
Benefits
Here are some of the high evidence-based medical journals for the special population.
Studies have shown:
Improved focus and attention
Improved sensory processing
Improved communication
Improved self-regulation
Improved motor control
Improved physical and motor development
Improved social and emotional development
Improved cognitive skills
Strength and postural control
Improved range of motion
Postural stability
Other noted benefits from a regular practice
Increased muscle tone, flexibility, & poise
Improved breathing and digestion
Enhance confidence & sense of self
References:
References:
Kaley-Isley LC, Peterson J, Fischer C, Peterson E. Yoga as a complementary therapy for children and adolescents: a guide for clinicians. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2010;7(8):20-32.
Stephens, Ina. 2017. "Medical Yoga Therapy" Children 4, no. 2: 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/children4020012
Nancy I. Henry (2003) The Health Benefits of Yoga, Journal of Consumer Health On the Internet, 7:2, 75-80, DOI: 10.1300/J381v07n02_08
Radhakrishna S, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR. Integrated approach to yoga therapy and autism spectrum disorders. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2010 Apr;1(2):120-4. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.65089. PMID: 21836799; PMCID: PMC3151379.
Radhakrishna S. Application of integrated yoga therapy to increase imitation skills in children with autism spectrum disorder. Int J Yoga 2010;3-26-30
Kathryn Feeney MOTS & Christy Szczech Moser PhD, OTR, FAOTA (2014) Yoga in Pediatrics, Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 7:3-4, 161-171, DOI: 10.1080/19411243.2014.966014
Ehleringer, J. (2010). Yoga therapy in practice: Yoga for children on the autism spectrum. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 20, 131–139.
Galantino, M. L., Galbavy, R., & Quinn, L. (2008). Therapeutic effects of yoga for children: A systematic review of the literature. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 20(1), 66–80.
Koenig, K. P., Buckley-Reen, A., & Garg, S. (2012). Efficacy of the Get Ready to Learn yoga program among children with autism spectrum disorders: A pretest–posttest control group design. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 538–546. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2012.004390
Narasingharao K, Pradhan B, Navaneetham J. Efficacy of Structured Yoga Intervention for Sleep, Gastrointestinal and Behaviour Problems of ASD Children: An Exploratory Study. J Clin Diagn Res. 2017 Mar;11(3):VC01-VC06. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2017/25894.9502. Epub 2017 Mar 1. PMID: 28511484; PMCID: PMC5427410.
Jennie Ehleringer; Yoga for Children on the Autism Spectrum. Int J Yoga Therap 1 November 2010; 20 (1): 131–139. doi: https://doi.org/10.17761/ijyt.20.1.eu176u2721423510
Falkenberg, R.I., Eising, C. & Peters, M.L. Yoga and immune system functioning: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Behav Med 41, 467–482 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-018-9914-y
Mak, C., Whittingham, K., Cunnington, R. and Boyd, R.N. (2018), Effect of mindfulness yoga programme MiYoga on attention, behaviour, and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Dev Med Child Neurol, 60: 922-932. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.13923
Catherine K. Mak, Koa Whittingham, Roslyn N. Boyd,
Experiences of children and parents in MiYoga, an embodied mindfulness yoga program for cerebral palsy: A mixed method study, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice,Volume 34, 2019, Pages 208-216, ISSN 1744-3881, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.12.006
Pise, Vishvanath et al. “Effect of yoga practices on psycho-motor abilities among intellectually disabled children.” Journal of exercise rehabilitation vol. 14,4 581-585. 24 Aug. 2018, doi:10.12965/jer.1836290.145
Chimiklis, A.L., Dahl, V., Spears, A.P. et al. Yoga, Mindfulness, and Meditation Interventions for Youth with ADHD: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Child Fam Stud 27, 3155–3168 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1148-7
Harrison, L. J., Manocha, R. and Rubia, K. (2004) ‘Sahaja Yoga Meditation as a Family Treatment Programme for Children with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder’, Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 9(4), pp. 479–497. doi: 10.1177/1359104504046155.