Bluebirdyoga
Sharing Therapeutic Yoga with Children, Teenagers and Families
Meet Bluebirdyoga
Lou Foster
Lou is a qualified Yoga Therapist and Teacher working in Schools, Hospitals and in the Community. She has a background in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and is a Special Yoga Senior Practitioner experienced in working with children with additional needs. Her practice and offerings are heart centred and nurturing, supporting children and families through Therapeutic Yoga to be embodied, connect and listen to their hearts.
"My son has been practising yoga with Lou since he was five years old, now going on six years - he absolutely adores both Lou and the classes, which are a cherished anchor in a busy week of school and other activities. Lou is a wonderful teacher and an unbelievably kind and caring person - we couldn't recommend her teaching enough."
Courtney, Parent.
Yoga and Mindfulness for Children and Teens
Group or 1-2-1 sessions available to suit your individual needs.
Yoga for Children
Relaxed, fun, non-competitive and nurturing sessions for children aged 4+ to introduce them to some basic gentle yoga and mindfulness practices. Yoga helps support children to feel embodied, safe and connected; pay better attention, balance their emotions, and all whilst building strength and flexibility.
Sessions include movement, breath work, meditation, sound, play, gratitude practices and relaxation. These are held in various venues in Cambridge or via Zoom. I can also offer 1-2-1 private sessions or small family group sessions to suit your needs. Please contact me for details.
Yoga for Teens
Inclusive, non-competitive and heart-centred sessions focusing on the mind-body connection. It is my intention to support young people to nurture a loving, healthy and respectful relationship with their body and mind, developing attention and presence, all whilst improving strength and flexibility, and learning to deeply rest.
Sessions include physical postures, breath work, mindfulness and gratitude practices, discussion and importantly a long relaxation and Yoga Nidra.
Sessions are held in various venues in Cambridge or via Zoom.
Adolescence can be a very stressful and often challenging time of managing change and expectations, so if preferred I can offer 1-2-1 sessions to support mental health and well-being. I can also offer beginners courses for Duke of Edinburgh awards. Please call or email for further details.
Yoga Therapy
Special Yoga*
"Taking the child out of stress and into a relaxed state creates the optimum conditions and possibility for positive change"
www.specialyoga.org.uk
I am a Yoga Therapist (Yoga United) and also a Senior Practitioner of Special Yoga. The Special Yoga methodology adapts simple but deeply effective classical yoga practices; movement, breathing exercises and deep relaxation combined with sound, rhythm, massage and sensory integration techniques. The practices help regulate and support the body's energetic and nervous systems providing great benefits especially designed for children with special and additional needs, bringing balance and peace to the body. Yoga therapy is also recommended for children and teens experiencing Anxiety, Depression, and Behavioural and Emotional difficulties.
My intention during a therapeutic yoga session is to meet the child exactly as they are. Sessions focus on how settled and relaxed the child feels during and after the session. Yoga delivered therapeutically provides the child with essential tools to self-soothe, to feel connected to their bodies and feel safe and supported.
Please call or email me for more details and to arrange an introduction.
Testimonials
"We really value our yoga sessions on the Unit with Lou, and I have been lucky enough to be involved and experience the yoga sessions alongside our young people/patients. Lou is warm, friendly and approachable. She adapts the sessions for the needs of our young people, and has taught them how to move their bodies with the postures, and breathing techniques to utilise when they are struggling. She teaches them that yoga can be used for self care, and the importance of setting time aside for themselves, about the mind-body connection, relaxation techniques and contentment to the extent that we need to gently wake them at the end of the yoga session."
NHS Staff member, Adolescent Mental Health Unit.
"Our family, which includes a child with Learning Disability and Anxiety issues, joined Lou for regular Private sessions. This family time became so special for us, a calm quiet space to breathe, relax and refocus. Lou was amazing at understanding the needs of each of us as individuals and each session gave us what we all needed. She is an expert at what she does and she does it with a smile and joy."
"Yoga is the best club I do after school. I look forward to it every week. Before the lesson starts we talk a bit about us and I have learnt so much that I would never learn in school. Yoga helps with all kinds of things. Your wellbeing, mental health and a more flexible body. You don't have to be able to do the splits or put your leg over your head, in fact I can't even do any of that. Yoga is not something where you need to be flexible. Yes, it would help, but the point of yoga is to be calm and listen to your body. Lou is the best Yoga Teacher you will ever have. I would rate the lessons 6 stars if I could!"
Alexis Freeman, age 11. Artwork by Alexis.
Training and Experience
BA (Hons) Mental Health Nursing
Staff Nurse at The Park Hospital and Highfield Child and Adolescent Unit, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford
Introduction to Practice Family Therapy Course, Oxford Family Institute
School Matron, St.Edward's School, Oxford
Foundation and 200hrs Yoga Teaching Diploma, Camyoga, RYS200
Teaching Yoga and Mindfulness to Children, Special Yoga
Special Yoga and Mindfulness for Autism and ADHD, Special Yoga
Reiki, Level I, Cambridge
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
(MBSR) Qualification, Cambridge
Starchild Yoga Instructor
Special Yoga for Special Children Level 1 & 2 - Senior Practitioner
Yoga Therapy Professional Training Diploma, 550hrs, Yoga United
Total Yoga Nidra Foundation Course, Yoga Nidra Network
Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Essentials
Yoga Therapist, CAMHS, Cambridge
Yoga Nidra for Mental Health, The Minded Institute, London