There’s no denying that the Eastern practice of yoga has
taken the West by storm. Depending upon where you live, you might find a yoga
studio on every other corner. Many studios now offer yoga classes for children
and adults with a variety of special needs. We’ve compiled some information about
yoga, its many benefits, as well as some resources so that you and your child
can access the practice.
What
is yoga?
While
there are many types of yoga, Hatha yoga is most widely practiced in the U.S.
According to the National Center on Health, Physical Activity
and Disability (NCHPD) Hatha Yoga “emphasizes body-mind wellness through postures or asanas which tone and strengthen our
muscles and increase our flexibility.” And good news—regardless of the degree
of physical, developmental and/or cognitive disability, almost everyone can
benefit from the 5,000-year-old practice.
Just
ask Matthew Sanford.
Sanford, an author,
yoga instructor, inspirational speaker and founder of the nonprofit, Mind/Body
Solutions, was paralyzed from the chest down after
an automobile accident at age 13. He discovered yoga 12 years later and the
practice was life changing for him. Nowadays, Sanford helps people with and
without disabilities to experience the transformative effects of yoga.
What
are the benefits of yoga for those with physical disabilities?
Many! According to Sanford, yoga practitioners can
expect to enjoy “increased strength, balance, mental and physical flexibility,
improvements in the quality of their breathing, a sense of lightness and freedom
within their bodies, an increased ability to manage stress, a deepened sense of
wholeness and connection with others and the discovery of a subtle level of mind-body sensation that is not
impeded by disability.”
3 What
are the benefits of yoga for children and adults with autism?
Scott
Anderson, founder of Yogautism, teaches
a specially designed yoga program for people with autism spectrum disorders.
Anderson has found that in time, practitioners on the autism spectrum not only become
stronger and more agile, but are also likely to benefit from a reduction in ASD
symptoms such as pain, aggression, anxiety
and obsessive and self-stimulatory behaviors. Additionally, says Anderson, many
of his students develop an increased ability to regulate their emotions.
Does
yoga have special benefits for children and adults with Down syndrome?
Yes! Yoga poses strengthen the low muscle tone
common to those with Down syndrome while the breath work fundamental to yoga may
improve heart and lung function countering pulmonary hypertension. Poses such as
twists and abdominal exercises are believed to benefit digestion and bridge poses
and shoulder stands may improve thyroid function.
Where
can I find a class, practitioner or more information about yoga?
Yoga Programs
·
http://www.matthewsanford.com/content/teaching-yoga?phpMyAdmin=4qrRaMSfaJdSKnrro9UtvUEcrT1
·
http://www.everykidsyoga.com/about-us/
Books
on yoga for special needs
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