AUTISTIC KIDS

TREE POSE

SUnlike in the past when children with special needs had limited interactions with society and were confined to a world of their own, today there are a number of institutions with state-of-the-art facilities to help them. However, parents of special kids, who leave no stone unturned to ensure that their children are not left behind, are still facing many challenges. Over the past few years, yoga has been getting wide acceptance as a therapy for kids with autism or autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Autism refers to a broad range of conditions characterised by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication. It is claimed that yoga can help kids cope with many of these conditions.

INTEGRATED APPROACH TO AUTISM

This method looks into the effect of postures, breathing, music, aromatherapy oils, and use of props such as bolsters and mirrors to help establish a greater sense of self control and focus, and to imbibe skills to deal with conditions that are stressful for children with autism. As part of this, postures to help them calm down, self soothe and also to deal with excess energy are practised. The following postures help the child find balance and develop focus, but they need to be carried out systematically. Ideally, do the postures in front of a mirror so that they can develop a greater sense of self. Repeat the three postures three times, and on both sides if possible. Do try to teach them regulated breathing; it greatly helps them calm down. Once comfortable, encourage them to do various facial expressions looking at the mirror in the pose. Wind the session up with shavasana followed by short meditation. Use various textured cloth and materials during the practice so that they develop tactile sensitivity. Above all, keep the session fun and engaging, so it becomes a safe space that the children yearn for. few inches tand tall, feet a body apart. Shift your leg. Bend weight to the left the right the right knee, clasp the right sole ankle and place thigh. Inhale on your left inner up. With and lift your arms lengthen the palms together the right spine. Ensure that the knee is in line with hip and is not pushing forward. Stay and develop focus. with Repeat the pose the other leg.

DOWN DOG POSE

Begin on your hand and knees like in the Cat Pose. Exhale and lift your knees off move your the floor. You may to the back feet a few inches

Feet are kept for greater ease. Attempt to a few inches apart. to the floor. bring your heels let the Soften the shoulders, head dangle neck relax and breathe in this down. Stay and like an inverted pose that looks letter V.

CORPSE POSE WITH BUZZING BREATH

back ie down on your slightly —legs apart, arms body. away from the but Keep pelvis relaxed floor, shoulders pressing into the and pressing spread out and head into the floor. Neck and not should be aligned

Bend the tilted in anyways. inhalation. arms. Take a deep on Place the thumbs them gently, the ears to close eye lids, index on the the nostrils, middle fingers on on the last two fingers out, hum lips. As you breathe of a and create the sound as long as bumble bee for the fingers you can. Release to inhale comfortably.

10 time Repeat it five to

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