The Journey of Rise Up Kids Yoga & OT
and founder Michelle Roberts
Life is a journey of ebbs and flows
Along the way, there are notable events and moments that mould and shape us and ones that may even light up the pathway to find our own true north. It’s a fluid and dynamic process. We are continually growing and developing.
For Michelle, one of those significant events occurred early in her life. More than 30 years ago, a little-known profession at that time (Occupational Therapy) was introduced to her and her family. This experience was significant in shaping her values and direction in life, particularly with career aspirations, passion and purpose in life.
​
Fast forward many years to now having worked as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist for over 20 years within Melbourne, regional Victoria and New Zealand, in various Community Health Services, Children’s Hospitals, Early Intervention Services and at Private Health Practices, Michelle considers herself fortunate and privileged to have been part of hundreds of families’ lives, working alongside them to support their child in diverse and meaningful ways.
​
Connection
Michelle delights in connecting with people to empower them on their life journey and brings energy, compassion and active listening to all her partnerships.
Compassion
Forever moving forward
​
Michelle has a thirst for lifelong personal learning and professional development which is guided by her sensitive nature to tune into herself and the needs of others.
Michelle is passionate and driven when it comes to supporting children and teen wellbeing (and their families).
Working in healthcare is a delicate balance of supporting clients, but also sharing that care with one's self and family. Yoga has been a fundamental part of Michelle's regime to nurture her body, mind and soul, which also helps her be there for her own family, which was even more critical in the last 3 years.
Her yoga practice has had an immense impact on her physical, emotional and mental health.
It was whilst personally experiencing these 'yoga powers' and over the years increasingly working with children and teens experiencing overwhelming dysregulation and mental health decline that she felt inspired and compelled to do more.
She researched and completed yoga teacher training, yoga therapy and mindfulness training specifically for kids and teens in order to implement other therapeutic modalities to broaden her practice and reach. It is Michelle's future vision, to provide and empower children and teens with their 'own super powers' of yoga, mindfulness and other helpful strategies at their disposal to use through their journey of life when it's needed.
​
It was with this hope and vision, that Rise up kids Yoga and OT was created.
Qualifications & Training:
-
Zenergy Yoga Foundation, Advanced and Yoga Therapy 1 and 2 certifications.
-
Trained Infant Massage instructor with IAIM, International Association of Infant Massage
-
Trained facilitator in ‘Tuning into Kids’ – emotionally intelligent parenting
-
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) foundation course, ACT with Teens and soon to complete an ACT children with ASD. All trainings completed with ACT expert Russ Harris.
-
Various trauma informed practice trainings including a 2 day course of Attachment and Developmental trauma with Bessel Van Der Kolk (Psychiatrist, Researcher, Educator and Author of ‘The Body Keeps Score’.)
-
Mindfulness with Children (Janet Etty-Leal) Mindful meditation consultant and author of Meditation Capsules.
-
Neuro-development treatment (NDT) for toddlers
-
Various courses on supporting children with anxiety, self-regulation, fussy eating (Mealtime Matters), parent coaching, sensory processing, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), self-regulation,
-
Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) with Dr Ross Greene (Author of The Explosive Child),
-
Various ‘Social Thinking’ training courses - social communication skills programs teaching children problem solving skills to help them engage in their every changing social world.
-
Learn to play (Karen Stagnetti)
-
Hanen training (SPARK)
​
