Internet Special Education Resources
Special Education & Learning Disabilities Resources: A Nationwide Directory

How Yoga can Benefit Children With Special Needs

by Stanley Clark

Find the Right Therapeutic Options for Your Child with LD across the United States now

Children with special needs undergo all sorts of therapy and treatments to cope with socioeconomic, cognitive, and behavioral challenges. Like yoga, physical activities may benefit the children's behavioral health, motor skills, and emotional outlook.

Yoga incorporates breathing exercises, meditation techniques, physical posture improvements, and some of the best alternatives for promoting calm, relaxation, and self-regulation among children with special needs.

Consistent yoga practice is known to enhance the well-being and health of children(1). A study cites that yoga practice helps children academically and is a potential alternative intervention method for students with special needs(2).

How Yoga Helps With Children With Special Needs

Some beneficial skills that children with special needs can learn from practicing yoga are coping mechanisms in response to stress, anxiety, and tension.

Generally, yoga aims to build the harmony of the mind and body and enhance strength and awareness(3). Its advantages include improvements in your mental and physical health.

    Mental Benefits of Yoga

  • Manages stress by promoting calmness and mental clarity
  • Sharpens concentration
  • Centers attention
  • Relaxes the mind

    Physical Benefits of Yoga

  • Helps in reducing weight
  • Increases flexibility
  • Increases muscle strength
  • Improves respiration
  • Improves vitality and energy
  • Maintains balanced metabolism

A national conference held in India on the benefits of incorporating yoga into the lives of children with special needs cited various ways of how yoga positively affects these kids.

The conference paper mentioned how yoga helps improve the situation of some children with special needs(4) .

It also covered these topics:

  • Yoga for Children With ADHD:

    Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by a short attention span, impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, and trouble focusing on a task. Children with ADHD who practice yoga may experience improved focus and concentration(5). Breathing exercises can also promote peace and relaxation.


  • Yoga for Children With Autism:

    Yoga may contribute to better sleep and concentration in children with autism(6). Doing yoga is known to calm and neutralize the nervous system. It may also support the child's sensitivity to the external world(7).


  • Yoga for Children With Down Syndrome:

    Children with Down syndrome experience weak internal systems because of their genetic build-up. Practicing yoga can enhance these vital body systems. Yoga improves these children's respiratory system, balance, strength, and coordination. Continuous yoga practice also boosts their central nervous system by enhancing their memory, concentration, and body awareness.

Yoga Practices to Start With:

Breathing exercises are an excellent way to introduce yoga to children with special needs. You can teach them to do simple, deep breathing exercises and gradually introduce other breathing forms, such as bubble breathing and back-to-back breathing.

Bubble breathing involves sitting comfortably with your eyes closed and imagining that you are blowing bubbles as you slowly breathe in and out.

Meanwhile, back-to-back breathing exercises are done with a partner who sits with their back against yours. During this breathing exercise, you should feel the expansion of your partner's back and gradually try to synchronize your breathing with theirs.

You can also introduce simple yoga poses that may improve the posture of children with special needs. This practice can help enhance their concentration, improve their blood flow, and boost their confidence.

References

  1. Mochan, M., (December 2017), The Benefits of Teaching Yoga to Young Children with Special Needs: Developing an Appropriate Methodology, retrieved from infonomics-society.org/wp-content/uploads/ijtie/published-papers/volume-6-2017/The-Benefits-of-Teaching-Yoga-to-Young-Children-with-Special-Needs.pdf.
  2. Ibid.
  3. American Osteopathic Association, (n.d.), Maintaining a regular yoga practice can provide physical and mental health benefits, retrieved from osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/benefits-of-yoga/.
  4. Balaji, R., Bhavanani, A. B., Ramanathan, M., (2019), Bringing Yoga Into the Lives of Children With Special Needs, retrieved from www.researchgate.net/publication/333852455_BRINGING_YOGA_INTO_THE_LIVES_OF_CHILDREN_WITH_SPECIAL_NEEDS.
  5. Ibid.
  6. Ibid.
  7. Ibid.
Stanley Clark is a community development volunteer and writer. He had worked on several commercials, events, and campaigns before writing full-time in the area of natural health and wellness. He has a particular interest in reviewing CBD brands for their safety and legitimacy with CBDClinicals.com. Interested in breaking the taboo about cannabis, Stanley believes in CBD's potential for helping people and communities with their health and wellness concerns.



Disclaimer: Internet Special Education Resources (ISER) provides this information in an effort to help parents find local special education professionals and resources. ISER does not recommend or endorse any particular special education referral source, special educational methodological bias, type of special education professional, or specific special education professional.