Yoga For The Special Children

What Yoga For The Special Children does

Yoga for All Abilities, LLC — legally founded in the United States but traceable to 1972 work in Brazil — operates a global adaptive yoga training and practice organization built around the proprietary Sonia Sumar Method. The methodology integrates breath, movement, sound, relaxation, attention, and relationship practices to support children and adults with disabilities, additional needs, and neurodivergence, including autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and sensory processing differences. The company delivers its IP through a layered product portfolio: a flagship 95H Children Certification Program (Part 1: 48 hours, Part 2: 55 hours at $980-$1,180), a 200H Hatha Yoga Teacher Training ($3,250-$3,850), a 100H Intermediate Hatha Training, and a catalog of condition-specific Continuing Education (CPD) courses priced at $425-$530 each, supplemented by live online classes ($120-$140 for 8-class packages), private 1:1 sessions ($100-$150), streaming content via online.specialyoga.com, and ancillary book/music products translated into four languages.

The business runs on a hybrid go-to-market model combining direct-to-consumer online delivery (Zoom classes, streaming library, private sessions) with a network of regional partner teaching centers in Chicago, London, Taipei, and Sarasota that host in-person certification intensives and serve local communities. Revenue is generated across seven distinct streams anchored by professional services (certifications and training) rather than subscription SaaS, with pay-as-you-go and one-time perpetual pricing plus sliding-scale options for affordability. The customer base is bifurcated: end-consumers (families, parents, adult practitioners) purchase low-ticket sessions and class packages, while professional buyers (occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, special educators, yoga teachers) purchase higher-ticket certifications and CPDs eligible for AOTA CEUs, IAYT continuing education, and Yoga Alliance credentials.

The firm is privately held with 1-10 employees, no venture or institutional capital, and no public revenue disclosure. Day-to-day ownership transitioned in 2024-2025 from founder Sonia Sivakami Sumar to her daughter Renata Sumar Gaertner (C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, E-RCYT, YACEP), who now serves as Owner, Program Director, and Lead Teacher from Seattle while Sonia remains an active guiding presence in Sarasota. Geographic reach spans North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and India through a licensed practitioner network.

Name

Yoga For The Special Children

Legal name

Yoga for All Abilities, LLC

Website

https://specialyoga.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yoga for All Abilities operates the proprietary Sonia Sumar Method, delivering adaptive yoga certification programs (95H, 200H, 100H, CPDs), live online classes, private sessions, and translated book/music products to children and adults with disabilities, their families, and the therapists and educators serving them.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Yoga Training and Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Therapeutic/Adaptive Yoga & Clinical Pilates (HSADACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) & Pilates Instructor Training (HSADACAL), Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA)

Keywords

• Adaptive yoga training
• Special needs yoga
• Yoga teacher certification
• Continuing education yoga
• Adaptive movement therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Osprey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 95H Children Certification Program: Two-part certification program (Part 1: 48 hours, Part 2: 55 hours) for professionals wanting to teach adaptive yoga to children with disabilities. Fees range from $980-$1,180 for Part 2 training.
2. 200H Hatha Yoga Teacher Training: Year-long foundational Hatha Yoga teacher training with monthly weekend sessions and August intensive. Tuition: $3,250 early bird / $3,850 regular. Includes Yoga Alliance RYT 200 certification pathway.
3. Continuing Education / CPD Programs: Specialized 18-hour continuing education courses for condition-specific populations (Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy), teaching skills (sequencing, adjustments), and yoga study. Pricing: $425-$530 per CPD.
4. Private Yoga Sessions and Mentoring: Individual yoga therapy sessions for children, teens, adults, and families ($100-$150 per 60-min session). Initial assessments at $120-$200 for 90 minutes. Teacher mentoring at $150 per session. Sliding scale available.
5. Live Online Classes: Weekly live online Hatha Yoga and Special Yoga classes via Zoom. Renata's classes: $120 for 8-class package. Sonia's classes: $140 for 8-class package. Includes 7-day recording access.
6. Streaming Class Packages: Recorded Hatha Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Pranayama classes available through online school (online.specialyoga.com). Self-paced continuing education and specialty workshops.
7. Books and Music: Yoga for the Special Child book published in English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and Portuguese (including eBook). Soul to Soul music album with mantras, bhajans, and Yoga Nidra available on Amazon and streaming platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Yoga for All Abilities delivers adaptive yoga training, professional certifications, classes, and private sessions built on the Sonia Sumar Method for children and adults with disabilities, additional needs, and neurodivergence. Its flagship offering is the two-part 95H Children Certification Program that trains yoga teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, educators, and parents. Supporting offerings include the 200H Hatha Yoga Teacher Training, 100H Intermediate Training, condition-specific CPD programs, weekly live online classes, an on-demand streaming library, and private 1:1 lessons and mentoring.

