Finding the Balance: Theraputic Yoga

by Jennifer Hewitt, OTR/L

Therapeutic yoga classes for special needs children are growing in popularity. As a parent, however, how do you know if such a class can help your child? What types of benefits are realistic to expect from therapeutic yoga? And, how do you find the right program with qualified instructors at an affordable price?

Children with learning challenges and motor skills deficits can realize several benefits from therapeutic yoga, including increased strength, flexibility, coordination, balance and concentration. Therapeutic yoga can also promote improved posture, trunk/pelvic stability, body awareness, sequencing, respiration, self-esteem and relaxation. These benefits are vital for a child with learning difficulties whose problems often stem from weaknesses in one or more of these areas.

Though yoga is primarily a therapy intended to address all aspects of a child’s development, it also can be adapted to target specific aspects of learning challenges. For example, children with learning disabilities might benefit from practicing the yogic eye exercises. By stimulating various brain centers and strengthening the optic nerve, the exercises can improve the eyes’ ability to focus and, in turn, enhance word recognition skills. In addition to learning disabilities, the most common diagnoses where therapeutic yoga is considered beneficial are attention deficit disorders, coordination disorders, cerebral palsy, brain injuries, sensory integration disorder, high-functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome, developmental delays and anxiety disorders.

Why Yoga?
Beginning with a basic definition can help foster a better understanding of how yoga can be used as a form of therapy. As described by the Kansas State University Women’s Center, yoga is a system of physical motions that is believed to create a sense of both physical and mental well being. The term yoga means, “to unite or join.” This reference pertains to the joining of the mind, body and spirit. Originated in India, yoga has been practiced for thousands of years. Yoga’s roots are based in Hinduism but, contrary to some misconceptions, yoga is not a religion. In Western culture, yoga refers to a discipline of physical exercises.

In the United States, yoga is generally practiced for preventive medicine, exercise and stress relief. There are many forms of yoga but this article will focus on Hatha yoga, the type most commonly used for the children with special needs. Recently, the terms “therapeutic yoga” or “yoga as a therapeutic modality” have been used to refer to yoga targeting specific disabilities in children with special needs or to yoga aimed at restoring and regaining abilities lost by aging and the disease process.

Numerous studies on the use of yoga for people with various ailments cover a multitude of areas including sufferers of multiple sclerosis, chronic back pain, asthma and cancer. New evidence-based research studies are now being completed by occupational therapists and doctors with positive preliminary outcomes, however the official results are still pending. Study participants are reporting improvements such as increased energy levels, more restful sleep and an overall increase in strength and endurance. Separate studies were completed on the effects of deep breathing, exercise and relaxation with similar positive outcomes.

As with any exercise or therapy, precautions and adaptations are necessary to avoid complications or possible injuries. When considering therapeutic yoga for a child with special needs, it is important that the instructor, whether it is the parent or a licensed therapist, has been specifically trained. One of the most well-known courses was developed and taught by Sonia Sumar, author of Yoga for the Special Child. Sumar is a long-time yoga practitioner as well as the mother of a child with special needs. She offers a certification program for therapists, yoga instructors and family members of special needs children. While there are other less lengthy classes available for therapists, Sumar is currently the only instructor offering a teaching certification specifically in yoga for children with special needs.

The Elements of Therapeutic Yoga
The following descriptions of the techniques used in therapeutic yoga represent a combination of Sumar’s program and occupational therapy practices. A typical therapy-based yoga program for children with special needs should consist minimally of four areas:

Breathing with sound—The children take a deep breath and while exhaling they say, “OM.” This allows the therapist/instructor to hear how long and deep the breath was. The “O” sound allows an open mouth posture. Conversely, the “M” sound permits the mouth/lips to close. After hearing each other breathe, the children are quick to encourage each other to take a deeper breath the next time. They eagerly try to make a sound longer than the previous time. This, in turn, allows for a therapeutic deep breathing exercise that can serve to improve concentration, reduce hyperactivity and enhance speech development.
Music therapy combined with movement—Each group member creates a series of coordinated hand-clapping movements using a variety of sounds. The group then repeats the series the fellow member invented. This exercise combines listening and focusing skills while enabling the children to work on speech sounds, turn taking, motor planning and coordination.
Physical poses/asanas (yogic postures)—The Hatha yoga poses implemented include positions that increase flexibility, strength, balance and posture in all areas of the body. These poses can be adapted according to the child’s abilities. The therapist will assess the correct level of difficulty to design a program utilizing the appropriate poses. The child will feel encouraged as he is able to see his own progress. The series of poses known as the sun salutation enables children to improve on skills in sequencing and following higher-level directions.
Relaxation—Relaxation is typically the last phase in therapeutic yoga. As the children lie on their mats and listen to the instructor’s voice, she helps them focus on and relax each body part. This aspect of yoga builds body awareness, aids in relaxation and decreases anxiety levels.

Finding the Right Class
The costs of therapeutic yoga classes for children with special needs vary. Yoga as a form of therapy is relatively new, and this makes it difficult to find qualified therapist/instructors which, in turn, can influence cost. Classes taught by an occupational or physical therapist might be covered by insurance. Some private therapists, however, might bill from $20 to more than $100 per session. The price for classes taught by a regular yoga instructor with the special child certification tends to range from $15 to $25 per session. These variances in cost, coupled with the difficulty of finding certified therapists/instructors, are perhaps the biggest drawbacks to therapeutic yoga for children. Parents should weigh the cost of therapy against the benefits when deciding whether to pursue therapeutic yoga for their child.
While therapeutic yoga is still being researched for children with special needs, the majority of practitioners who have used it consider it effective. Therapeutic yoga for children can improve a wide range of disabilities and is easily adapted for children with all levels of ability.
Therapeutic yoga should not be used as a replacement for traditional therapies recommended by a physician or therapist. Consult with a physician before beginning any new therapeutic program for a child. With that said, when attempting to reach goals such as increasing strength, flexibility, concentration and body awareness, yoga can prove to be an invaluable tool.

Jennifer Hewitt is a doctor of occupational therapy and is certified in Yoga for the Special Child. She can be reached by email at jennatlanta@yahoo.com.

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