Children affected by the developmental disorder autism often appear to live in their own world. Depending on the degree to which they are affected by autism, autistic children can have a range of difficulties, including limited communication skills, engaging in repetitive motions and experiencing extreme agitation by what seem like small things to other people. Some therapeutic yoga pioneers are making inroads to connecting with autistic children by using yoga to help autistic kids alter their behavior.
Autism
Autism appears during the first few years of an affected child's life. Symptoms of this developmental disorder include difficulties in communication, extreme sensitivity to sensory input and unusual attachment to routines and objects. Many more children have been diagnosed with autism in recent years, but researchers aren't sure if this is because of rising prevalence or increased diagnostic abilities. Boys are three to four times more likely to be autistic than girls. Many autistic kids prefer to be alone and dislike being touched, making teaching them yoga even more of a challenge.
Gaining Trust
If you want to teach yoga to autistic children, the first step is to establish a strong bond with the child. The teacher needs to try to see the world as the autistic child does, and to find ways to connect with them, such as through dance, music, stories or rhymes. As this bond of trust and friendship grows, the teacher can slowly introduce some simple yoga poses and breathing exercises. Let the child master the first poses before adding more. Yoga can help autistic kids improve their motor skills and body awareness.
Calming Effects
Tanya Sugarman teaches autistic children at Lincoln School in Evanston, Illinois. In an effort to connect with her students, she decided to teach them yoga. She was amazed by how well her students responded. Many of them are very emotional, frequently crying and throwing temper tantrums. But the yoga practice focuses them and calms them down. Karen Mahoney, who directs the Lincoln School's autistic program, was also impressed by the benefits of "a structured, focused activity that didn't have a judgmental right/wrong component."
Integrative Movement Therapy
In Seattle, an Ashtanga yoga teacher and speech-language pathologist named Molly Kenny has developed Integrated Movement Therapy. Kenny is using this yoga-based approach with 35 autistic kids. She blends self-calming techniques, self-esteem building, speech-language exercises and yoga postures. Depending on the day, kids could do a formal pranayama practice or play games like Red Rover with a focus on yoga poses. Kenny teaches 15 classes per week, and has seen significant improvements in the children's ability to calm themselves.
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