounter especially our young!
Namaste
Renee Sherkness
author/educator
certified children’s yoga instructor
renee.sherkness@comcast.net
http://reneesherkness.webs.com/
Posted by OMazing Kids Yoga on November 14, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Hi Renee – Sorry it’s taken me awhile to contact you…. I don’t check comments on
my blog as often as I check e-mails & Facebook so I just found it today. I just sent you an e-mail🙂
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids Yoga, LLC – inclusive yoga for kids & teens of all abilities in
Norman, Oklahoma
Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2
E-mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Blog: https://omazingkidsyoga.wordpress.com
Posted by Rachel Glowacki on March 31, 2011 at 12:57 pm
I am so thrilled that I just discovered you! Let’s spread the LOVE together. I will post your info on our blog site. If you have a resource page would love to be part of that! We create yoga story flows with Guess What facts and Breath affirmations on the iTunes Store, via iPad, iPhone,iPod, soon to be on Mac App store, Android, and soon to be on the Nook. Excited that yoga is being embraced in many different mediums that influence our children.
Peace and Health,
Rachel Glowacki