How This Mom Embraces Challenges with Grace & Gratitude

Photo Credit: Karen Presecan Photography

Linda Osorio is no stranger to facing challenges in life. As the daughter of Colombian immigrants who grew up watching her own parents overcome many challenges and find a deep love for their new country, as well as their new home in Stafford, Linda knew from an early age that life can be anything you decide to make it, even in the face of uncertainty. Her parents came to this country before Linda was born, giving her and her siblings the opportunity to have a better chance at achieving their dreams in the United States. 

Linda is a proud mother to her oldest son, Christian, who lives in Austin, Texas as a new entrepreneur, and daughter, Esmeralda, who shares her mother’s drive for success and overall zest for life and is currently serving in the United States Air Force. Linda describes her two eldest children as giving and caring people who go above and beyond to enrich their community. Finally, Linda welcomed her third child, Curwood, and quickly discovered that he would be unlike any of the other children in Linda’s life.

At three years old, Curwood was diagnosed with autism after being carefully evaluated by medical professionals. Despite being a healthy, happy child, Linda realized early on that Curwood struggled to communicate and express his feelings the same way his siblings did, which inspired her to seek the insight of his specialized ASD doctor. After officially receiving an autism diagnosis, Linda admits that she was initially in denial about the reality of their situation. However, this didn't stop her from doing everything in her power to help Curwood find the support he needed to become the thriving 11-year-old he is today.

While he struggled to communicate using words in his early life stages, Linda observed that Curwood always loved music and movement and would frequently sing and move when wanting to express his feelings. This helped her form a deep connection with her son through his unique communication style, which she says is crucial for any parent with an autistic child.  "So often, when a child is diagnosed with ASD, as mine was, we are told of all the therapies but are never shown how to play with them.  Play is learning, and as I learned the value of entering his world, he began to enter mine".

Today, Curwood is able to communicate effectively using short words and a speech-generating device, and continues to make improvements.  He especially enjoys spending time outside with his dog Rossi, doing yoga with mom and going to the trampoline park with dad. Linda admits that there were few resources available to help her navigate the challenges of communicating with an autistic child at the time, which would eventually lead her to create her own unique approach to connecting with Curwood that she would go on to share with fellow parents just like her.

Linda says that those early years of struggling to find ways to connect with her son are what inspired her to found Happy Yoga Shapes for kids on the spectrum. She discovered that by mirroring his stemming, jumping and hand flapping (aka stemming), Curwood became more engaged with her. But it didn’t start as easy as it sounds.  Oftentimes Linda would practice yoga around her son and when he was around 4 yrs old he became curious and so she quickly included him.  The biggest breakthrough was when she began to join his world of stemming; this allowed Curwood to feel seen and was much more receptive to joining her world! 

This was a huge discovery, and soon she began to use yoga to play, learn and bond with him and continues today.  All of the yoga play and breathing practices would lay the foundation for what the program would become. Since sharing her love of yoga with her son, she’s also seen an improvement in his fine motor skills, eye contact, and socialization, which she believes is all thanks to these simple practices.

One memory that Linda holds dear to her heart is a trip she and Curwood took to South Africa, where Linda was leading a yoga program, and she and Curwood taught a class on yoga for children on the spectrum. Despite being autistic, Curwood was able to easily endure the 14-hour flight and loved every moment of their adventures in their time there, especially seeing all of the animals that he recognized from one of his favorite movies, Madagascar. This was a once-in-a-lifetime event that Linda and Curwood will cherish forever.

Happy Yoga Shapes teaches parents of autistic children to communicate with their kids through the art of mirroring and yoga floor play. Linda credits physical movement, like yoga, as well as breathing exercises in helping Curwood navigate his emotions in a healthy way.  It was incredibly beneficial for her too and now other parents. Happy Yoga Shapes has helped many parents like her learn to connect with their children in ways they never thought possible. 

As for Linda’s career path, she never let life as a special needs parent stop her from pursuing her dreams in her hometown of 40 years. After receiving a massage for a back injury, Linda discovered the healing power of massage therapy and yoga, leading her to open her first wellness company in 2008. Today, she is the founder and owner of Bear River Massage Therapy, House of Yoga Academy, and Happy Yoga Shapes.

Now, more than ever, Linda believes that nothing is impossible. She hopes to use the things she learned in her personal journey with her son to enrich the lives of those around her, especially those on the Autism Spectrum in her beloved community of Stafford.

To learn more about Happy Yoga Shapes, visit: happyyogashapes.com.