Image description: Amy Smiling in the fields with pink hat on by a tree.
Hello!
My name is Amy Nairne. (she/her/they/them)
I am a 200hr certified neurodiversity-affirming yoga teacher. I am queer and non binary, I love all things yoga and neurodiversity. I am the founder of NeurodiverseYoga on a mission to make the yoga community more accessible for neurodivergent individuals.
​
Read more about my Story below.
My Story
Growing up
_edited.jpg)
As a late diagnosed AUDHDer (Autistic and ADHD) with C-PTSD who grew up without proper support and mental health care whilst experiencing abuse and trauma I understand some of the challenges neurodivergent people face throughout life.
I spent my teenage and young adult life experiencing trauma, abuse and addiction and was sucked into the neuronormative mental health system that overlooked me, misdiagnosed me, mistreated me and wrongly medicated me.
.jpg)
As a result
I had little to no understanding of the connection between my body and brain. I struggled for years to understand the signals in my body. I had little understanding of my neurodivergent brain and the impact it has on my ability to connect not only with myself and the traits I experience but also the connection I have to other people.
On the verge of suicide, facing problems with self harm, struggling to deal with my intense emotions and unique nervous system all while experiencing severe debilitating meltdowns on a daily basis I spoke to my therapist at the time and she recommended I look into yoga, meditation and mindfulness.
Hesitant due to my own misconceptions of the world of yoga and the lack of accessible spaces for neurodivergent people it took me a while to develop a consistent practice that worked for me.
Read more about how navigating the yoga community was hard as a neurodivergent person and why here
'Neurodivergence isn't a flaw- it's a unique lens through which we see, experience and shape the world'.
Image description: Amy turned to look at the camera smiling In pigeon pose on a field with long grass with the north downs in the background. They are wearing a grey shorts and sports bra set.
I hated yoga to begin with!
All these random people telling me to calm my mind and let go, like my neurodivergent brain knew how to do this (it didn't). After a while I found some teachers and practices that worked for me, and they did help me to relax, but something was missing. It's like these people spoke a different language and they all seemed to perfectly know how to relax their nervous systems whilst mine felt erratic and uncontrollable.
The yoga community at first to me seemed very 'woo woo', competitive and a massive comparison game. Majority of yoga spaces I stepped into didn't understand neurodiversity or accessibility and reinforced ideas of neuronormativity and ableism.
As a result I started to mask and copy those in the yoga community like this. I would constantly worry about trying to create the most extreme pose and capturing it in a photo or in a reel. This is the danger for neurodivergent folks like myself who heavily mask and copy the behaviour of those around us. If you don't find a safe space, its very easy to get mixed up or taken advantage of.
This is why finding a community that suits you is SO important!
In 2023 I decided to make the very daunting decision to become a yoga teacher, despite the barriers and traits I experience when it comes to my neurodivergence. I saw just how inaccessible the yoga community is for people like me and wanted to change that!
That's why I created NeurodiverseYoga!
To help those of us who are neurodivergent access yoga in a way that works for them. NeurodiverseYoga is for the weird, wonderful and all in between.
It's for those of us that prefer to practice from the comfort of your own home or prefer practices that go at your pace and suit your unique brain, body and nervous system. For those that are sick of in-person classes lead by people that just don't understand neurodiversity. For those who want to learn more about the neurodiversity-affirming approach to yoga and how to make more change in the community. For those that are scared of trying yoga or stepping into wellness spaces out of fear of judgement.
Wherever you are on your journey, you have a place here, to be exactly as you are.
Image description: Amy sat crossed legged on a tree stump in the middle of a golf course, smiling holding their yoga teacher training certificate. They are wearing black leggings and a colourful top.
Image description: Yoga teacher training certificate on the floor on grass with dandelions surrounding. It reads; Matt Giordano. Theyogimatt.com. This hereby certifies that Amy Nairne has successfully completed Chromatic Foundations 200 Hour Teacher Training
Credentials
200hr Y.T.T
With Chromatic Yoga
I took the 200hr yoga teacher training with TheYogiMatt and Chromatic Yoga. I learnt a range of information including the anatomy of yoga, biomechanics, philosophy and much more.
25 Years of lived experience as a neurodivergent
human being
I have been a neurodivergent human being for 24 years of my life and therefore have an array of knowledge and experience of what it is like to be neurodivergent in this society.
2016-2018
A-Levels
Charles Darwin School
I have 3 A-levels in Health and Social care, Sociology and English Communication and Culture. Was accepted into 5 different universities to study Criminal-psychology before having to drop out due to mental health problems and ultimately realising I am neurodivergent. (I've always had an obsession with the human condition and our unique differences.)