Meet Shawnee Thornton Hardy: Asanas for Autism & Special Needs

Shawnee is a graduate of the 300hr Professional YogaWorks Program at Prana (class of 2012), and author or ASANAS FOR AUTISM & SPECIAL NEEDS

I received my 500-RYT through YogaWorks at Prana Yoga Center in La Jolla, under the guidance and mentorship of the wonderful Rachel Krentzman. I remember presenting my final presentation at Prana for my 500 yoga certification with the dream of bringing the benefits of yoga to children with special needs.  That was only the beginning of the manifestation of my dreams. 

Through my training and studies in yoga therapy and my experience with children with special needs I decided to infuse my two passions and teach YOGA to children with special needs.   

Since then I have worked privately with children with special needs, taught small groups, and workshops on yoga therapy and yoga for children with special needs at a major conference. 

I’m excited that this year my book ASANAS FOR AUTISM AND SPECIAL NEEDS will be published, coming out in December 2014 in the UK and other countries, and January 2015 in the US and Canada. I’m currently working on a yoga curriculum for parents, educators, yoga teachers and other professionals in the field of education to use as tools to support the unique learning styles of children with special needs.

My expertise has been in developing positive behavior programming for children with special needs so they learn to express their feelings and emotions more effectively, learn how to interact appropriately with others and be an active part of school, home and the community.  

I am also a registered yoga therapist through the IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists) and have received certification in the application of  Purna Yoga therapeutics for digestive disorders, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, asthma, bronchitis and diabetes from Master Teacher Aadil Palkhivala. I work with private clients and small groups to support individuals in healing from injuries, working through anxiety and depression and increasing their overall health and well-being.    I have worked with children with special needs for 15 years.  I also have a masters in Special Education and have worked ​with a variety of disabilities including Autism, ADD/ADHD, ED (emotionally disturbed), Fragile X, Down syndrome, Prader willi and many other children with language processing deficits, sensory challenges and behavioral challenges.

Shawnee has been published on MindBodyGreen, Rebelle Society and Elephant Journal. Read more about her work on:

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Asanas for Autism & Special Needs

Yoga by Shawnee

Home Care Assistance and Prana Yoga Center present Senior Yoga

Join Shauna Mackay every Thursday for FREE Senior Yoga at Home Care Assistance. These classes are designed to keep the students mobile, focusing on gentle movements that are safe and relaxing. We use props such as chairs, blankets, blocks and straps and practice to serve the entire body and the mind.

The location is 7521 Fay Avenue in La Jolla, CA. Class is one hour long from 10:30am-11:30am.

Trained in the alignment-based YogaWorks style of teaching (RYT-500), Shauna MacKay is also a Yoga Therapist and has completed advanced studies in Yoga for Cancer, Restorative Yoga, Meditation, Yoga for the Back and the Great Yoga Wall®.

Her most influential teachers are Judith Lasater, Nischala Joy Devi, and Brian Dorfman.

Shauna loves working individually with those facing a cancer diagnosis, chronic illnesses and the physical changes of middle age and beyond. Her yoga system is designed to ease symptoms and support individuals in living a more present and peaceful life.

Teacher Spotlight ~ Hari Das Kaur

I am a 3rd level practitioner and teacher of Sat Nam Rasayan, and a member of a very small group of global healers who are certified by Guru Dev Singh (The only living master of Sat Nam Rasayan).  I am a certified Kundalini Yoga and meditation instructor trained by Yogi Bhajan, and he is known as the master of Kundalini Yoga. I have now been practicing and teaching Kundalini Yoga and meditation for over 30 years.   

I was born and raised in the Hawaiian Islands, studied in Europe, and was trained, and practiced surgical nursing until 12 years ago. I love people and have always loved being of service.  My spiritual name Hari Das was given to me by Yogi Bhajan and it means "The Servant of God."   

When I  met Yogi Bhajan for the first time in Los Angleles in the the late 70's, I knew that he was to be  my teacher.  He told me to "study Kundalini yoga so that I would not suffer in my life."   That was a very good reason for me to make it a part of my life and study from him.  I was trained directly by Yogi Bhajan and he told me to teach Kundalini Yoga and Sat Nam Rasayan, and go out and heal as many people as I could in my lifetime.

Kundalini Yoga has given me the tools to keep me happy and healthy and stay positive....no matter what life brings.  It has given me the courage to keep up when things seem darkest and really appreciate life as such a precious gift. I feel that sharing the technology of Kundalini Yoga and Sat Nam Rasayan gives people the tools to deal with the challenges of life, and maintain their happiness.  Our birthright is to be happy.

