I have been working with disabled children for about five years. Most of the children cannot walk, some walk with a walking frame, wear a splint or live in a wheelchair, some children cannot talk at all or have great difficulty in doing so. They can perform asana very well, even such asanas as bhujangasana, makarasana, kurmasana, sarvangasana and halasana. They are at ease with the asanas and feel comfortable in the postures. A few years ago, a young boy who had autism was able to stay completely still in shavasana. His teachers could not believe it as he was never still, always restless and moving.
Some children speak well, some not at all, and some are learning with great difficulty. Audrey, at six years of age, could only say ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Now she slowly makes sentences and sings mantras with all her heart. The children enjoy mantra chanting very much. They are able to memorize many mantras such as Om, So Ham, the Gayatri mantra, the Shanti Mantra as well as the words of various kirtans. Most of the children cannot read so they have learned only by listening and memorizing. One girl, Sublime, now chants Om spontaneously when she feels the need to do so. Anastasia, who is seven, loves music and does not talk . . . yet. As soon as I play the Gayatri mantra, she brightens up and starts dancing on her knees. When her caretaker tells her that she is going to yoga class, she smiles and is happy.
I also taught them concentration and correct breathing and told them they could use these techniques whenever they needed. I have witnessed many changes over the past five years and so have the other professionals who work with the children. Their ability to concentrate has developed enormously along with their awareness of their breathing and their ability to change the breathing patterns.
One boy, Romeo, who is in a wheelchair and cannot talk, told his mother, with the help of a communication notebook, that when he comes home after yoga, he wants to have silence and not play any video games.
I hope that these children, when they leave the school at the age of sixteen, will remember some of the yoga practices they have learned and keep using them in their daily lives.