A new yoga class at Tula Yoga aims to offer something the instructor says she乌鸦传媒檚 never seen before in a studio setting: a safe, inclusive, and accessible space specifically designed for neurodivergent individuals to find calm, connection, and community.
'Ease and Embody', led by yoga instructor Isabelle Desmarais, runs Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. at Tula Yoga in Royal Oak. The class is open to anyone 18 and older, regardless of ability or experience, but is tailored with the neurodivergent community in mind 乌鸦传媒� an audience Desmarais is personally connected to.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 neurodivergent myself,乌鸦传媒� Desmarais said. 乌鸦传媒淲hen I was doing my yoga teacher training, I kept thinking 乌鸦传媒� where can I offer from my heart? I didn乌鸦传媒檛 see spaces in studios that really welcomed folks like me, so I decided to create one.乌鸦传媒�
The class environment is carefully curated: dimmed lights, a small class size (limited to 10 participants), and an emphasis on gentleness and choice. Each session begins with a seated meditation and breathwork, moving into restorative poses and optional standing postures depending on the needs of the group that day.
乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 no recipe. I always start by asking: where do you need love in your body today?乌鸦传媒� Desmarais explained. 乌鸦传媒淔rom there, we shape the practice together. If someone wants to lie still the whole time, that乌鸦传媒檚 totally welcome. If someone wants to move more, we make space for that too.乌鸦传媒�
The response so far has been emotional.
"One person told me they were walking by the studio and just burst into tears when they saw the sign. They said, 乌鸦传媒楾hat乌鸦传媒檚 us,乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕 Desmarais recalled. 乌鸦传媒淭hat moment really stuck with me.乌鸦传媒�
Desmarais said the focus of the class is not on form or flexibility but on cultivating a deeper relationship with the body 乌鸦传媒� something that can be especially difficult for neurodivergent individuals who may live with heightened anxiety or sensory sensitivity. 乌鸦传媒淵oga isn乌鸦传媒檛 about turning your body into a pretzel,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 about coming into union with yourself. That乌鸦传媒檚 the core of what I teach 乌鸦传媒� finding home in your body and learning to listen to its signals with kindness.乌鸦传媒�
The last ten minutes of each class feature a sound bath 乌鸦传媒� a meditative, sensory experience that uses sound to encourage deep rest. For some participants, the class has brought more than just relaxation.
乌鸦传媒淭here was someone who was really skeptical before trying it. They told me they didn乌鸦传媒檛 think it would help,乌鸦传媒� Desmarais said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut by the end of the class, they were lying on their back, asleep. For someone on the autism spectrum, where the brain often doesn乌鸦传媒檛 know how to rest easily, that乌鸦传媒檚 huge.乌鸦传媒�
Tula Yoga studio manager Bryttni Nameth said the class is a natural fit for the studio乌鸦传媒檚 inclusive mission.
乌鸦传媒淲e hope that Ease and Embody offers participants a space to connect 乌鸦传媒� to themselves and to each other,乌鸦传媒� Nameth said. 乌鸦传媒淔eeling different can sometimes be isolating, so we hope this class can be a place where neurodivergent individuals and even their families can find a sense of community and support.乌鸦传媒�
She praised Desmarais乌鸦传媒� ability to create a space that feels welcoming for all.
乌鸦传媒淚sabelle makes sure to voice that everyone is welcome, and that everything she offers in the class is just that 乌鸦传媒� an offering. You乌鸦传媒檙e always free to do what feels best for you.乌鸦传媒�
The idea for the class was sparked not by trend or training, but by Desmarais乌鸦传媒� own unmet need in the wellness world.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e seen yoga classes for LGBTQ+ folks, for BIPOC communities, but never one for neurodivergent people,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淪ometimes it takes recognizing a need in yourself to create something for others.乌鸦传媒�
Classes are $22 per session, and participants are encouraged to bring any items that help them feel more comfortable.
For Desmarais, who has been practicing yoga since she was 15 and began instructing a year and a half ago, the class is more than a professional milestone.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a dream come true,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚 have to pinch myself sometimes 乌鸦传媒� it乌鸦传媒檚 really happening.乌鸦传媒�
Tula Yoga is located at #140 乌鸦传媒� 777 Royal Oak Drive.
