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Yoga for ADHD

The practice of yoga has long been associated with a variety of health benefits. Yoga increases flexibility, strength, and reduces stress and anxiety. Many people with ADHD have found that yoga and mindfulness techniques helps them to focus and remain calm. Have you considered adding the practice of yoga for ADHD?

Why Yoga for ADHD?

Yoga incorporates breathing techniques, postural control, muscle strengthening, flexibility and cognitive control which can help promote self-control, attention, body awareness, and stress management. These are all skills that are beneficial for children with ADHD to practice.

If you are a busy teacher, therapist, or parent and are looking to add in quick bouts of 10 minute yoga for kids in your classroom, check out CLASSROOM YOGA IN 10 MINUTES A DAY!

What Does the Research Say About Yoga and ADHD?

One research study analyzed the benefits of yoga in 49 children (average age 10.50 years old) with ADHD. The participants were assigned to a yoga exercise group for an 8 week exercise intervention, 2x/week x 40 minute sessions or a control group. All subjects were evaluated with the Visual Pursuit Test and Determination Test prior to and after the intervention.

The Visual Pursuit Test is used to assess visual perception involving sustained attention and the Determination Test is used to evaluate the ability to determine multiple-choice reaction requiring inhibitory ability and selective attention.

The results indicated the following:

  • significant improvements in accuracy rate and reaction time of the two tests were observed over time in the exercise group compared with the control group.

The researchers concluded that yoga exercises can be beneficial as a behavioral intervention for children with attention and inhibition problems. (Chou & Huang, 2017).

A systematic review and meta-analysis study indicated that yoga, mindfulness-based interventions, and/or meditation had a statistically significant effect on:

  • the outcomes of ADHD symptoms.
  • hyperactivity.
  • inattention.
  • parent-child relationship.
  • executive functioning.
  • on-task behavior.
  • parent stress.
  • parent trait-mindfulness.

The researchers concluded that yoga, mindfulness, and meditation may be beneficial for youth with ADHD, but extensive research is required to further validate these interventions (Chimiklis et. al., 2018).

References:

Chimiklis, A. L., Dahl, V., Spears, A. P., Goss, K., Fogarty, K., & Chacko, A. (2018). Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation interventions for youth with ADHD: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Child and Family Studies27(10), 3155-3168.

Chou C, Huang C. (2017) Effects of an 8-week yoga program on sustained attention and discrimination function in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. PeerJ 5:e2883https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2883

Yoga and Mindfulness Resources for Children

If you are a busy teacher, therapist, or parent and are looking to add in quick bouts of 10 minute yoga for kids in your classroom, check out CLASSROOM YOGA IN 10 MINUTES A DAY!

Kids need yoga and mindfulness now more than ever! If you are a busy teacher, therapist, or parent and are looking to add in quick bouts of 10 minute yoga for kids in your classroom, check out CLASSROOM YOGA IN 10 MINUTES A DAY!

Written by certified yoga instructor, Giselle Shardlow, this 134 page PDF digital yoga and mindfulness workbook is a wonderful resource to easily integrate these much-needed practices into your classroom – whether it’s in-person, virtually, or a hybrid of both. And, to do so within just 10 minutes a day! FIND OUT MORE.

Yoga in the Classroom Bundle

Yoga in the Classroom will help you bring yoga into the classroom, therapy room or clinic with this wide variety of digital downloads including books, cards, and posters!  You’ll have the confidence and new ideas to hit the ground running!

This Rainbow Mindfulness and Movement Activity will walk your students through a peaceful journey on their colorful strengths while practicing motor skills and handwriting.

What makes you shine bright? This Rainbow Mindfulness and Movement Activity will walk your students through a peaceful journey on their colorful strengths while practicing motor skills and handwriting. Encourage a growth mindset and teach new relaxation and calming skills to add to your students tool kit.