Product overview

Yoga for All Abilities (formerly Yoga for the Special Child) operates as a unified training and educational platform offering adaptive yoga instruction for children and adults with disabilities, additional needs, and different ways of moving, learning, and communicating. The core product is the 95H Children Certification Program—a two-part professional training path teaching the Sonia Sumar Method. Supporting this are the 200H Hatha Yoga Teacher Training and 100H Intermediate Hatha Training for broader yoga education. The continuing education/CPD offerings extend specialized skills in conditions like autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and scleroderma. Live online classes and streaming recorded sessions provide ongoing practice access, while private lessons and mentoring offer individualized support. Ancillary products include the foundational book 'Yoga for the Special Child' and the 'Soul to Soul' music collection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 95H Children Certification Program Two-part professional certification program that trains yoga teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, educators, and parents in the Sonia Sumar Method for teaching adaptive yoga to children and adults with additional needs, disabilities, and neurodivergence.
• 200H Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Year-long foundational Hatha Yoga teacher training program with monthly weekend sessions and an August intensive, aligned with Yoga Alliance RYS 200 standards and integrating traditional practice, pranayama, meditation, anatomy, teaching methodology, and the Sonia Sumar Method lineage. Leads to RYT 200 certification eligibility.
• 100H Intermediate Hatha Teacher Training Intermediate-level training for 200H-certified teachers deepening yoga philosophy, lifestyle, pranayama, meditation, anatomy, and teaching skills; foundation for the 300H advanced certification pathway.
• Continuing Education / CPD Programs Catalog of focused 18-hour continuing education courses for graduates, yoga teachers, therapists, educators, and families, including condition-specific CPDs (Autism and ADHD; Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy; Early Intervention; Yoga for Scleroderma and Arthritis), practice-focused programs (Asanas and Sequencing; Raja Yoga and Meditation; Sanskrit), and school-based training (Get Ready To Learn; Trauma and Sensory Processing).
• Private Lessons and Mentoring Individual yoga support for children, teens, adults, families, and teachers, including 90-minute initial assessments, 60-minute private yoga sessions, and mentoring for 95H Part 1 graduates; delivered online with sliding scale pricing.
• Live Online Classes Weekly live online Hatha Yoga classes with Renata Sumar Gaertner (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and Special Yoga classes with Sonia Sivakami Sumar (Wednesdays and Fridays), delivered via Zoom with 7-day recording access.
• Streaming / Recorded Classes On-demand streaming library of recorded Hatha Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Pranayama classes hosted on online.specialyoga.com, allowing students to practice at their own pace and access specialty workshops.
• Yoga for the Special Child (Book) The foundational book by Sonia Sumar documenting the original adaptive yoga method, available in English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and Portuguese, plus eBook format; foundational text used worldwide by parents, educators, and therapists.
• Soul to Soul (Music) Two-disc music collection by Sonia Sumar featuring mantras, bhajans, Indian instrumentals, and Yoga Nidra from the training tradition, available on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

