Review Article
Addressing Autism Spectrum Disorder through Yoga as
a Complementary Therapy
Meena Ramanathan*, Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani
ABSTRACT
Centre for Yoga Therapy,
Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by restricted, repetitive
Education and Research
activities and impaired social interaction. Its severity varies from individual to
(CYTER) I block,
individual. Yoga, a mind–body intervention is often used as a complementary
Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth approach to enhance mental equipoise and focus and can be performed by all
(Deemed to be University), including those with acute or chronic painful disabilities. The emotional impact
Puducherry-607402. is difficult and devastating for people with autism and their families/caregivers.
People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) should be regarded simply as
‘different’ rather than ‘disordered’; as they may have no speech or may have other
complexities needing full-time care. Yogic techniques for ASD such as basic Jathis
and Kriyas help to improve flexibility, Asanas work increase muscles and joints
circulation and physical functioning becomes more integrated and less stressful.
Pranayama and Asanas work hand-in-hand to balance and integrate different
physiological functions, dissolve emotional blockages and negative habitual
patterns. Yoga harmonises mind-body-emotion complex building up, helps to
develop social relationships, promotes positive outlook, self-confidence and self-
sufficiency. It also improves loco-motor skills, psycho-motor coordination, eye-hand
coordination, attention span, immunity, appetite, sleep and promotes overall health.
Regular practice reduces hyperactivity, aggression and dependency of drugs along
with reduction in negative traits and tendencies to cause injury to self and others. In
conclusion, yoga is an experiential science (Anubuthi Shastra) which can be used
as a supplemental therapy for ASD.
For Correspondence
Keywords:
*Dr. Meena Ramanathan,
Self-sufficiency,Social relationships, Mental health, Psycho-motor coordination
Email: [email protected]
Date of
Submisssion: 09-06-2018
INTRODUCTION They also have deicits in imitation
Acceptance: 16-06-2018 Autism is one of the most common skills necessary for learning complex
life-long neuro-developmental behaviours. Asperger’s Syndrome
disorders diagnosed in early childhood. is a form of ASD in which speech
It is characterized by restricted, development and IQ are normal but
stereotyped repetitive activities, social disability accompanied by
impaired social interaction, diiculty indepression and mental health problems
communication, forming relationships are seen. The prevalence of ASD is
and ind it hard to understand and increasing and currently it is estimated
make sense of the world around them. 1 to be 1 in 110 children wherein boys are
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) ive times more likely to be diagnosed
varies in severity and impact from with autism than girls, with male
Access this article online individual to individual, ranging from predilection of 5:1. 2 The most recent
Quick Response Code those with no speech and severe learningigure released by the Centres for
disabilities to people with intelligenceDisease Control and Prevention (CDC
quotients (IQ) in an average range and 2012) is that 1 in 88 children are now
who can hold a job or start a family. diagnosed with ASD. 3 According to a
recent survey, ASD is estimated to afect
Children with ASD are unable to 1 out of every 68 children in the United
understand and process information States (equal to 1.47%), including 1 in
https://www.jbcahs.org
that they receive from the environment. 42 boys (equal to 2.38%). 4
SBV Journal of Basic, Clinical and Applied Health Science - Volume 2 | Issue 2 | April - June 2018 3
Meena Ramanathan, et al,: Addressing Autism Spectrum Disorder through Yoga as a Complementary Therapy
The increase in prevalence of ASD has led to a of the real distress that autism can cause. People with
corresponding surge in demand for novel, efective, autism and learning disabilities may have no speech or
and safe clinical interventions. Evidence-based may have other complexities and may need full-time
treatment options for ASD are limited, resulting in a care.
high utilization rate of complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) treatments 5 Yoga is a CAM therapy YOGIC TECHNIQUES FOR ASD
practiced by over 20 million people all over the world.
It has been investigated as a possible efective treatment Basic Jathis and Kriyas are given as a part of warm
intervention for patients with ASD.6 Patients with up practices with Surya Namaskar to help improve
ASD could potentially beneit from yoga either directly, lexibility, create awareness and enhance energy
through the targeting of core ASD symptoms, or circulation throughout the body.
indirectly through the improvement of commonly
occurring co-morbid psychiatric conditions.7 Deep ‘Asanas’ are psycho-physiological practices in which
breathing, meditation and yoga have been recognised mind is totally focused on incoming and outgoing
as complementary and alternative medicine therapies breaths helping harmonise mind and body. Asanas work
with deep breathing and yoga as the most commonly on muscles and joints, help increase circulation and
used interventions with children. 8 improve lexibility. Physical functioning becomes more
integrated and less stressful.
