How to Use Yoga With Special Needs Kids

Yoga therapy can be used to help children with autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and other special needs, according to Amy Iverson, a licensed teacher of "Yoga for the Special Child." Yoga teaches children to cultivate a sense of awareness of their own bodies, mental and emotional states. This awareness can help special needs children to navigate the daily challenges in their lives. Yoga is also helpful in elevating self-confidence, as children set and conquer physical goals for themselves through the yoga asanas (physical postures). Breath work and meditation help to still the active minds of children and give them something to focus their energy on.

Things You'll Need

  • Yoga mats
  • Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
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Instructions

    • 1

      Before beginning the yoga lesson, gauge the emotional climate of the special needs child you are working with. Is she showing any signs of irritability, unhappiness, lethargy, etc? In order to proceed with the lesson, it is important to gather information about the child's state of being. You might start a lesson with an irritable, fidgety child by moving straight to physical exercises to release excess tension before moving on to more relaxing breath or mantra work.

    • 2

      Create a lesson plan which is tailored around the special needs child's own physical and emotional limitations. A good lesson plan includes asanas which are slightly challenging, but not overwhelmingly so. Although it is great to have lesson plan before teaching, don't feel the need to stick to it rigidly and allow room for intuitive teaching and deviation.

    • 3

      Teach each asana in manageable steps and do not pile too much information on the student. Breaking each pose down into small steps allows the child to build their self-confidence through achievable goals. Too much information could potentially overwhelm the child and cause irritability or discomfort.

    • 4

      Teach breathing work, especially nostril breathing. Breath work helps to teach children to become sensitive to their own bodily rhythms. Breath work is the cornerstone of the yoga practice and at least 1/5 of the yoga practice should be dedicated to focusing on breathing. Breath work can be combined with counting the breath and mantras (short phrases repeated while breathing such as "I am peaceful.")

    • 5

      End every yoga class with Savasana (Lying Relaxation Pose). Have the student lie on their back and place their arms by the sides of the body, or on their abdomen to feel the rise and fall of the breath. It can be useful here to play soothing music, or guide her through a full body mediation, concentrating on relaxing every part of the body.