Yoga as an Intervention for Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Research conducted in both the field of yoga and the field of behavioural disorders in children and adolescents leads to the speculation that the benefits of yoga practice demonstrated with respect to physiological, psychological, emotional, and psychosocial functioning may be applicable to the impairments evidenced in these areas in behavioural disorders. The intervention—20 weekly one-hour sessions of yoga—required a large commitment for the participants, their families, and the yoga instructor. The results suggested that yoga appears to exert its impact on stabilising the emotions (a secondary symptom) and reducing oppositional behaviour, frequently co-morbid (40%) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Given the limitations of this study, the results do indicate some significant changes in the behaviour of some of the boys with ADHD. In conclusion, yoga shows promise as a non-invasive, inexpensive, adjuvant treatment for boys with ADHD.