BEVERLY — Seth Coburn stretched his arms above his head, fingers flexing upward as if he was certain he could touch the gym ceiling.
As a part of a new yoga program at the Beverly School for the Deaf and the Children's Center for Communication, students like Seth can grow 10 feet tall in confidence.
"This is something the students feel good about," said Ro Billert, a paraprofessional who helps assist the students in the yoga class.
Serving people who are deaf, hard of hearing, nonverbal, and those with speech and language delays, as well as physical or learning disabilities, the school assists 50 students on campus, along with 100 more off campus. The school offers services to students from birth until age 22.
This year, however, is the first time the school has offered a yoga program.
Yoga instructor Nicole Underwood worked at the school as a paraprofessional in 2007 and left to pursue a certification program in yoga.
This year, she returned with a proposal to integrate yoga into the students' physical therapy program three days a week.
"The kids become more relaxed academically and behaviorally, and it provides a greater focus," said Executive Director Mark Carlson.
Custom designing the routine to fit each child's needs and abilities, Underwood said she noticed a change in the students' behavior and flexibility.
"The routine is based off of a power yoga program for kids," Underwood said. "Many of the kids have spinal immobility, so we do a lot of strengthener exercises."
Surrounded by eight of his friends, Seth, 18, balanced on one knee, a look of concentration on his face.
Seth cannot speak, nor can he use sign language; he uses a voice output system to speak in class.
Billert helped Seth balance as the sound of calm music, and Underwood's voice encouraged the students to hold the position, no matter how difficult.
Five of the children in the class are deaf. Some have physical disabilities, while others face developmental challenges.
"In this class, only about three of the students will go on to lead independent lives," Carlson said.
After the 30-minute session was over, the students that were capable helped put away the mats and left the gym energetically, ready for their day of classes.
"Some of the kids go home and show their parents what they've learned and then come in the next day having practiced the movement all night long," Underwood said.
Underwood said she hopes the already-successful pilot program will set the tone for other schools' physical therapy programs.
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