Darlene DArezzo >> Talk

Inattention, and/or impulsivity and hyperactivity – the hallmarks of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), a chronic, neurobehavioral condition affecting nearly four million children and young adults in the United States. Signs and symptoms also include, but are not limited to, poor concentration, poor coordination, and poor peer relations.

Although there is no simple medical test to diagnose AD/HD and the exact cause of AD/HD remains undetermined, a National Institute of Mental Health study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that children with AD/HD have a brain about three to four percent smaller than that of a typically developing child. As expected, affected areas include those that govern sensory processing, motor planning, attention processes and impulsivity (frontal lobes of the cerebrum) and, equilibrium and coordination of movement (cerebellum).
  
It is also thought that the frontal lobes figure in our understanding of our body's orientation in space. It is also, now thought, that the cerebellum is linked to attention as well as sensory input and emotions.

While pharmacotherapy is the treatment of choice (most children are given stimulants and some, antidepressants), multimodal therapy is recommended. More and more, complementary treatments are prescribed. And, what better complimentary treatment than yoga? Whereas traditional therapies address specific issues, yoga addresses the whole child – it is a multimodal therapy in and of itself. Furthermore, yoga has been found an “effective complimentary treatment” according to a study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders.

How might the tools of yoga – postures, breathing exercises and meditation techniques (to name just a few) – help?

Asana-s or Postures
The physical benefits of yoga practice include heightened body awareness and coordination. Static postures that challenge balance and require core stabilization stimulate the cerebellum while dynamic postures and the repetition of movements of the body in to and out of postures help to organize the brain and contribute to nerve growth.

In addition, children with AD/HD are usually right-brain dominant in their information processing and learning styles. Therefore, the kinesthetic nature of yoga asana-s is perfect for these types of learners.

Pranayama or Breath Awareness
Pranayama, control of the breath, is preparation for concentration, meditation.  And while classic pranayama exercises are inappropriate for children, teaching little ones to appreciate the breath is the first step in improving wellbeing. Depression, anxiety and distress often accompany AD/HD. Higher order thinking skills, such as analysis and evaluation, conscious thought and reasoning become further impaired when an AD/HDer (or anyone) is distressed. Distress is often reflected in our breath/ing – as we gaze into the looking glass, it appears rapid, short and shallow. Being aware of such and then, consciously breathing deeply helps to alleviate stress as well as worry and frustration.

Dhyana or Meditation
Meditation, or as sage Patanjali describes it “sustained concentration,” trains the mind. Its practice improves focus, concentration and memory.

So how might a child with AD/HD sit still and pay attention? With imaginative story and guided visualization exercises. These exercises develop listening and concentration skills and, alter the physical structure of our brains according to researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. According to their report, meditators have increased thickness in parts of the brain associated with attention and somatosensory, auditory and visual processing.

I asked Dr. Sara Lazar, who headed the study, if she thought meditation could help a child with AD/HD: “It seems reasonable that meditation may be helpful to increase attention and help with emotion regulation,” she responded.  And, “grow” the brain? “Our data suggest that it might grow the brain in four very small regions…The data are a comparison of meditators versus controls, so it could be that some other factor was responsible for the difference [such as] diet, exercise, etcetera,” she added.

Furthermore, through breathing exercises and meditation techniques, children also cultivate self-awareness and self-reflection and thus, self-discipline. Children learn how to curb impulsivity and hyperactivity on their own.

Overall, the most profound benefits of yoga practice are improved self-esteem and a greater sense of wellbeing. With newfound confidence, AD/HDers can make friends. After all, yoga is a process of not only learning about and finding peace in oneself, but of living harmoniously with others.