Yoga For Kids With Special Needs

A yoga practice for children with special needs can be an encouraging and safe environment and may also ease symptoms associated with particular disorders. Finding a special needs--specific class or teaching your child at home can be effective ways to stabilize your special child. As with any new exercise program, consult your doctor first.

ADD

A yoga practice may relieve the symptoms of attention deficit disorder, or ADD, but only if practiced regularly. Poses like headstand and supported shoulder stand are beneficial to children suffering from ADD, because the poses calm the nervous system and help curb hyperactivity. Guided meditation may also be an effective treatment for children with ADD.

Down Syndrome

Yoga can help children with down syndrome by stimulating mental and physical abilities. Low muscle tone is a common characteristic for people with down syndrome, so choosing poses that strengthen muscles will be beneficial. Teaching the child poses like mountain, tree and warrior poses will strengthen the muscles surrounding the joints and ligaments and can be fun and playful poses for the child.

Autism

For children with autism, it is important for the teacher and child to bond slowly. Once the relationship has developed, the teacher can introduce breathing exercises and yoga postures that help bring the child out of her shell. The breathing exercise lion's breath is performed using a forceful exhale through the mouth while sticking the tongue out. This exercise is helpful in treating anxiety, and children find it fun.

Learning Disabilities

The Urdhva mukha paschimottanasana position is an upside down version of a seated forward bend. It calms and stabilizes the mind and can be helpful to children suffering from learning disabilities. Here's how to do it: While lying on your back with your head on the floor, stretch both legs up toward the ceiling. Stretch the arms above the head and slowly bring the feet to the hands. Hold for 30 seconds.