Can Yoga Help Children With Autism?

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Anybody who has a child with autism knows how challenging it can be. Even keeping eye contact is difficult, since autistic children generally don’t want to make eye contact, let alone keep it, or are simply unable to do so. They often have difficulty processing sensory information, so unwarranted changes to their routine are likely to cause heightened feelings of anxiety and fear, which can even present as physical pain. And engaging in any rewarding interaction with these children can be very challenging, to say the least.

It’s good news therefore that there’s exciting evidence that yoga might prove to be a useful therapy for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Yoga focuses on connecting mind and body and this helps develop the sensory system, bringing it to a more normal state.

autistic girl
An autistic girl in a peaceful yoga pose

Research on the subject is still sparse, but there are a few promising studies worth mentioning. One of these, published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, concerned the effects of yoga therapy on children between the ages of 8 and 14 over a two month period. One group was given daily yoga sessions during this period and, in contrast to the control group, showed positive changes in various areas, including social interaction, emotional sensitivity and awareness, and the ability to self-regulate. The feedback from parents was positive also, with the children showing improved eye contact and verbal communication at home, which made interacting with other family members easier.

During each yoga session every care was taken to make sure the children felt safe, a prerequisite for relaxation, and they each had their own personal training mat, which helped enormously in creating a ‘safe space’ for each child.