About Yoga and ADHD

By Faye Martins

Can Yoga improve symptoms of attention deficit disorder? For people who question the benefits of Yoga or the existence of ADHD, the question remains controversial. For those, who recognize the power of Yoga on the mind and body, though, it may be easier to fathom its cognitive and behavioral benefits, as well. Scientists agree that more study is needed, but early research indicates that Yoga can be helpful.

Effects of ADHD

Many of the negative characteristics associated with ADHD can become assets when properly channeled. Traits like creativity, thinking outside the box, and the ability to single-mindedly focus on a single topic for hours (if it interests them) can be a blessing or a curse, depending on environment and expectations.  

While its severity varies through the years, ADHD doesn’t usually go away. Grown-ups, although they have learned to compensate in many ways, still deal with many of ADHD’s symptoms. Anxiety, mood disorders, and lack of organizational skills can hurt careers and relationships well into adulthood.

The people with attention deficit disorders who are most successful are those who approach the diagnosis with an open mind. They know how they learn best, they recognize their strengths, and they structure their lives to accomplish their goals.  Many find that Yoga is a powerful ally on their journey through life.

What the Experts Say about Yoga and ADHD

·         In his book, “Scattered Minds,” physician and author Gabor Mate says people with ADHD beat themselves up over the frustration they experience daily. Mate suggests that Yoga exercises, meditation, and breathing build self-acceptance by relaxing the body and enabling the subconscious mind to re-program negative beliefs and self-talk.

·         Richard Brown, psychiatrist and professor at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, recommends Yogic breathing for people with ADHD. He says it alleviates anxiety and increases concentration, and it’s easy to do at any time and place.

·         Sleep problems are common in children with ADHD. Research from a 2004 edition of the “Journal of Attention Disorders” says that Yoga decreases hyperactivity and insomnia, but there was insufficient evidence at that time to show it could replace medical treatment.

·         In 2006, German researchers found that adding Yoga to a drug treatment greatly benefited children with ADHD. One of the study’s authors, Nicole Goldstein, M.D., says that forward bends work well because they “increase exhalation by lengthening and deepening the breath.”  She thinks this is “key in developing concentration.”

When we consider the fact that ADHD spills over into every other area of life, it makes more sense than ever that Yoga can be beneficial in improving quality of life for people with ADHD and the people around them.

© Copyright 2013 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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If you are a teacher, yoga studio manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is. Namaste!

Yoga Lifestyle and Giving the Mind a Break

By Bhavan Kumar

There is always an overzealous team mate or coworker that refuses to take breaks throughout the day. While they may feel extra-productive, their attention span is going to take a major plummet simultaneous with the body. Even the group that takes their regular breaks could be at risk for fatigue and lack of circulation for lack of know-how when it comes to restful pauses. The 'quick fix' attitude of the modern age has convinced us that a thirty minute sitcom with a microwave dinner is good enough use for our spurts of free time. This misconception has made the present practice of yoga all the more medicinal and restorative.

Alternative Breaks

One famous speculation from Dr. Shelly Gable integrates the mental and physical uses of yoga training. During a general review of the 'positive psychology' concept at the University of California (Santa Barbara 2005,) Gable and a colleague made definite claims for the potential of cognitive and emotional benefits. She accredited yoga as one of the top alternate self-improvement techniques, capable of optimizing breaks for an even more fulfilling moment of how the blend of exercise, meditation, and wellness to allow the individual to maximize his or her body's rejuvenation and functionality. 

Breaks Today

The waste (smoking) and grease oriented (fatty food) breaks still continue at the same frequency after the general review was released. A great deal of the population is so captivated by their daily lives that breaking routine is unsettling and oftentimes out of the question. These folks are harder to pull on board with the recently accepted evidence of rewards for healthy living. They will be more rigid when trying to ease into a pure form of holistic exercise with a strange new clarity of mind. The brutal truth is that the continuations of ‘work breaks’ will only bring the inactive, frozen food consuming, and anxiously disgruntled traditionalists closer to death. These tragic souls will never be able to enjoy a moment to pause from their work the right way.

Shelly is not the only researcher looking to help add years to these peoples' lives using energy management. In 2008, a Harvard graduate by the name of Stephen Covey offered his own input on the matter through his medium of text, "Principals of Balanced Self Renewal." He outlines seven rules for personal improvement and refreshment, the last of which is 'sharpening the saw' of positive traits. A pause in daily life to focus the mind and condition the body radically strengthens each aspect.

© Copyright 2013 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see find out more about how to become a certified yoga instructor, please use the yoga resources on the right side of this page.

If you are a teacher, yoga studio manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is. Namaste! 

Why Yoga Is Good for Our Feet

By Kimaya Singh

No wonder we have aching feet. We take them for granted, stuff them in uncomfortable shoes, and expect them to carry us through the day without causing us pain.  Fortunately, Yoga teaches us to become aware of these delicate body parts.

One out of every four Americans has serious foot problems during their lifetime – a fact that becomes even more significant when we consider that our feet mirror the condition of our general health. There are 26 bones in the foot, and any one of these can cause trouble if it is misaligned.

How our Feet Affect Our Health

The muscles that support the function and structure of our feet are related to the bladder and the adrenal glands. When these muscles don’t work properly, abnormalities like shin splints and plantar fasciitis can occur.

The bottom of the foot also has reflex points that correspond with glands, organs, and other parts of the body. When the bones in the foot are out of place, they create tender spots called trigger points. When they are properly aligned, walking stimulates the reflexes and keeps the feet healthy.

Misaligned bones also interfere with the acupuncture meridians, or energy channels, that run through the feet.  Because these meridians affect the liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, gallbladder, and bladder, blockages can lead to health disorders. In Yoga, we call this energy “prana.” Chinese medicine calls it “chi.”

Finally, the foot has receptors that relay information from the central nervous system to the body. When these receivers don’t communicate properly, they send confusing messages that disturb our sense of balance and affect the way we move. A muscle gets the wrong signal and constricts, pulling other parts of the body out of place, or we aren’t able to “feel” the location of our feet or hands, making us more likely to injure ourselves.

How Yoga Helps Keep Feet Healthy

Yoga shows us how to ground our bodies and encourages proper alignment of our feet, making them stronger and more flexible. Specific poses that promote healthy feet include the following:

·       Standing Poses

·       Legs-Up-the Wall Pose

·       Downward Facing Dog Pose

·       Hero Pose

·       Cobbler Pose

·       Squat

These simple Yogic exercises strengthen and tone the toes:

·       Pointing and flexing the foot

·       Rolling a ball underneath the foot

·       Picking up marbles with the toes

·       Interlacing the fingers between toes

·       Rotating the ankle in a circular motion

Conclusion

Yoga exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles in the lower leg and foot can alleviate discomfort caused by existing problems and prevent new ones in the future. 

© Copyright 2013 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see find out more about yoga or to see our selection of distance learning yoga teacher training programs, please use the yoga resources on the right side of this page.

If you are a teacher, Yoga studio manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is. Namaste!