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Westport Weston Family Y Offers Special Needs Yoga, Art Classes

WESTPORT, Conn. -- The Westport Weston Family Y is set to introduce two new classes designed for special needs children. 

The Westport Weston Family Y is offering yoga and arts and crafts  classes designed for special needs children.

The Westport Weston Family Y is offering yoga and arts and crafts classes designed for special needs children.

Photo Credit: Courtesy Flicker User Carissa GoodNCrazy

The Y will present "Special Needs Yoga" starting Friday, March 7 and "Special Needs Arts & Crafts" starting on Thursday, April 3.

The yoga class will run for five weeks with each class starting at 4:15 p.m. The arts and crafts classes start at 4:30 p.m. and will run for six weeks.

Mary Beth Colleran, a special education teacher with the Bridgeport Public Schools who is also a certified yoga instructor, will lead the yoga class geared toward children ages 6 to 12. Colleran practices Kripalu Yoga, a form of Hatha Yoga that uses meditation, standard Yoga poses and breathe work to find inner focus and the "development of a quiet mind," representatives said. 

“It’s a relaxing form of Yoga that I believe will be especially well-suited for children with special needs,” said Colleran. “I’m excited to be joining the Family Y team and to be able to help increase the number of special needs classes at the Y.”

The Special Needs Yoga class is open to Y members and non-members. The fee for the 5-week session is $90 for Y members and $130 for non-members. 

The Special Needs Arts & Crafts class is also for children ages 6-12. The instructor is Zack Daniels, and participants will leave each class with a completed project. The fee is $80 for Y members and $120 for non-members. 

Y staff previously conducted a series of meetings with local parents and educators last fall to explore how the Y can better serve the special needs group.

“This Yoga Class and Arts & Crafts Class is the result of those discussions,” said Meg George, Camp and Youth Director. “We thank these parents and others for their valuable input, and we welcome Mary Beth and Zack to this special part of our Y family.”

For more information about the Family Y’s special needs programs, or to get involved, residents can contact Meg George at 203-226-8981 or mgeorge@westporty.org. To register for the classes, residents can visit the Westport Weston Family Y website.

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