Yoga for Children with Sensory Processing Difficulties

As part of my MSc. in Occupational Therapy (in Sensory Integration) I wrote a systematic literature review paper on

“Exploring yoga as a sensory based intervention for children with sensory processing difficulties”.

Occupational Therapists frequently use complementary and alternative interventions to complement the work they do with children with sensory processing difficulties.

Although some of them may differ from sensory integration in terms of their application, many align with the theory of sensory integration.

One of the key features of Occupational Therapy is about occupation and the under pinning components to support individuals to develop skills in order for them to perform everyday tasks and assume daily roles in their lives and sensory integration is considered to be a factor in performance.

From the literature analysed it is evident yoga provides sensory motor experience and supports the integration of mind and body connection through the central nervous system to support cognitive function, emotional and self-regulation, behaviour and motor skills.

It provides a purposeful and meaningful activity which not only supports the underlying foundations to develop skills through a fun based and playful activity for children but also their overall mental and emotional well-being.

Yoga is embodied practice attuning an individual’s to sensations outside of their body through the muscles, joints and sense of where the body is in space to the interceptive sensations connecting the mind and body providing individuals with tools to support self management and self-regulation.

A full copy of my paper can be found here and on Ulster University’s website.

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