Chris Welch-- Autism & Yoga

Introduction

Yoga has been known to have almost mystical powers. In Eastern cultures, yoga is practiced in a physical and spiritual manner and is used as a means of exercise and health along with aiding in the reduction of stress. Many individuals practice yoga, including pro-athletes and unruly prisoners. The use of yoga with autistic individuals has now been proven to be beneficial for many different ways.

Autism is a condition that affects ones ability to communicate and form relationships with others. It is a condition that affects many people worldwide and doctors and scientists are still searching for a cure to the condition. There are many different levels of autism, and these variances in autism lie on what is called the autism spectrum.

This paper will address how the practice of yoga has benefitted those with autism as an extracurricular. It will discuss how Western culture has become more open to the practice of yoga and the awareness of its medical benefits. It will also address the different types of autism and how yoga aids people with autism in multiple ways.

Autism affects many people in America and throughout the world. Autism is found in approximately 1 in every 150 US births. This ratio is still increasing, and is increasing between 10 and 17 percent each year. Since the 1980s, the number of children being diagnosed with autism has increased drastically. This is “due to changes in diagnostic practice” (wikipedia.com). Scientists and doctors are researching to try and find a cure for autism especially since over the past three decades the number of children being diagnosed with autism has increased significantly. (Betts & Betts, 2006).

Autism Defined

Many people do not fully comprehend what autism really is. Many people do not understand that autism is not a mental “disability;” it is a mental condition that affects people their entire lives. It is not a condition that can be cured with medicine, and there is not only one type of autism out there.

Autism is a condition that inhibits ones ability to communicate with others in a correct and socially appropriate manner. It is identified in children before the age of 3 (Autism Society Organization). The condition makes it difficult to form relationships with others, especially those who do not understand the condition. Some autistic individuals have difficulty speaking and understanding abstract ideas.

The affects of autism vary from individual to individual. There are different types of autism with different classifications as to what makes that person autistic. The autism spectrum ranges from slightly autistic to severely autistic. Some individuals on the autism spectrum when seen out in the world can barely be identified as having the condition.

Autism is diagnosed within the first three years of a child’s life. Symptoms tend to show by the time a child reaches 18 months of age (Autism Spectrum). There are many different symptoms for autism but there are three main ones that can help identify where on the spectrum the child falls.

The first symptom is a child showing problems in communicating. Children who are showing signs of autism may have trouble acknowledging that someone is communicating with them. They may also have trouble verbalizing and have delayed speech. Children who show autistic symptoms in communication may also have issues with a lack of eye contact, pointing, and smiling (Autism Spectrum).

The second major symptom is having social problems. Children who may possibly be autistic may have difficulty with their emotions. They may be unable to share their emotions or adversely share too much. Conversing with others is also another telltale sign with autism. Children may have difficulty speaking with others and especially have difficulty carrying a conversation. Social symptoms in autistic children may also be having difficulty in understanding how other people act, think, and feel (Autism Spectrum). As a result, autistic children may do things that are socially unacceptable but they do not know it to be so.

Lastly, routine and repetitive behaviors are other symptoms or signal for autism. These behaviors are called stereotype behaviors (Autism Spectrum). Children who have such stereotype behaviors tend to repeat “words or actions, obsessively following routines or schedules, and playing in repetitive ways” (Autism Spectrum).

Autism Spectrum

Autism Spectrum Disorders (abbreviated ASDs) are “a group of disorders with similar symptoms” (Autism Spectrum). People on the autism spectrum can vary from mild to severe autistic symptoms; however, all of these individuals are under the classification of being autistic. The different categories of ASDs are “Autistic disorder, also known as “classic” autism, Asperger syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (abbreviated PDD-NOS or known as atypical autism)” (Autism Spectrum).

Many children with any of the ASDs have difficulty when it comes to analyzing and organizing the sensory input from their nervous systems (wikipedia.com). Individuals with “classic” autism tend to struggle with social interactions and their ability to communicate. These individuals tend to have restricted and repetitive behavior . Those who suffer from Asperger’s syndrome have a delay in cognitive and language development . People with PDD-NOS are those individuals who have autistic symptoms that cannot be fully categorized under Asperger’s syndrome or “classic” autism (wikipedia.com).

Treatment for autistic people vary depending on their type of autism as well as what works best for them. Many children “tend to use external techniques of sensory integration” this stimulates their sense of touch (Behar, 18). Children also use “vestibular (movement and gravity) techniques, and proprioceptive (awareness of one’s body in space) systems” (Behar, 18). These techniques aid in enhancing an autistic individual’s sensory and perception skills.

