Universal Yoga at the University at Buffalo

Universal Yoga (UY) was developed in response to interview data from students with disabilities who indicated their interest in participating in yoga at the University at Buffalo, as well as information from the 2007 implementation of the National College Health Assessment (n=2,000). UY is grounded in the work of Mathew Sanford on transforming disability (mindbodysolutions.org) and based on continued collaborative training and study with Mr. Sanford. Weekly student outcome data and semester review guides the continued development of the UY program. UY is designed and taught for full participation by all students. It is based on principles of Universal Design and the WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Universal design supports the mission of campus health promotion, that is, to improve the health of students in the broadest sense, to reduce risks, to increase academic success and personal satisfaction, and to work toward the genuine health of the whole campus community. Universal Yoga provides a bridge for putting theory into practice by providing meaningful activity for individual students, creating opportunities for students with varying abilities to participate in student-life activities. The video is based on interviews with students with and without disabilities, Mathew Sanford, Director of Wellness Education Services and one of the UY yoga teachers. The interviews are interspersed with footage from six UY classes during the spring 2009 semester.