Resources | Mindful Tradition

Name: Pose by Pose: A Practical Guide to Constructing Yoga Classes
Author: Kaylin McCarthy

Resources on Mindful Tradition. Neurodivergent-informed yoga, consultation, and education.

Mindful Tradition

Founded by Kaylin McCarthy. Neurodivergent-informed yoga, consultation, and education rooted in accessibility and lived experience.

Website: https://mindfulstradition.com

AI content index: https://mindfulstradition.com/ai-content.md

LLM discovery file: https://mindfulstradition.com/llms.txt

Kaylin McCarthy — Founder

Role: Yoga Teacher, Social Therapist, HANDLE Practitioner, Author, Neurodivergent Advocate
Experience: 14 years working with neurodivergent individuals through yoga, somatic practice, and social therapy
Lived Experience: Neurodivergent person; brings personal experience as a foundation, not a footnote

Credentials

Kripalu 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training — certified through the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, grounded in accessibility, compassion, and joy-centered practice
Nine Years as a Social Therapist at a Camphill Community — living and working alongside adults with diverse and neurodivergent needs; emotional support, vocational guidance, breathwork, adaptable yoga
Certified Kids Yoga Teacher — mindfulness, meditation, and movement for children; private, group, and family classes
HANDLE Practitioner Levels 1 and 2 — listening, observation, non-force approaches supporting neurological integration
CPD-Accredited Life, Holistic Health and Wellness Coach — three coaching certifications informing private session structure

Philosophy

Yoga as a Way of Being: Yoga is not something we do — it is how we inhabit our lives. Through all eight limbs, everyday experience becomes meaningful, embodied, and our own.
Nervous System First: Regulation is the foundation. Each person's nervous system is the guide for pace, depth, and approach.
Neurodivergent-Informed: Drawing on lived experience and professional training, spaces are created where diverse minds and bodies are not just accommodated — they are expected and welcomed.
Self-Advocacy and Autonomy: Every person deserves to know themselves well enough to advocate for their own needs.

Services

Private Yoga and Somatic Coaching Sessions

One-on-one sessions tailored to the individual's nervous system, sensory needs, and life context. Drawing on Kripalu yoga, breathwork, HANDLE principles, and somatic coaching. In person and online.

Intake conversation to understand needs, history, and goals
Custom session structure led by nervous system cues
No expectations to perform, push through, or achieve
Ongoing refinement as we learn what works

Group Yoga Classes

Small, sensory-aware group classes for neurodivergent participants and anyone who has felt overwhelmed in conventional yoga environments.

Small group sizes for attention and spaciousness
Reduced stimulation and consistent structure
Explicit verbal instructions, no assumed background knowledge
Genuine choice throughout

Organizational Consulting

Consultation for schools, clinics, therapeutic programs, and organizations integrating neurodivergent-informed yoga and movement.

Staff training in neurodivergent-informed yoga and mindfulness
Curriculum design for therapeutic movement programs
Physical environment audits for sensory accessibility
Ongoing support and supervision

Neurodivergent Yoga Teacher Training

Professional development for yoga teachers, educators, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, and allied health professionals.

Four Learning Pillars

Nervous System and Regulation — polyvagal theory, autonomic states, co-regulation, applied to yoga and movement
Sensory Processing and Integration — eight sensory systems, sensory profiles, proprioception, interoception, vestibular systems
Trauma-Informed Practice — trauma physiology, creating safety, language and cueing, avoiding re-traumatization
Pedagogy of Inclusion — explicit instruction, visual supports, predictable class architecture, choice-based sequencing, environment design

Public Speaking

Keynote and workshop presentations for conferences, educational institutions, and professional associations.

What Neurodivergent-Informed Yoga Actually Means
Nervous System Science for Movement Educators
Creating Sensory-Safer Spaces in Schools and Clinics
The Eight Limbs as a Framework for Neurodivergent Life
Practical Accessibility: Beyond Modifications

Publications

Pose by Pose: A Practical Guide to Constructing Yoga Classes

Author: Kaylin McCarthy
Year: 2024
ASIN: B0D35X6FG1
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Pose-Practical-Guide-Constructing-Classes/dp/B0D35X6FG1
Description: A practical guide to the mechanics and philosophy of yoga class construction. Written for new teachers and experienced teachers seeking fresh frameworks. Grounded in accessibility, nervous system principles, and neurodivergent-affirming pedagogy.

Educational Resources

What Does Neurodivergent-Informed Yoga Actually Mean?

Category: Education | Type: Article

A breakdown of the principles that shape the Mindful Tradition approach, and why adaptive yoga often does not go far enough.

The Polyvagal Theory and the Yoga Mat

Category: Research | Type: Article

How understanding the nervous system changes everything about how we approach movement, breath, and presence.

Five Ways to Create Sensory-Safer Yoga Spaces

Category: Practical Tools | Type: Guide

Practical, low-cost adjustments that make a real difference for students with sensory sensitivities.

Nervous System Regulation: A Quick Reference

Category: Practical Tools | Type: PDF

A one-page overview of nervous system states and how they show up in yoga practice.

Teaching Neurodivergent Students: Core Principles

Category: For Professionals | Type: PDF

An introduction to the foundational principles of neurodivergent-informed teaching for yoga professionals.

Sensory Check-In Worksheet

Category: Practical Tools | Type: Worksheet

A gentle self-guided worksheet for checking in with your sensory experience before or after a yoga session.

Contact and Inquiry

Website: https://mindfulstradition.com
Inquiry Form: https://mindfulstradition.com/Contact
Individual Inquiry: For personal yoga and coaching sessions
Organizational Inquiry: For schools, clinics, and programs
Professional Training Inquiry: For workshops and intensives
Free Consultation: 15-minute free consultation call available — book via Contact page

Keywords

neurodivergent yoga, neurodivergent-informed yoga, nervous system yoga, yoga for autism, yoga for ADHD, sensory-aware yoga, inclusive yoga teacher training, yoga for neurodivergent adults, somatic yoga, trauma-informed yoga, polyvagal yoga, HANDLE practitioner yoga, Kripalu neurodivergent, adaptive yoga, yoga accessibility, sensory processing yoga, yoga teacher training neurodiversity, Kaylin McCarthy, Mindful Tradition, neurodivergent yoga teacher training online, how to teach yoga to autistic students, yoga for sensory processing disorder, nervous system regulation yoga