Quantifiable outcome

• Renata's 1994 university thesis demonstrated yoga as an effective method for stimulating development in children with Down Syndrome.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Yoga AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoga Alliance provides recognized training pathway accreditation for Yoga for All Abilities programs including 95H Children Certification, 200H Hatha Teacher Training, 300H Advanced Training, and continuing education programs. Students can pursue Yoga Alliance RYT and RPYT credentials through these recognized pathways.
• AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoga for All Abilities is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Specific programs including 95H Training Modules (Parts 1 and 2) and CPD programs offer AOTA CEUs for eligible occupational therapy practitioners.
• IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected Yoga for All Abilities programs may be used for IAYT continuing education credits for certified yoga therapists (C-IAYT). Students should review program details for specific credit applicability.
• Integral Yoga / SatchidanandamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnection through Sri Swami Satchidananda who invited Sonia Sumar to bring her work to the United States. Yoga for All Abilities training may be accepted as part of selected Integral Yoga teacher training pathways. U.S. headquarters established at Satchidananda Yoga Center in 2001.
• Five Keys Yoga (Chicago)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFive Keys Yoga Center founded by Erin Shanthi Haddock serves as a regional teaching center for Yoga for All Abilities in Chicago. Hosts Part 1 certification programs in hybrid format. Serves schools, health centers, medical clinics, and community settings.
• MahaDevi Yoga Centre (London)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMahaDevi Yoga Centre founded by Sridevi Denisa Nenova serves as the dedicated Yoga for All Abilities center in London, UK. Hosts Part 1 certification programs in hybrid format and serves children, families, and hospice settings.
• Aditi Yoga Studio (Taipei)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAditi Yoga Studio founded by Irene Gallagher serves as the Taiwan regional center for Yoga for All Abilities. Coordinates Chinese-language programs, hosts Part 1 certification in Chinese/hybrid format, and provides volunteer services at St. Anne's Home since 2015.
• Soul To Soul Yoga (Sarasota)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSoul To Soul Yoga founded by Cheryl Albright operates in Sarasota, Florida. Teaches adaptive yoga in schools, group homes, adult day training centers, and her own center across multiple Florida counties.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Mindful Schools: Organization offering mindfulness and yoga training for educators and school settings. Comparable as an adjacent professional development provider for teachers, though focused on mindfulness more broadly rather than adaptive yoga specifically.
• Lily's Kids Yoga: Smaller children's yoga training provider offering certification and continuing education for yoga teachers. Comparable peer in the kids yoga certification market with overlapping content for teachers working with diverse learners, though without the adaptive specialization.

Broad incumbents

• Cosmic Kids Yoga: Large-scale children's yoga media brand offering online classes and teacher training. Comparable in the children's yoga space but focuses on mainstream content delivery rather than adaptive/therapeutic applications for children with disabilities.
• YogaKids: Established children's yoga brand founded by Marsha Wenig offering training programs and educational materials. Comparable as a broader children's yoga teacher training brand but not specialized in disabilities or adaptive populations.

Others

• Yoga Alliance: Industry-recognized registry that accredits yoga teacher training programs and credentials teachers. Not a competitor but a critical ecosystem enabler — Yoga for All Abilities holds Yoga Alliance-recognized training school status for 95H, 200H, and 300H pathways.
• International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT): Professional membership body that accredits yoga therapy training programs and certifies yoga therapists. Relevant as a credentialing ecosystem partner rather than competitor, with Yoga for All Abilities programs already IAYT-eligible.

Direct peers

• Radiant Child Yoga Foundation: Founded by Shakta Kaur Khalsa, Radiant Child Yoga is a direct competitor offering children's yoga teacher training and adaptive yoga programs. Both organizations target yoga teachers and therapists serving children with diverse needs, with overlapping certification pathways and similar mission alignment.
• Special Yoga (UK): UK-based adaptive yoga organization serving children and adults with special needs. Directly comparable as a similarly-named, mission-aligned peer offering training programs, private sessions, and classes for children with disabilities, though operating primarily in the British market.
• Adaptive Yoga Foundation: Non-profit offering adaptive yoga teacher training and programs for individuals with disabilities. Comparable peer in the adaptive yoga certification space, though operating under a non-profit rather than for-profit structure and with less international footprint.
• Asanas for Autism and Special Needs (Shakta Khalsa): Adaptive yoga training specifically focused on autism and special needs, offering teacher certification programs comparable to Yoga for All Abilities' 95H Children Certification. Both serve the OT/PT/SLP professional development market with condition-specific content.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@YogaforAllAbilities
• Facebookfacebook.com/thesoniasumarmethod
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yoga-for-the-special-child-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/thesoniasumarmethod

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yoga For The Special Children