Yoga & Autism

1. Yoga & Autism By: Lindsay Harris February 15, 2011

2. Autism • Delay of spoken language • Repetitive mannerisms • Dec. eye contact • Dec. peer relationships • Less spontaneous/make believe play • Motor delays ( Coordination & body awareness) • Dec. Sensory processing • Dec. attention • Dec. imitation skills

3. Yoga Therapy • Repetition, structure, continuity • Asanas- body posture • Pranayama-breathing exercises • Cleansing practices • Music and sound therapy • Deep relaxation • Yoga for the Special Child certification

4. How does it help? • Deep breathing and body movements improve body’s circulation causing a release of tension • Parasympathetic causes dec HR and anxiety, calming, concentration, and emotional balance • Regime helps with social and cognitive aspects • Stress slows hippocampus neural growth which is associated with memory- Stimulation exercise can increase hippocampus cells causing more focus • Combining speech and motor

5. The Research • Case studies: look at observations from parents and in class • Ages 8-14 yrs, 15-20 hrs weekly x 82 weeks • Ages 8-14 yrs, 10 months • Limited

6. What does yoga help? • Increased attention • Sensory integration improvements • Increased verbal receptivity • Turn taking • Body awareness and proximity • Relaxation • Improved imitation verbal and physical • Increased social behaviors • Eye contact

7. Other Populations • ADHD • Down Syndrome • Cerebral Palsy • Microcephaly • Learning disabilities • Motor development disabilities

8. How/When do implement? • Separate sessions • Small groups • Classroom activity • Use before story time or other calm times

9. Conclusion • More research is needed • Small group sessions most effective • Use exercises to calm kids • Can help with sensory integration, behavior, cognition, and motor tasks

10. Exercises • “Jumping up and down like a shooting rocket” • Use animal or objects in nature (frog, downward dog, bridge)- make ribbet noises

11. Exercises cont. • Mountain pose • Moon pose • Triangle pose • Warrior pose • Tree pose

12. Calming exercises • Cross legged pose • Corpse pose • Crocodile pose

13. Chanting/ Breathing • AAAA • UUU • MMM • OMM • Blowing exercises • Proper breathing • Deep breathing

14. References • Behar, M. (2006). Yoga Therapy for Autistic Children. Yoga Therapy in Practice , 18-20. • Binzen, M. (2010, April). Retrieved February 11, 2011, from Sensory Integration and How Yoga Helps: www.yogachicago.com • Davis, J. (2009). Yoga for the Special Child: Working With Autism. Yoga Therapy Today , 23-26. • Ghosh, S. (2009). Do Alternative Therapies have a Role in Autism? Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences , 1-5. • Orr, K. (2009). Svaroopa Yoga THerpay for Children with Asperger's Syndrome. Yoga Therapy Today , 27-30. • Peck, H. T. (2005). Yoga as an Intervention for Children with Attention Problems. School Psychology Review , 415-424. • Radhakrishna, S. (2010). Application of integrated yoga therapy to increase imitation skills in children with autism spectrum disorder. Internation Journal of Yoga , 26-30. • ShanthaRadhakrishna, R. N. (2010). Integrated approach to yoga therapy and autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine , 120-124. • Yoga For the Special Child. (2011). Retrieved February 11, 2011, from http://www.specialyoga.com/