Using Yoga to Manage ADD

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Using Yoga to Manage ADD

By ADD Management Coach Koretsky

Exercise is a powerful tool for ADD management. Medical

professionals recommend that adults get at least 30 minutes

of aerobic exercise (such as running or biking) 3-5 times

per week to improve their general health. For ADDers, this

type of exercise is particularly beneficial, because it may

balance production of neurotransmitters and reduce stress

levels. Another form of exercise that ADDers are finding

valuable is yoga. When practiced regularly, yoga offers

numerous health benefits, such as increased strength and

flexibility, and decreased blood pressure and cholesterol

levels. However, the greater benefits of yoga are arguably

the psychological ones. Yoga combines physical activity with

self-awareness, which promotes a mind-body connection that

many ADDers lack.

When ADDers report challenges with impulsivity and

hyperactivity, they often describe feeling like they don't

have control over their own bodies. They find themselves

speaking before thinking their thoughts through, and often

regret their words. They constantly fidget, unaware that

their bubbling energy can be disruptive to others in work

and social situations. And they feel as if they simply

cannot stop the whirlwind of thoughts spinning in their

heads.

Yoga can help ADDers learn how to forge a mind-body

connection that promotes self-awareness and self-control.

Yoga practitioners are taught deep breathing and relaxation

techniques that help center the mind in the present moment.

Practitioners are also guided into holding different

postures, called asanas. Each asana is held for an extended

period of time, as the practitioner focuses on holding the

best posture that they can, while breathing calmly and

deeply. The asanas promote stretching, strengthening, and

balancing, as the deep breathing promotes relaxation and

mental awareness.

It is important to remember that yoga is not meant to be

stressful or taxing on the body. People should be encouraged

to concentrate only on themselves and not the others in the

class, and to do only what feels comfortable. A practitioner

should never feel pressured to perform. If an ADDer finds

him/herself at a yoga class that moves too quickly, or

focuses heavily on strength training, they will not reap the

intended benefits, and may find themselves overwhelmed. The

best place to find yoga instruction is at a yoga center,

where the instructors practice yoga as a way of life, and

teach both the physical and psychological components.

Yoga can help ADDers feel calm, centered, in control, and in

touch with their bodies. Practiced regularly, ADDers will

find that yoga is a powerful mental and physical refresher

that they can retreat to when feeling out of control or

overwhelmed.