Yoga Therapist Perspective on ADHD | Cadabams CDC

1. Introduction: Why Yoga Therapist Perspective Matters for ADHD

If you are a parent searching for gentle, non-pharmacological support for your child with ADHD, the "yoga-therapist-perspective-on-adhd" offers a fresh, hopeful lens. At Cadabams CDC, our yoga therapists combine movement science with child psychology to help kids feel calmer, more focused, and more confident—without ever replacing medical care. Instead, they collaborate with paediatricians, psychologists, and behavioural specialists to create a wrap-around plan that fits your family.

---

2. Understanding ADHD Through a Yoga Therapist’s Lens

Core ADHD Challenges & the Body-Mind Connection

From a yoga-therapist-perspective-on-adhd, the primary hurdles—inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity—show up as:

• Unsettled nervous systems (fight-or-flight always “on”)
• Poor interoception (difficulty sensing hunger, fatigue, or emotions)
• Low core muscle tone, making seated tasks exhausting

Yoga therapists target these patterns by teaching controlled breathing, grounding poses, and rhythmic movement to regulate the vagus nerve and strengthen postural muscles.

Strength-Based View of ADHD in Children

Rather than framing ADHD as a deficit, our therapists highlight:

---

3. Yoga Therapy vs. Regular Kids’ Yoga: Key Differences

Personalised Goal Setting

• SMART goals: e.g., “Child will stay seated for 10 minutes of mindfulness practice by week 4.”
• Parent input on triggers (loud rooms, transitions) is woven into each plan.

Therapeutic Sequencing & Adaptations

• Chair-based Sun Salutes for classrooms
• Wall-supported balances to build core strength safely

Integration with Medical & Behavioural Plans

Our yoga therapists attend multi-disciplinary meetings, ensuring movement goals align with medication timing, reward charts, and school accommodations.

---

4. Evidence-Based Benefits of Yoga Therapy for ADHD

Improved Attention & Focus

• Randomised controlled trials (2018, Journal of Attention Disorders) show 30 min of yoga, 3×/week, increases sustained attention scores by 17%.

Reduced Hyperactivity & Impulsivity

• Slow diaphragmatic breathing (4-6 breaths/min) lowers cortisol, cutting restlessness in half during homework time.

Enhanced Emotional Regulation & Self-Esteem

• Mindfulness games like “Breathing Buddy” help children label emotions, boosting self-reported confidence by 22% after 8 weeks.

---

5. How Our Yoga Therapists Adapt Practices for ADHD

Use of Visual Aids & Storytelling

• Laminated pose cards with superhero themes
• Social stories explaining why “Mountain Pose” helps the brain feel steady

Shorter Dynamic Flows Followed by Stillness

• 3-minute “animal walks” (frog jumps, bear crawls) → 1-minute “Pebble Meditation”

Incorporating Breathwork & Mindfulness Games

• “Snake Breath”: hissing exhale to lengthen out-breath
• “Mindful Listening”: tracking bell sounds to sharpen auditory focus

---

6. The Therapeutic Assessment & Goal-Setting Process

Initial Intake & Movement Screening

• 45-minute parent-child session covering:
  • Birth history
  • Medication schedule
  • Sensory preferences (seeking vs. avoiding)

Collaborative Goal Definition with Parents & Clinicians

We use a shared Google Doc so everyone sees:

• Top three behaviours to address (e.g., blurting out answers)
• Weekly micro-targets (sit still during 5-page storybook)

Progress Tracking Metrics

• Attention span timer (stopwatch during homework)
• Self-rating emoji cards after each session (happy, neutral, frustrated)
• Monthly standardised questionnaires (Conners-3 parent short form)

---

7. Success Stories: Insights from Yoga Therapy Sessions

Arjun, age 8, struggled to wait his turn in class. After 6 weeks of yoga therapy:

• Baseline: 2-minute seated tolerance
• Week 6: 12-minute seated tolerance during guided reading
• Parent quote: “He now asks to do ‘Balloon Breath’ before spelling tests. We’ve gone from tears to smiles.”