Our faithful readers may wonder how yoga applies to speech therapy?  It is a valid question!  

Here are some examples of the important techniques that were uncovered as a room full of therapists and facilitators (and 1 OT) collaborated, while incorporating yoga into their repertoire:

·     Often children undergoing therapy benefit from taking a break mid-therapy to disassociate from the intensity. Using breathing techniques, along with fun animal related yoga poses, give the child the much-needed refresher to keep his momentum and make progress.

·     Much of yoga centers around the breath and breathing/ mouth positioning.  What better way to help a child develop motor development than through yoga breathing!?

·     Incorporating fun animal poses and pairing them with animal sounds can help minimally verbal children use their voice in a socially functional situation!

·     It is good exercise!  And what child doesn't need that?

SAGE endeavors to offer their clients highly equipped speech therapists at every level, to provide the best possible therapy to the child.  Adding yoga practices into the therapy toolbox will be an effective part of their weekly intervention. 

According to an article dated March 28, 2007 in Yoga Journal (written by Marsha Wenig):

"Yoga presented in a child's language can help counter the stress experienced by little ones living in a hurry-up world"¦"

Our children live in a "hurry-up world" of busy parents, school pressures, incessant lessons, video games, malls, and competitive sports. We usually don't think of these influences as stressful for our kids, but often they are. The bustling pace of our children's lives can have a profound effect on their innate joy"”and usually not for the better.

Yoga, breathing techniques, and meditation can help counter these pressures by teaching children self regulation and awareness. When children learn techniques for self-regulation, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they can navigate life's challenges with a little more ease. Yoga at an early age encourages self-esteem and body awareness with a physical activity that's noncompetitive. Fostering cooperation and compassion"”instead of opposition"”is a great gift to give our children.

Children derive enormous benefits from yoga. Physically, it enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. In doing yoga, children exercise, play, and connect more deeply with the inner self, and develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them. Yoga brings that marvelous inner light that all children possess to the surface.

When yogis developed the asanas many thousands of years ago, they still lived close to the natural world and used animals and plants for inspiration"”the sting of a scorpion, the grace of a swan, the grounded stature of a tree. When children imitate the movements, and sounds of nature, they have a chance to get inside another being and imagine taking on its qualities. When they assume the pose of the lion (Simhasana) for example, they experience not only the power and behavior of the lion, but also their own sense of power: when to be fierce, when to retreat. The physical movements introduce kids to yoga's true meaning: union, expression, and honor for oneself and one's part in the delicate web of life.

As a parent, are you interested in your child experiencing yoga?  If you have any questions regarding this training or a mini session for your child with diverse needs, please email saren@sagespeech.com.