For children with diverse needs such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and cerebral palsy, yoga can function as a useful tool to build self-confidence, regulate their emotions, and foster meaningful social connections.
Ms Parul Chaturvedi, the founder of BlissYogaSG and a certified well-being coach, has spent the past 10 years exploring creative, inclusive approaches to yoga, ensuring the practice is accessible to people of all abilities.
“It is a myth that yoga has to be done a certain way. It is a very adaptive practice. Everyone can do it in their own way and benefit from it,” the 48-year-old said.
She conducted two 75-minute yoga sessions at Enabling Village on June 20 and 21 as part of SG Enable’s inaugural Summer Playground. The family-friendly event featured a vibrant lineup of free and ticketed activities focused on learning and inclusive play.
The first session welcomed five participants alongside their caregivers. A few volunteers from Ms Parul’s yoga teacher training programme were also present to assist where needed.
For a more visual and tactile experience, breathing techniques were demonstrated by using straws to catch colourful pom-poms through inhalation. The soothing vibrations of sound healing were introduced to promote mindfulness and a sense of calm.
“Sometimes children with special needs can be sensitive to sounds. However, I checked with them first if they are okay with it or have tried something like this before,” she explained.
Ms Parul also devised a collection of simple partner yoga poses for participants to perform with their family or friends, strengthening interpersonal bonds. “The smile on their faces when they feel confident in doing something, it is very beautiful to me,” she said.
The two-day event drew over 2,600 visitors to Enabling Village, an inclusive community space that is home to tenants who either train, employ or support persons with disabilities.
Ms Ananthy Murugan, 28, is a swimming instructor at Little Splashes Aquatics, which is one of the resident tenants. While she works with individuals from across all racial and ethnic backgrounds, her current clientele includes about five Tamil-speaking families.
She felt the Summer Playground provided an excellent opportunity for the public to interact with the differently-abled, while discovering the inclusive features, thoughtful architecture and supportive culture embedded within the space.
The swim school aimed at children has seven locations islandwide, all offering an indoor heated pool, but only the outlet at Enabling Village is equipped with a specially designed ramp to accommodate persons of all ages and abilities.
“This facility is purposefully set up to also support the elderly, those without limbs, wheelchair users, and stroke patients who come here for muscle exercises,” Ms Ananthy said.
Another highlight is the Enable Lane, a brightly coloured and slightly textured pathway that guides the visually impaired and wheelchair users seamlessly through the village. Along this lane was the UOB Ability Hub, which housed most of the event’s complimentary activities.
There, Ms Lauren Lin, 28, a special needs educator, and her close friend Sabitha T., 28, a piano teacher on the spectrum, enjoyed shooting hoops at the mini-basketball game booth and crafting their own keychains at the shrink art station.
The two also took part in a paper flower-making workshop and the stamp rally, where visitors had to collect four stamps to redeem a limited edition sticker sheet designed by Ms Joanne Ang, the Singaporean illustrator behind JangandFox and the event’s official IP partner.
“The activities being pushed were very much up her service interests, as there were a lot of arts and crafts,” said Ms Lauren, who met Ms Sabitha through a befriender programme at the latter’s request.
