and yoga studios world-wide. Recently a
15-year-old boy with Asperger’s shared
how quiet his mind had become by the
end of his first yoga class. “I’ve never
felt this relaxed, ever,” he exclaimed.
Movement makes a huge impact,
because it stabilises and burns out any
excess stimulation or tension. But we
cannot put the stimulation back in
again or the effect from the yoga will
be temporary. Yoga therapy gives
children the opportunity of feeling
better physically, mentally and
emotionally through the physical
movement. It allows them to experience
calm, often for the first time.
Yoga therapy movements to choose
will be those that target gut health,
bring back function to the large intestine
and relax the upper body. This results in
children feeling more stable and
calm. Quite simply, if we
strengthen the lower body,
bring stability and security
inside, the brain calms
down. Accuracy is key,
which is why meridian-
based yoga therapy
works so well. It isolates
the part of the body that
is not functioning well and
directs our attention through
movement and breath to
bring back function.
“Almost 230,000 Australians
have been diagnosed
with ASD, which is a
crazy large number for
a disability that was once
considered rare.”Breathing exercises are the final key
ingredient when designing a strategy
for children with mental health issues,
ADD or ASD. In yoga we use the
breath to create calm, focused minds
and for children and teens the impact
is immediate. The moment breathing
exercises were introduced into a
classroom of children at a special
needs school with intellectual
disabilities, autism and ADD, a
moment of peace filled the room.The release 7-year-old Tom experienced
was instant; tears streamed down his
face as he breathed out all the pent-up
emotion he had been carrying and was
unable to process or release verbally.
This was a turning point for Tom, who
had previously been sent out of the
yoga class for disruptive behaviour.
The impact was so evident, that
Tom’s foster mum called the school
to ask what new therapy had been
introduced. When she found out it
was yoga, she wanted to keep it going
at home and contacted me. Her words
resonated, “I wish I’d known about this
years ago.”With 20 years of experience,
Loraine Rushton is a leading
authority on yoga for children
and teens.Free Downloadable Audio Book
If you have children in your family with
cognitive issues, or in your classroom
and would like further information
about how to help using yoga therapy,
breathing techniques and nutrition, visit:
http://www.zenergyyoga.com
for a free download.27
april 2018yogajournal.com.au