Most children take stimulant medication like Ritalin to manage
their attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. But just because
prescription drugs are the most widely-used treatment option for ADHD,
this does not necessarily mean it is the best treatment. In previous
articles, we have talked about how ADHD medication benefits only a small
percentage of children, and how these improvements last only a short
period of time. Instead of depending on medication as a quick fix to
this complex disorder, your child might recover from ADHD completely
through natural mind/body approaches.
As part of a holistic
treatment plan, yoga is known to help children with ADHD overcome their
inattentive and hyperactive tendencies. Yoga makes use of physical
postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayamas), and deep
relaxation exercises to calm the minds of children and strengthen their
nervous systems. Yoga's spiritual component also promotes greater
internal awareness, which helps the child control impulses and learn to
focus - two things that children with ADHD have difficulty doing.
A
number of researchers have devoted their time to studying how yoga can
help reduce ADHD symptoms in children. When the whole body is involved
in physical activity, brain functioning drastically improves, because it
receives neuronal stimulation from the postural muscles. Certain
routines like the Sun Salutation are designed to stimulate both sides of
the brain, to facilitate efficient learning and assist brain
integration. The physical demands of the practice also serve as an
excellent outlet for pent-up energy, especially for children with ADHD
Hyperactive Type. At the same time, the slow pace teaches children how
to exert control and focus on the task at hand.
Aside from the
exercise, the structure of the yoga class itself instills discipline and
focus in a calm, non-competitive environment. A typical yoga class for
ADHD children begins with arranging the mat space and performing
breathing exercises to warm up. Afterwards, children perform asanas
designed to improve coordination and balance, which helps them control
their thoughts and direct their attention to relevant stimuli. The
calming atmosphere of the yoga studio also decreases the number of
stress hormones, which are known to aggravate ADHD.
What makes
yoga a particularly helpful treatment is that the qualities learned can
be used in practical, everyday situations. Learning to control impulse
and attention alone will increase your child's academic performance and
enable them to harness their potentials. Yoga will also teach your child
to listen to the instructor and follow directions instead of running
off before instructions are given. In other words, yoga can correct
certain behaviors characteristic of ADHD as it rehabilitates the body
and mind.
Although the benefits of yoga will not show up
immediately, the changes that will occur are profound and will last
forever. Of course, yoga alone cannot treat ADHD. For your child to
benefit from yoga, it should be part of a comprehensive treatment
program that includes healthy meals, a toxin-free environment, and other
therapeutic approaches designed to treat ADHD naturally.
