Yoga Therapy

Highly Individualized Sessions

Children’s yoga can be considered therapeutic as it:

• increases a child’s strength and flexibility
• improves balance
• improves concentration
• improves general body awareness
• increases self-confidence
• helps create a child’s connection within himself and with his environment.

Yoga therapy uses the tools of children’s yoga, but each session is highly individualized toward a child or a group of children, and goals are brought to each session.

Yoga therapy teaches children of different abilities how to control their bodies, how to breathe, and how to relax. It provides them with tools for success and to develop opportunities for independence. A few of the different abilities that yoga therapy has been known to benefit:  physical disabilities, Down Syndrome, Emotional Behavior Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Yoga therapy “. . .  helps students change their relationship to and identification with their condition.”  (Louise Goldberg)

Training of a Yoga Therapist

A yoga therapist must have extensive training in the anatomy and physiology of various disabilities and how to assist differently abled children with postures, breathing techniques and relaxation that will engage their energy safely and comfortably toward a desired goal. Before beginning yoga therapy, the therapist observes each child, reviews her medical record and speaks with parents before determining an appropriate method of instruction. The process rather than the outcome measures a child’s success in yoga therapy.

Yoga therapy offers children with autism and special needs opportunities for growth development and peace.

Goals in yoga therapy may include:

• reducing or managing symptoms that cause suffering
• improving function
• helping to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of underlying causes of illness

The benefits of yoga therapy for children:

• Stress relief and relaxation
• Energizing
• Mindfulness
• Connection with others in a natural setting
• Social interaction thru play
• Speech and language development
• Self-esteem
• Connection with the therapist
• Strength
• Flexibility
• Balance
• Sensory processing
• Proprioception
• Vestibular sense
• Sensory awareness through touch pressure
• Gravitational security

“Yoga is about connections:  connecting breath with movement, body with mind and even mind with spirit.  These connections created are why yoga is such a powerful tool to reach children with different abilities.”   (Louise Goldberg)