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Asanas for Autismand Special NeedsShawnee Thornton HardyM.Ed. Special EducationYA/RYT-500 hourRegistered IAYT Yoga Therapist 2014 Asanas for Autism and Special NeedsAll Rights Reserved
Population of children with Special Needsyoga can support ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)Fragile XPrader WilliDown SyndromeLearning DisabilityED (Emotionally Disturbed)ADD/ADHDSPD – Sensory Processing DisorderLandau KleffnerOHI – Other Health ImpairmentChildren with behavioral challengesLPD – Language Processing Disorder
Common features and challenges of childrenwith special needs Anxiety Difficulty with expressiveand receptive languageor LPD LanguageProcessing Disorder Difficulty regulating andexpressing emotions. Difficulty with selfregulation of their arousalstates Lack of coping skills Limited bodyawareness Sensory challenges orSPD – SensoryProcessing Disorder Limited social skills Irregular sleep patterns Digestive Problems Limited fine and grossmotor skills
Benefits of yoga for children withSpecial Needs ases Self-EsteemImproves Concentrationand FocusHand-Eye CoordinationCoping SkillsSocial SkillsIncreases strength Self-Confidence Increases language andcommunication Supports healthydigestion Increases energy Supports fine and grossmotor skills Decreases anxiety Supports more regularsleep patterns Supports healthyexpression of emotions
How to incorporate yoga for children with special needsin the classroom or after school program Pictures of poses/breathsposted in the environmentYoga word walls withpicturesLaminated yoga schedulewith removable PECSYoga thematic unit – Allabout yogaVideo of children or adultsdoing yoga (make a yogavideo)Visuals to support memoryand imagination for poses,breath-work and guidedimagery. Yoga games Chair yoga Yoga corner/relaxationspace (space in the roomfor yoga breathing andposes) Yoga emotions/breathschoice board Art projects Teach Body Parts anddirectional concepts suchas left/right and top/bottom.
Yoga poses and breath to decrease anxietyand encourage relaxation Child’s Pose (Balasana)Rock (Balasana with arms toside)Rag Doll (Uttanasana)Rolly Polly/Sponge PoseButterfly (Badha Konasana)Happy Baby (AnandaBalasana)Resting Pose (Savasana)Ujjayi (wave) breathBalloon Belly BreathingLet it Go Breath3 part BreathingAlternate Nostril Breathing
Yoga poses and breathing to calm, rejuvenateand energize the body and mind Cat/Cow pose(Marjariasana & Bitilasana)Shark pose (Salabhasana)Bridge Pose (Setu BandhaSarvangasana)Frog Pose (ArdhaBhekasana)Cobra (Snake) Pose(Bhujangasana)Sun Saluation (SuryaNamaskar)Bee breathBunny Breath
Yoga poses to increase balance, strength,focus and self-confidence Mountain Pose(Tadasana) Warrior 2(Virabhadrasana 2) Tree Pose (Vrksasana) Airplane (Dekasana) Flamingo Star pose (UtthitaTadasana Triangle pose(Trikonasana)
Breathing to support communication, self-regulationand expression of emotions such as anger and anxiety Lions Breath (releasefear/anger) Snake Breath (releasefear/worry/anger) Dragons Breath(Release anger/heat inthe body or mind) Let it Go breath(Release fear/worry) Volcano Breath(Release anger/heat inbody/mind)
Chair Yoga Seated mountainForward foldApple picking – crossmidlineHeel lift – inhale lift heels,exhale back to floorSeated twistCactus armsOpen book/close book –inhale open, exhale close.Eagle arms/Self-hugNeck RollsHook upsStretch ears Shoulder Shrugs(Inhale – “Idon’t know”, Exhale - “let itgo”)Palm stretch - fingers clasped,stretch front of palms forwardSqueeze Orange Juice inhale - open fists/exhale closed fistsCaterpillar to Butterfly- handsclasped behind neck inhaleexpand elbows/exhaleelbows together in front offaceTug of War – palms facingopposite directions, claspfingers, pull fingers in oppositedirections.
Contact MeShawnee Thornton Hardyyogabyshawnee@gmail.comWebsites: www.asanasforautismandspecialneeds.com andwww.yogabyshawnee.com*Please do not copy or distribute materials or images provided in this workshop 2014 Asanas for Autism and Special NeedsAll Rights Reserved
Yoga word walls with pictures Laminated yoga schedule with removable PECS Yoga thematic unit – All about yoga Video of children or adults doing yoga (make a yoga video) Visuals to support memory a