Yoga is classiied as a mind–body intervention and
is often used as a complementary approach to enhance Demonstration of the asana is more efective than
mental equipoise and focus. Yoga has never recognized the explanation. (This holds good for all the yogic
any barriers of age, sex, religion, or creed. 9 Yoga can be techniques). Postures are tailored as per the ability of
performed by those with acute or chronic and painful individual child.
disabilities, those who sufer from chronic illnesses
and those with missing limbs too. Hatha Pradipika Postures like Viparitkarani,(topsy-turvy posture)
states that, “Yoga improves the health of all alike and Sarvangasana (shoulder-stand), Matsyasana (fish
wards of diseases of one who tirelessly practices yoga posture), Halasana (plough posture), alternating
whether they are young, old, decrepit, diseased or with standing postures such as Padahastasana (hand
weak, provided they abide to the rules and regulations to foot posture), Trikonasana (triangle posture),
properly” (Yuvavrddho’thivrddhova vyadhito durbalo’ Padangushtasana (clasping big toe like a hook) helps
piva abhyasat siddimapnoti sarva yogeshvatandritah- increasing blood low to the head region and help
Hathapradipika I: 64). 10 activate the brain cells. (Figure 1) Balancing postures
such as Vrikshasana (tree posture), Ardhachakrasana
THE IMPACT OF ASD (half-wheel posture) and Natarajasana (posture of Lord
Nataraja) enable them to achieve stability, but they
For the individual with autism, the world can be a have to be supported initially. (Figure 2)
confusing and lonely place, where everyone except them
understands the rules of appropriate behaviour. For the Figure 1 : Postures to improve blood flow to the brain such as
family of an autistic child life is often stressful. Parents dwipadauttana, padanghusta and trikonasana.
and siblings usually have to cope with unyielding
challenging behaviour and possibly sleep deprivation,
as many children with autism do not sleep for long
periods of time. As the children and adults with
autism ind it diicult to manage in social situations,
many families become isolated and experience extreme
mental distress.
The emotional impact of autism is often diicult
and sometimes devastating for people with autism
and the families of those afected, but they cope well
with the additional challenges it brings. Many argue
that people with autism should be regarded simply as
‘diferent’ rather than ‘disordered’, there is no doubt
4 SBV Journal of Basic, Clinical and Applied Health Science - Volume 2 | Issue 2 | April - June 2018
Meena Ramanathan, et al,: Addressing Autism Spectrum Disorder through Yoga as a Complementary Therapy
Figure 2 : Postures to improve balance such as ardhachakra, veera, breath’ helps remove old, stagnant air from lungs and
and vrikshasana. cleanses bloodstream of excess carbon dioxide. Its
practice also decreases response time and enhances
memory and comprehension. Research also suggests
that it is useful in combating learning disorders,
Attention Deicit Disorder and mental retardation. 12
Pranayama and Asanas work hand-in-hand to
balance and integrate diferent physiological functions
and help dissolve emotional blockages and negative
habitual patterns that can obstruct low of vital energy
within mind-body complex.
Some of the Shatkarmas such as Trataka, Kapalabhati
are useful for developing concentration and also act as
tranquillizers. These children sufer from numerous
eye related problems and Trataka and Neti are highly
Back bending postures such as Bhujangasana (serpent beneicial along with a diet rich in vitamins A and C.
posture), Ushtrasana (camel posture), Chakrasana
(wheel posture), Dhanurasana (bow posture) opens Bhujangini Mudra and Brahma Mudra, working with
shoulders and chest region are useful for enhancing breath and sound vibration induces a sense of relaxation
vital capacity as well as improving self conidence and reinvigorates head and neck region reducing stress.
and body posture. Simhasana (lion posture) improves Hasta Mudras and Kaya Mudras (Yoga Mudra, Manduka
stammering, stuttering and some ear, nose and throat Mudra) helps drive away depression, bringing out a
defects of the children. (Figure 3) Starting from simple sense of joy and happiness.
movements and dynamic postures, they can be slowly
led on to static postures. 11 Unrealistic expectations at home and outside add
powerful peer pressures on them. Shava Asana (corpse
Figure 3 : Back bending postures to improve vital capacity and self posture) with Kaya Kriya and Spanda-Nishpanda relaxes
confidence such as bhujanga, dhanura and ardha ustrasana. all aspects of the musculoskeletal system thereby
promoting complete relaxation and harmonisation of
mind, body and emotions.
