Making yoga accessible for all.

MahaDevi, Roberta Sumar Yoga Centre, is the first yoga centre in Europe dedicated specifically to offering Yoga for the Special Child® - the Original Special Yoga Method developed by Sonia Sumar the Pioneer of Yoga for children and adults with additional and or complex needs and disabilities developed over 50 years ago. Honouring our commitment to make yoga accessible to all we offer our first one to one  therapeutic yoga session for free. After that there is a sliding scale based on need ensuring lower income families can access the service for little or no cost depending on circumstances. We also offer a range of free group activities including our girls club, mixed abilities classes, wheelchair users group class, arts and crafts, drum and yoga club and monthly yoga and nature walks.

Regular yoga classes for adults

We also offer regular adults yoga classes as a way of supporting our charitable work. When you attend a class with us 50% of what you give goes to the MahaDevi Fund which is set up to support those families who cannot afford a therapy session for their child. Your practice goes a long way. Every class you attend is a gift to another person in need. We also offer specialised yoga teacher trainings 

Yoga for Additional or Complex Needs

Our therapeutic yoga sessions are open to all children and adults with  Autism, Down's Syndrome, Epilepsy, Prader-Willi Syndrome, ASD, ADD, ADHD, D/B, DHH, eye impediments, ME, Sciatica, Cerebral palsy, speech impediments, Hemiplegia, behaviour challenges, wheelchair users and many more. All our therapeutic yoga practitioners have directly trained with Sonia Sumar, Founder of Yoga for the Special Child® .

NEXT TRAINING OCTOBER 2023

We offer a unique and specialised Yoga Teacher Training Program "Yoga for The Special Child - Sonia Sumar Method". Built of two parts, it offers you the chance to learn how to teach yoga to children and adults with Additional and or Complex Needs.

Why train with us? Yoga for the Special Child is the Original Special Yoga. Yoga for the Special Child is the Pioneering Yoga Therapy Method for children and adults with additional and or complex needs developed over 50 years ago, so you will be learning from the source. We prioritise quality of training over quantity therefore we cap our course at 18 participants max. We offer follow up, support and guidance.

Sonia Sumar is a worldwide recognised senior Yoga Teacher with over 50 years of experience and the founder of the first ever Yoga Therapy Program for People with Additional and or Complex Needs. Many of the current yoga therapy approaches were inspired and originated from the training Sonia Sumar offers worldwide.

Yoga for The Special Child - Sonia Sumar Method

Every person can benefit from yoga, no matter what their challenges in life are.

Yoga for the Special Child Method is a very safe, gentle and yet extremely effective practice for children and young people with additional and complex needs and disabilities. It improves muscle strength and flexibility, improves fine and gross motor skills, improves postural alignment, sleep and digestion, increase self awareness and self regulation, promotes calm and organised mind. ALL contributing to a happier and healthier person. Located near Holloway Road in Islington, London, MahaDevi is open 7 days a week and we see children for yoga therapy every day. Drop us a line and we will do our very best to find a way to meet your child's needs.

“Thank you so much for the amazing class! I can see Felix improving every week! Long it may continue!” Bridget, mum to Felix who has severe Epilepsy

Book an evaluation session here

Adult yoga classes

Join us for a yoga class

Before 9:00am and after 6:00pm our centre becomes a space where we offer Traditional Hatha Yoga classes for the general public. We were listed as one fo the Top 10 best Yoga Centres in London in TimeOut so we must be doing something right!

50% of what you pay for class goes directly to the MahaDevi Fund. The Fund was created in order to support families with children with additional or complex needs from a low income background to attend weekly yoga therapy sessions. Every move you make on your yoga mat helps another to also experience the invaluable benefits of yoga.

Have a look at our timetable, come and say hello and get on the mat! We offer Beginners, Intermediate and Open level classes and Pregnancy Yoga.

View our schedule...


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See how yoga at MahaDevi changed 9-year-old Daniel's life.