ADHD is a common behavioral disorder
in school age children; kids with ADHD may act
without thinking, be hyperactive
and have trouble focusing. Yoga is a healthy way for children to begin to feel
more calm and comfortable in their bodies; it boosts concentration and focus
while reducing impulsivity and hyperactivity.
The Top 3 Benefits of Yoga for
Kids with ADHD:
1. Sharper
concentration and focus
2. Sense
of calmness and relaxation
3. Less
impulsive behavior through increased body awareness and self-confidence
How
does yoga sharpen focus and concentration for kids with ADHD?
Yoga utilizes breathing and mindfulness exercises that keep
distracting thoughts at bay, thus calming the mind and body; as such, kids
learn to direct their attention to their body, posture and/or breath. For
example, it takes a lot of concentration for children to hold Tree pose. They must practice balancing on one leg while
working on their breathing. This focus
then translates beyond their yoga practice to when they perform their day to
day activities. Further, kids need to use eye contact to maintain
balance during yoga, and this in turn helps them to tune out distractions
throughout their daily routines.
How
does yoga calm down kids?
Practicing stillness in yoga poses helps
children with ADHD to stay calm and slow down. This helps them to be successful,
not only during yoga, but also in their daily lives. The routine of yoga itself can
be calming to children, especially when they practice the same poses and become
confident doing them. In addition, yoga is a combination of breath and
movement. By teaching kids to breathe in and out through their nose while
practicing yoga poses, they learn how to calm themselves down by focusing on
their breath. Nasal breathing reduces stress as the nose is smaller than the
mouth and thus is a slower form of breathing than shallow mouth breathing. Also, breathing
in and out through the nose increases the oxygen supply to the lungs. Yoga teaches children how to control their energy
as well as how to relax, concentrate
and be quiet and still. (with the added benefit of better performance in
school)
How
does yoga reduce impulsive behavior in children with ADHD?
When children
concentrate on their breath or feel a stretch in their bodies through
practicing a particular yoga pose, they learn body awareness. This is turn helps them to self-regulate
their actions. In addition, by learning self-control and self-calming
techniques, kids are more likely to grow more confident in their interactions
with other children and get along better with others. Yoga teaches children to
focus on themselves, and this skill can go a long way to curbing impulsive and
overly active behaviors.
