Calm together is a gentle, heart-led 4-week programme created especially for parent carers of neurodivergent children and young people.

You will be expected to attend all 4 sessions. The dates are:- 19th + 26th January, and 2nd + 9th February. From 8pm to 9pm.

Developed by Special Yoga in partnership with MyOTAS, and funded by Basildon Council, this pilot programme offers a safe, supportive space to nourish yourself, connect with others and build sustainable practices to nurture your own wellbeing, while also supporting your family.

No previous experience is required.

Every session is fully guided and accessible. Just bring yourself as you are.

What You’ll Experience

Each week, you’ll be gently guided through simple, effective wellbeing practices:

• Self-awareness and Compassion - Develop self care practices to nourish and restore.
• Gentle Movement - Support for releasing tension and reconnecting with your body.
• Breathwork Practices - Tools for self-regulation and emotional overwhelm.
• Mindfulness - Building calm and steadiness in everyday moments.
• Energy and Relaxation - Practices to re-balance your system and promote deep rest.

"I found it beneficial to have a safe nurturing space to try out new things, for me it was easier doing this workshop online. I liked having new things to try out. I learnt things through Jyoti and Karen's shared stories and how the science ties in to our physiology. Laura's voice is just amazingly soothing to listen to! I loved having permission to lie down, relax and recuperate from the day with other likeminded parents, to achieve a little bit of peacefulness, just for me."

What You’ll Gain

By the end of the 4 weeks, you’ll walk away with:

• A toolkit of practical, body-based strategies to calm your nervous system and reduce stress.
• Greater confidence in your ability to co-regulate and support your neurodivergent child emotionally.
• A stronger connection to your own needs and how to meet them.
• A sense of community, understanding, and shared experience.

"Wonderful group, such kind lovely people. Supportive and caring, non-judgemental. Clear and concise directions. I wouldn't of been able to take part at all if it hadn't of been online and early enough in the evening. I truly appreciate the time and energy that was put in to make this course accessible."

We prioritise:

• A non-judgemental, inclusive space where all experiences are welcome.
• Compassionate facilitation by practitioners trained in working with neurodiverse families.
• Support, including access to recorded online resources for six months after the course ends.

For further information and to see the course tutors click here - a member of the MyOTAS team will also be on hand at every session to support you.

You must be a parent and/or carer of a neurodivergent child (no diagnosis needed) and live within the county of Essex to access this course.

Thanks to funding from Basildon Council, this programme is subsidised for eligible parent carers.

Cost: is only £22 for 4-week block (which includes the booking fee). We don’t ever want finance to be a barrier to attendance, so please contact us if you need support.

Spaces are limited to ensure a supportive, personal experience — early booking is recommended.

Consent Statement for Data Collection and Sharing

As part of registering for the Calm Together co-regulation course, we (MyOTAS) need to collect some personal information to support your participation and coordinate with our delivery partners, Special Yoga Ltd and Basildon Council.

What we collect:

• Your full name
• Your address
• Whether you have a child with additional needs
• Your email address and phone number
• Age and ethnicity data (which is anonymised)

Why we collect this:

• To register your interest in the course
• To communicate with you about course details
• To share relevant information with Special Yoga Ltd for course delivery and support
• To report back to Basildon Council with anonymised data on age, address and ethnicity of participants

Who we share your data with: Your information will be shared with Special Yoga Ltd, who will contact you directly. As part of their process, they may ask for additional health information to ensure appropriate support during the course. Special Yoga Ltd is a joint data controller and is equally committed to protecting your privacy.

Your rights: You have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your data at any time. You can also withdraw your consent by contacting info@myotas.org.