Playing with Words: Yoga Stories

Playing with Words is a collaborative approach to play-based storytelling with students who are blind or visually impaired who have additional disabilities, including those who are autistic or deafblind.  Co-creating stories is focused on the process, rather than the product.  That is, it focuses on expanding language and communication, self-determination, self-regulation, and creativity rather than a perfectly composed story.  The adult is a support, rather than an authority, building on student interests and using props to expand playful exploration and expression. Yoga Stories are part of Playing with Words. The information about Yoga Stories on Paths to Literacy are from Linda Hagood.

Yoga Stories and Activities include pretend stories and meditations, as well as asanas (body postures or poses), routines, and mantras (or rhythmic chants).  They are a powerful way to support learning in a wide variety of skill areas, such as improving movement patterns and spatial concepts, social interactions, emotional regulation, and language and literacy skills. 

Using some of the basic tenets of yoga, these activities and stories promote breathing, relaxation, and meditation.  They provide a way to connect with others, while also facilitating self-regulation, creativity, and self-expression.

Yoga stories are typically written with others (including peers) and shared together orally as a series of asanas, specific yoga routines, or chanting mantras. The stories can also be written out and “performed” as someone reads the story. The names of the poses often are referred to by animal names (downward dog, butterfly) that inspire children to create a story.