Yoga and Autism

Autism is a neurological disorder with no known cause that affects a person's communication and social skills.  It is a spectrum disorder with mild autism (Asperger's Syndrome) on the high end.  Autism is a disability that presents differently in each person who has it, and the incidence of this disorder is thought to be about 1 in every 150 children.  People with autism often have difficulty interacting with others and have issues with communicating.  Some people may present as non-verbal.  People with autism often also have sensory integration issues, where they may be hyper- or hypo-sensitive to things such as sounds, tastes, textures, and lights.  They also thrive on routines and schedules, and any variation from a daily routine may cause anxiety or a meltdown for a person with autism.

If you google "autism therapy" there are literally hundreds of different therapies and treatments people have used to treat autism.  There is no "cure" for autism as it is - just management of symptoms.  Early intervention (beginning treatment as early as possible with a child who is presenting on the autism spectrum) is appearing to be an effective treatment that could help reduce symptoms.

I am currently working on yoga therapy with children with autism.  Yoga is a calming practice, and teaching kids with autism breathing techniques can offer them an effective way to deal with stress in other environments.  Yoga can also help someone with body awareness - kids with autism may have trouble controlling their bodies and identifying different sensations in their own bodies such as hunger or pain.  Yoga can help increase awareness of what is being felt (knowing how to deep to go in a pose or stretch before you start to feel pain) and can also help a student increase awareness of how their body moves, by moving between left, right, and center, and balancing on different parts of the body.

In my current yoga therapy group, I include parents and siblings.  Being a part of a family that includes someone with a disability can be a very difficult thing.  Yoga offers a time for families to bond and do an enjoyable, stress-free activity together.  Parents and siblings also learn valuable breathing and stress-relief techniques, and can work on these at home as a family.

I am lucky to be working with Touchstone Behavioral Health's Family-Centered Autism Program.  We just started our 8-week family yoga group.  If you are interested in the services Touchstone offers, visit their website.

Why Kids Yoga?

Yoga is an ancient practice that is quickly becoming a mainstream activity.  There is a lot of research out there about the benefits of yoga – reduced stress, lowered blood pressure, lower body weight, higher self-esteem, and greater flexibility and strength. All of these things make yoga a very desirable activity for adults.  There are so many types of yoga, from a basics class to a power class to a restorative class, that there really is an option out there for everyone.

More recently, it’s become clear that all of the benefits an adult can receive from yoga would also be beneficial to kids.  Child obesity is on the rise, and a sedentary lifestyle could definitely contribute to this.  Many children don’t enjoy team sports, or aren’t the most athletic or flexible, so they simply choose not to exercise.  Yoga is a non-competitive activity that gets kids up and moving while still allowing them to shine to their greatest potential.  The child who may not be the fastest runner may be able to hold tree pose far longer than his classmates, and this could give a wonderful boost to the child’s self-esteem.

Kids yoga is meant to be FUN! Most kids classes incorporate games, stories, and songs with yoga poses to make the class engaging and interactive.  Breathing and meditation exercises are also included to introduce the more grounding, calming effects of yoga.

If you are interested in introducing yoga to your child, I teach a fun kids yoga class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30-5:45 at Blissful Yoga Studio Arrowhead.  I also offer private and family lessons.  What better way to get some bonding time with your child and learn more about yoga?  Contact me if you would like more information!