The Connection Between Sensory Integration & Yoga

Yoga is an ancient exercise science designed to calm and connect the whole person, Body, Mind and Spirit. The word “yoga” means “to bring together”. When practiced regularly, it can improve focus, strength, flexibility and overall health.

Sensory Integration (or “S.I”) is a dynamic part of being human. Simply stated, it is the useful organization of sensations by the nervous system. It is a continual process of Mind and Body interacting with the environment, receiving and processing information & creating an appropriate response.

Children with autism, ADD, PDD and other processing disorders have difficulty in filtering, sorting out and responding to this information as it comes in through the 5 senses, especially during periods of high stress, discomfort, transitions or chaotic or extremely stimulating environments. Sensory Integration therapy involves a structured & simultaneous stimulation of several senses for the purpose of completing the same activity.

Why are S.I activities so important to a child’s development and learning? One reason is that they train the brain to properly digest & use the countless bits of information being received every moment so that an appropriate response or behavior can be formed. Generalization is when the child learns to apply the process of integration in other areas & occurs automatically from imitation & repetition. It is a vital element of the learning process as well as for cultivating self-esteem. As an activity becomes more familiar, it becomes centrally programmed in the nervous system & more automatic & then becomes sensory motor memory.

Yoga itself is a natural form of sensory integration and It can be adapted to a variety of ages, learning styles and environments. Yoga will assist in facilitating many of the same skills as conventional S.I. as all 5 senses are stimulated & integrated during a 30-45 minute yoga session:

Tactile/Touch- bare feet feeling floor or mat, hands touchin various parts of body for support, instructor's physical prompts

Proprioception-(muscles, joints, body awareness) balancing & weight bearing postures, changing body positions, repetitive flow of postures

Vestibular-( posture & balance, muscle tone, motor control & language skills) transitions between postures, directional changes, stop/start motions & flexion/extension movements.

Visual -(actions of eyes muscles & the ability of the hand to copy what the eye sees, visual discrimination memory/sequencing.) Imitation of postures, sequencing postures

Auditory - (Processing heard information, sound recognition & reproduction, discriminating between sounds) Story telling, repetitive singing/rhymes paired with vestibular activities, imitating sounds.


Some shared benefits of S.I and Yoga include:

Mind/Body Flexibility: Increases ability to adjust to change.

Body Awareness: Improves gross motor planning skills.

Coordination/Balance: Increases participation/confidence during playground/phys-ed activities.

Concentration: Enhances ability to regulate own level of alertness & handle distractions.

Focus: Enhances the experience of attending, participating & learning

Communication: Improves listening and creates spontaneous expression of new skills.

Socialization: Creates opportunities for use of social skills & positive interactions with peers.

Self Confidence: Facilitates independence during functional activities.

Stress Management: Increases motivation & self esteem as it decreases anxiety and fear.

Positive Reinforcement: Enhances experiences of joy and fun.


Public School Phys Ed Standards:

1. Balance while bending and stretching.
2. Recognize that skill development requires practice.
3. Identify various body parts and their location.
4. Create movements using different body parts.
5. Discuss the connection between food, nutrition and energy.
6. Develop responsibility for expected behavior on the playground and in the class room.
7. Stretch basic muscle groups.
8. Co-ordinate individually, with a partner or in a group.
9. Understand how the body functions as a whole.
10. Recognize and appreciate their own and others feelings.
11. Move each joint in a full range of motion.
12. Integrate personal meaning through a creative movement experience.

Elements of Yoga:

1. Many yoga poses incorporate balancing, and all use stretching.
2. Practicing over a period of time yields noticeable Improvements.
3. Instructor discusses and uses graphic demonstration of anatomy
4. Yoga utilizes all body parts in its regime.
5. Instructor discusses how food affects our bodies and minds.
6. Yoga involves the development of self-discipline and concentration as well as respect for others.
7. The practice of yoga affects every muscle group in the body.
8. Yoga provides opportunities for group or partner experiences.
9. a holistic viewpoint of the body is a basic part of yoga.
10. Through yoga, a variety of feelings arise, and the instructor emphasizes validating feelings.
11. Students learn to move every joint, with an emphasis on safely extending the range of motion.
12. Yoga practice is as much an introspective meditation as it is a system of physical exercise, so it encourages personal meaning.

Resources:

S.M.I.L.Y (Sensory Motor Integration Learning with Yoga) - http://www.kidsmusicandmovement.com/

April Merilee, M.A, OTR "Yoga for the Special Child"- http://www.specialyoga.com/SoniaSumar

“Fly Like A Butterfly” http://www.childrensyoga.com/butterfly.htm   (Shakta Khalsa)

"Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration" (Therapy for Children with Autism and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders), Ellen Yack, B.Sc., M.Ed., O.T, Paula Aquilla, B.Sc.,O.T, & Shirley Sutton, B.Sc.,O.T,


Sensory Games : S.M.Art Kids Yoga ™



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