I was blessed with three children, a daughter Andrea (Hari Dharshan), a son John who is the manager at our local El Pescador restaurant  (Sat Bachan Singh), and my youngest son William (Hari Jiwan Singh) who is a downtown lawyer.  I have two wonderful grandchildren;  Elizabeth, and Nolan (John's), and 3 great cats (Franky, Baby and Manny).

I love my life, I love my work, and I love the people in my life that make my days so rich and absolutely worthwhile.

With love, and very warm regards ~

Hari Das  (Mimi Trotter)

Hari Das at Prana

Sat Nam Rasayan Workshop, "The Healing Art of The Yogis" 

Every 4th Wednesday of every month  

Next Session: March 26, 7:15pm-9pm

Kundalini Yoga Classes

Tues and Thurs 12pm-1pm

Saturday 7am-8am 

The Self-Sensory System and the

Transition of the Piscean Age to the Aquarian Age
April 13th from 2-4pm

Winter Green Smoothie Recipe

By: Amy Jo Hearron

I have a wild, evolving love affair with words. The inventive way they arrange themselves in sentences has the ability to completely shift my perspective and open my eyes to things not yet seen before their humble display. Now I will share with you a few quotes that touch upon 2013's lessons before leaving you to enjoy the detoxifying green thing I am now calling my Winter Green Smoothie.

"If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete." -Buddha
"The greatest act of courage is to be and own all that you are. Without apology. Without excuses and without any masks to cover the truth of who you truly are." -Debbie Ford
"There are better things ahead than anything we leave behind." -C.S. Lewis
"We attain freedom as we let go of whatever does not reflect our magnificence." -Alan Cohen
"Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth." -Rumi



Winter Green Smoothie
(Serves 2)
3 cups chopped kale leaves
2 pears, peeled, de-seeded and chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
2 inch piece of fresh ginger root
2 tbs. raw coconut oil
2 tbs. raw hemp seed
1 cup water
1-2 cups of ice
1. Blend all ingredients together in a high speed blender. Drink up!


Amy Jo works as a natural nutrition and allergy friendly private chef and holistic consultant. She is also available for cooking classes and demonstrations, as well as yoga retreats and workshops. For bookings and other inquiries, please contact Amy Jo at followyourownway@yahoo.com

Seniors with Soul

By: Shauna MacKay

Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching yoga to a spirited group of seniors in La Jolla, CA.  It was our first class together so I started with the foundation, our feet.

I teach my students that all postures and life in general, start with a wide and steady foundation. And after years of practice, my feet now a half size bigger, reflect that.

My students were not surprised when I told them that according to the NIH (National Institute of Health) falling is the leading cause of injury death for seniors over the age of 65. But they were surprised that a short yoga practice might reduce falls by helping them stay steady and connected to their feet.

Relaxing with tea after class, the students were excited about the “foot work” we did. One said, “I think you are on to something. I thought losing balance was all in my head but after that practice, I know keeping vitality and energy in my feet is important. Right now my feet feel happy.” She smiled. “And I can do this while watching TV.”

If you would like to increase the happiness in your feet here are six simple steps to practice at home:

1.  Imagine you could breath with your feet. Take a deep breathe in and bring attention to your feet, lift your toes, spread them wide, and as you exhale relax your feet. Repeat 4X

2.  Hold hands with your feet! Spread your toes wide and wiggle your fingers in between your toes. Gently side your fingers up to the webbing of your toes. Take a deep breathe in as you encourage your toes to gently stretch apart.  While holding hands with your feet, circle your ankle in one direction, then the other.

3.  Slide your fingers over the top of toes and moving with your breathe, gently curl your towards your heel. Take 3 deep breathes as you stretch the top of your feet.

4.  With your fingers under your toes, take a full breathe in as you curl your toes up and open the soles of your feet.

5.  Tap or slap the sole of your foot starting from the ball of your foot all the way down to the heel and back.

6.  Take a moment to notice any vitality or aliveness you may feel in that foot. Now bring the same love and attention to your other foot.

Join Shauna MacKay, BPE, RYT-500 every Thursday from 10:30am-11:30am at Home Care Assistance. This class is free and will get you moving and performing physical postures that stretch and strengthen with an emphasis on breath and balance.

Shauna also teaches regularly at Prana Yoga Center Monday's, Tuesday's and Thursday's at 8:30am. You may find our more information about Shauna on her website.