Prayer and chanting of simple mantras makes them
less aggressive, puriies speech, calms the mind and
helps reduce distraction. Hence chanting Pranava
Mantra AUM can beneit these children. It helps
maintain their concentration, improves alertness with
rest and relaxation, helps gain emotional and mental
strength as well as produces a calming and healing
efect on nervous system and psyche. 13, 14
BENEFITS OF YOGA
Yoga coordinates activities of mind building up focus
Pranayama controls and regulates breathing and and concentration. It improves quality of day to day
is very beneicial in ASD. Sounds of animals make it living to the degree which could never otherwise be
interesting for them to perform. Kukkuriya Pranayama achieved. Develops social relationships, promotes
(dog panting breath), Vyagraha Pranayama with positive outlook, self-conidence and self-suiciency.
Sharabha Kriya and Kapalabhati are very useful. Nada Improves loco-motor skills, psycho-motor coordination,
Pranayama such as Pranava Pranayama helps alleviate eye-hand coordination, attention span, immunity,
stress as well as sublimate suppressed and regressed appetite, sleep and promotes overall health. It also
emotions. Mukha Bhastrika is also known as ‘cleansing reduces hyperactivity, aggression and dependency of
SBV Journal of Basic, Clinical and Applied Health Science - Volume 2 | Issue 2 | April - June 2018 5
Meena Ramanathan, et al,: Addressing Autism Spectrum Disorder through Yoga as a Complementary Therapy
drugs along with reduction in negative traits and given to such children, yogic therapy has been found
tendencies to cause injuries to self and others to be more beneicial. Yoga is a conventional long-
established and time-tested art and therapeutic science
The irst step in teaching yoga to an autistic child that has positive contribution to maintenance of general
is to establish a strong bond. The teacher must stoop wellbeing and happiness of all. Yoga is a great boon
down to the level of the child, gain child’s complete to civilized man having preventive, curative as well as
conidence, gradually develop mutual trust and rehabilitative potential. It is a spiritual science for the
friendship and later introduce practices that will help integrated and holistic development and helps manifest
to bring the child with ASD out of his or her shell and our potentialities.
out into the world. Yoga provides perfect platform to build
all vital skills required for self-suiciency. 14, 15 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
RESEARCH FINDINGS Support of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth University is gratefully
acknowledged. We thank management of SADAY,
Yoga is increasingly used in classrooms across the globe Karunai and Satya Special School, Pondicherry where
to have an impact on and also to enhance students’ we are currently involved in research activities on
behavioural and academic functioning, such as their children with autism and other special needs.
attention, concentration or focusing ability, impulse
control, strength, motor coordination, and social CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
skills. 16-21
None.
In a controlled experimental study carried out by
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Aspirin Antiplatelet Effect Enhanced by the Coadministration of Statins
We studied the inluence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, previous CV events, and cotreatments with preventive
medicines, on residual platelet thromboxane (TX)B2 production in 182 patients chronically treated with enteric
coated (EC)-aspirin (100 mg/day). The response to aspirin was also veriied by assessing arachidonic acid-induced
platelet aggregation and urinary 11-dehydro-TXB2 levels. Residual serum TXB2 levels exceeded the upper limit
value for an adequate aspirin response in 14% of individuals. This phenomenon was detected at 12 hours after
dosing with aspirin. The coadministration of statins (mostly atorvastatin) was an independent predictor of residual
serum TXB2 levels, and the percentage of patients with enhanced values was signiicantly lower in statin users
vs. nonusers. We provide evidence in vitro that atorvastatin reduced residual TXB2 generation by increasing the
extent of acetylation of platelet COX-1 by aspirin. In conclusion, the coadministration of statins may counter the
mechanisms associated with reduced bioavailability of aspirin detected in some individuals with CV disease.
Source: Tacconelli S et al. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2018; 104:111-119
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