Making Meditation More Inclusive: Reflections from a Recent Training

Last week, I had the joy of joining a fantastic CPD session with the British School of Meditation all about supporting neurodivergent clients through meditation. As someone who regularly works with both adults and children who are neurodivergent, this felt like such an important and timely conversation.

We explored the many benefits meditation can offer—from emotional regulation and sensory grounding to improved sleep and focus. But most importantly, the training focused on how to adapt meditation practices so they truly meet people where they are.

That might mean offering movement-based practices instead of stillness, using visual or sound-based anchors, allowing fidgeting or stimming, or creating shorter, more flexible sessions. It reminded me that meditation doesn’t need to look a certain way—it just needs to feel safe, accessible, and empowering.

The course also highlighted the importance of language, choice, and inclusivity in our teaching. It reaffirmed something we hold dear at Shali: that everyone deserves access to practices that support their well-being, no matter how their brain works.

A huge thank you to the British School of Meditation for leading this thoughtful, inclusive training. We’ll be weaving these insights into our offerings at Shali—continuing to co-create mindful spaces where neurodivergent people feel seen, respected, and welcome.