Children with special needs have various physical and mental disabilities which affect their mental attitude. They lack confidence and have a poor self-image. They develop feelings of inferiority from their awareness of their own abnormality and lack of success in all directions. They are frustrated due to the inability to do simple tasks, either unable to do it or do it with immense difficulty. Hence they are highly tense and tire easily from physical exertion. The spine is stiff, thus producing much pain, which further limits movement, imbalances co-ordination of limbs. They also have difficulty in concentration.
Practice of Hatha Yoga begins by working with the body on a structural level, helping to align the spinal column, increase flexibility, and strengthen muscles, while internal organs are toned and rejuvenated; the digestive, lymphatic, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems are purified of toxins and waste matter; the nervous and endocrine systems are normalised and balanced and brain cells are nourished and refreshed. The end result is increased mental clarity, emotional stability and a greater sense of overall well-being.
The children with disabilities who practice Yoga often surprise everyone with their quick mastery of various yoga techniques as well as tremendous improvement of basic motor, communicative and cognitive skills; they develop greater concentration, balance and control in their day to day activities. Yoga is beneficial to all but the only requirement is proper instruction and regular dedicated practice. It is highly recommended that the parents of the special children also enrol in with their children to experience the effects of Yoga for themselves. It also helps create better bonding and understanding between the parent and the child with special needs. We never really know what the outcome might be but we do know that yoga helps to recreate, refine and redefine the child, which lays foundation for positive improvement.
BENEFITS OF YOGA FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN
● Yoga helps coordinate the activities of mind, body and emotions
● Reduces distracted state of mind thereby building up focus and concentration
● Improves activities of day today living to the degree which could never otherwise be achieved
● Improves one’s ability and helps one to rely on their own selves making them independent
● Helps develop social relationships, and reduces frequency of violent emotional upsets
● Reduces the negative traits and tendency to cause injuries to self and others
● Develops a positive outlook improving self-confidence, self-sufficiency and sociability
● Improves interpersonal relationships
● Improves their loco motor skills and psycho-motor coordination
● Reduces obesity
● Controls drooling
● Helps in disappearance of facial tics
● enhanced eye-hand coordination
● improved attention span
● Reduces hyperactivity
● Improves appetite and sleep
● Improves overall health
● Increases immunity
● Reduces aggression
● Reduces dependency of drugs
● Increases the efficiency of the nervous system and thus helps in their rehabilitation.
The practice of Asanas followed by deep relaxation can help significantly promote proper muscle tone, which is characteristic of most children with cerebral palsy. Holding in an Asana gives the muscles and tendons a relaxing stretch, releasing overall stress and tightness throughout the musculature and around the joints. In fact the most important aspect of Asana practice for children with cerebral palsy is its ability to stretch and realign the spine. This systematic series of forward and backward bending postures complimenting each other helps to stretch the vertebrae and reduce pressure on the inter-vertebral disks and nerves that radiate out of the spine reducing muscular tension throughout the body and enhances overall nerve function. As a result, the child is able to develop a greater range of movement and coordination as well as greater independence.
Children with Down’s syndrome are shorter than average, with truncated limbs, crossed eyes and hypotonia (low muscle tone). Motor development is slow; they are more susceptible to certain medical problems including congenital heart defects, are susceptible to infections and have respiratory problems. Majority of children with Down’s syndrome fall in the mild to moderate range of mental retardation. Yoga practice facilitates the development of body awareness, concentration and memory, provides vital skills for any child with a developmental disability.
The first step in teaching Yoga to an autistic child is to establish a strong bond. The teacher must stoop down to the level of the child, gain the child’s complete confidence, gradually develop mutual trust and friendship and later introduce some of the practices such as asanas and pranayama that will help to bring the child with autism out of his or her shell and into the world of social interaction.
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) have learning delays due to their hyperactivity and distractibility. They develop more resilience through the ability to self-regulate, reduce stress and anxiety; balance themselves and learn how to relax, release tension and frustration through the various techniques of yoga. Yoga provides the perfect platform to build vital skills.