Although there are techniques that individuals use to help them cope with their social, sensory, and communication issues, yoga has been found as another means to aid those with autism. Autistic children who practice yoga hugely benefit from practicing because it aids them in learning many techniques. Breathing and stretching techniques are learned through yoga and this aids autistic children (and adults) in having the ability to control their breathing and learn how to calm down when they are in stressful situations.

Western View on Yoga

The Western view of yoga is mostly a vain one, which focuses primarily on the physical aspects and benefits of practicing yoga. The Western trend of yoga is a materialistic, self-image building trend. Many individuals in this culture practice yoga for the physical results of having a flat toned stomach and body. There is also the materialistic aspect of yoga in the Western culture that has many individuals buying expensive spandex clothing that is “for yoga.” This shows how important self-image and materialism is in Western society.

Although the Western society practices yoga for physical improvements, the Western culture has also started to see the benefits in practicing yoga for medical reasons. Individuals with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia practice yoga to help them learn techniques for stress-relief and anxiety. This allows people to practice yoga to relax and be able to increase their level of functioning.

Benefits of Autistic Individuals Practicing Yoga

Yoga aids everybody who practices it. It not only helps one get in shape through practicing yoga poses, but it aids people become one with their mind and body. It enables people to relax, and reduce anxiety and stress in their bodies. Individuals with autism greatly benefit through the practice of yoga.

Children with autism tend to have social, mental, and/or emotional problems that get in the way of having an easy functional everyday lifestyle. When autistic children practice yoga it gives them the ability to learn how to control their own breathing (Behar, 18-19). This helps them to learn how to calm down on their own and be able to learn new techniques for stress-relief. The poses help autistic children relieve stress through the stretches they are performing and using the correct yogic breathing techniques (Behar, 18-19). The repetitiveness of the practice of the stretches and breathes also are easyer for an autistic child to cling to (Kailus, n.d). This aids autistic children in gaining social and coping skills through practicing yoga in a comfortable environment and among other people. This makes growing up with autism a little easier on these individuals since they have these new techniques through practicing yoga that help them to calm down and relieve stress.

The practice of yoga among autistic individuals also has the beneficial result in aiding these individuals with their development of sensory and motor skills. When practicing yoga autistic individuals are improving their sensory processing which helps them to enhance their own knowledge of personal space. It also aids in gross motor skills. Yoga helps autistic people with gross motor skills by moving from each yoga pose to another, and performing these poses (Behar, 18-19). The practice of yoga aids in helping them socially as well.

By practicing yoga, autistic children (and adults as well) can improve their social skills. Practicing yoga helps individuals build and develop self-esteem (Behar, 18-19). It also helps autistic individuals to improve their communication and relationship skills since they are practicing yoga with others on a somewhat regular basis (dependent upon how much they actually practice yoga in a studio).

Yoga is definitely one of the most beneficial practices and methods to help calm autistic individuals. It helps them learn new techniques for stress-relief and calming down. It helps autistic individuals learn breathing techniques to calm their body and their mind. Practicing yoga gives autistic individuals a way to help themselves get through stressful situations instead of having to rely on others for comfort or help (Behar, 18-19). Autistic children can also practice yoga with their parents to help form a better relationship with their parents and so that they all can understand and see the benefits of yoga among any type of individual; those with autism or those without. Yoga helps autistic individuals understand how to go about stress-relief. This helps autistic children because if they do not want to practice yoga with their parents, they have a means of stress-relief through the poses and breathing techniques that can calm them down and make them feel more independent.

Conclusion

Yoga has helped people throughout the world. It is used spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Yoga helps bond the mind and body together so that individuals can function at their fullest potential. Although the Western culture has modified yoga to make it a more materialistic self-image based practice, there are still some of the Eastern qualities that carry through, such as the asanas practiced and rituals practiced depending upon which yoga studio one attends.

Yoga has many benefits with people of all types. It really aids people with medical issues, attention issues, and more. Through the practice of yoga, people learn how to breath in a way that will help calm them down. They also learn stress-relieving techniques through the breathing patterns alone and the breathing techniques combined with the poses.

Autistic individuals benefit greatly through practicing yoga. It helps them to build on their social, mental, and emotional problems. Yoga helps them to break down social barriers with being able to communicate and learn personal space. It also aids them in learning how to cope with stress-relief.

Western culture has adapted yoga to help with medical problems, and it has definitely shown a benefit with people with physical and emotional pain. Yoga benefits individuals with autism greatly and through this it really shows how the “mystical powers” of practicing yoga can help people of all ages, size, and disability.

Bibliography

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Autism Society Organization. (2009). What is Autism. Retrieved from http://www. autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_whatis

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