Yoga for Different Stages of Speech-Language Development 45Hardy (2015), as well as other parents (e.g. Betts and Betts 2006),
have written books about the benefit of yoga for children with
developmental disabilities. These resources are rich in anecdotal
evidence of the benefits of yoga for children with unique
challenges. Of note, expert opinion is considered part of evidence-
based practice (Rich 2005).
In addition, several researchers have published articles
about the use of yoga with special populations. Galantino et al.
(2008) reviewed case-control, pilot, cohort, and randomized
controlled studies to investigate yoga as an exercise intervention
for children, including those diagnosed with attention deficit/
hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). They found that using yoga
with children as a complementary mind-body therapy produces
physiological benefits during the rehabilitation process, but
larger clinical trials with specific measures of quality of life
are needed to provide conclusive evidence. Birdee et al. (2009)
conducted a systematic review across pediatric and young adult
populations. These investigators found that the majority of the
studies revealed positive effects regarding children’s physical
fitness, cardiorespiratory functioning, mental health, behavior,
and overall development from yoga. However, the evidence must
be considered preliminary due to the methodological limitations
of the reviewed studies. Serwacki and Cook-Cottone (2012) also
conducted a systematic review of yoga-based interventions for
various typically developing and disordered pediatric populations,
including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual
disabilities, learning impairments, and emotional disturbances.
While more rigorous research designs are needed, school-based
yoga programs seem beneficial for children in various ways, which
include reduced stress, increased social confidence, and improved
attention. Koenig et al. (2012) used an experimental pretest-
posttest control group design to investigate the effectiveness
of the “Get Ready to Learn” classroom yoga program among