50 Yoga for Speech-Language Development
such as sustaining attention to an activity, following directions,
engaging in sequential tasks, and being easily distracted by
environmental stimuli. Children with hyperactivity engage
in impulsive behaviors such as fidgeting at a level that is
inconsistent with their developmental level, show difficulty
waiting for their turn, and often move during inappropriate
times. Estimates of AD/HD vary from about 5 percent
(American Psychiatric Association 2013) to 11 percent of
the pediatric population (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention 2016).Due to the rise in the number of children with these
neurodevelopmental disabilities, additional health and education
services are needed (Boyle et al. 2011). Fortunately, yoga classes for
children with special needs are becoming increasingly available.
Group yoga classes promote communication and socialization
opportunities among peers for these special populations. For
example, a child with ASD who presents with social challenges
may benefit from stretching with a peer during a group class. In
contrast, private sessions provide opportunities for one-to-one
interactions between the child and yoga instructor and are
appropriate for children with unique challenges that may not
be addressed in a group setting. These individualized classes
accommodate individual preferences, strengths, limitations, and
learning styles to help children from special populations meet
their developmental goals and improve overall functioning. For
example, a child with AD/HD who may be distracted by the use
of props and the presence of other children may benefit from
individual instruction. Families of children with developmental
disabilities and yoga teachers can form partnerships to determine
whether group or private classes are appropriate to best meet
individual needs and facilitate all areas of development (Goldberg
2013), including speech, language, and communication.