Yoga is a piece of the puzzle!

If you have not heard about our Whole Body Program at MM, I encourage you to keep reading! Our Whole Body Program targets development from a sensorimotor perspective, while remaining true to the principles of IBI/ABA methodology....Another semi-academic post....

It is widely known that nutrition and exercise improve cognitive and physical abilities (Kraemer & Marquez, 2009). I have placement students at work, who shadow my team and gain invaluable insight into the field. Recently, a placement student—they are always full of question, asked why I used yoga in teaching. Could there possible be evidence in this?! It’s certainly not standard practice for behaviour therapist, but it is one part of programming that specifically targets arousal levels and the ability to self regulate (a particular area of concern for individuals on the Autism spectrum).

Mr. Billy is one of our Whole Body Program coaches

Yoga teachings consist of three tenets: Breathing, posture, and meditation.  Each tenet has its usefulness; all tenets work together to combat fatigue, increase heart-rate, regulate breathe and understand the body in relation to the rest of the world.

From a psychosocial perspective, being tuned-in to your body is an essential factor in the establishment and maintenance of identity.  Yoga bridges the gap between mind and body and has usefulness that extends physical fitness; yoga can successfully decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression (Descilo, Vedmurtachar, Gerbarg, Nagaraja, Gangadhar, Damodaran, Adelson, Braslow, Marcus, Brown, 2010).

In a study conducted on tsunami victims, there was a reduction in depressive behaviour relative to the yoga-breath intervention technique (Descilo et al., 2010); yoga is an effective way to decrease the psychological symptoms associated with depression. When combined with a holistic intervention plan, yoga is one piece of the depression puzzle!

 References

Descilo, T. T., Vedamurtachar, A. A., Gerbarg, P. L., Nagaraja, D. D., Gangadhar, B. N., Damodaran, B.

B., & ... Brown, R. P. (2010). Effects of a yoga breath intervention alone and in combination with an exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in survivors of the 2004 South-East Asia tsunami. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica,121(4), 289-300. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2009.01466.x

Kraemer, J. M., & Marquez, D. X. (2009). Psychosocial Correlates and Outcomes of Yoga or Walking

Among Older Adults. Journal Of Psychology, 143(4), 390-404.