Interview with Autism Today TV - YEAS

Recently the founder of Kahlon Family Services, Vanessa Kahlon, was interviewed on AutismTV about her unique program, YEAS (Yoga Education for Autism Spectrum). Vanessa's passion shines brightly for both yoga and helping individuals with special needs, as anyone who has ever met her would soon notice. Passionate people will always make an impact on the world around them, and that is why Vanessa's program is so inspiring.  

The interview can be seen by clicking here - we highly recommend watching it! (YouTube wasn't letting us post the video for some reason, sorry. We tried!)

During the interview, Vanessa spoke about the positive effects of yoga for those with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Here's a recap of a few reasons why the YEAS program really works; 

(1) Body Awareness
Yoga teaches children about the parts of their body, what they can do and where they are in space. This all seems very obvious to a typically developing child, but these foundational skills are delayed in those with Autism. Spatial awareness can greatly effect behavior at home and school, particularly with children who tend to hit or crash into other people. Children learn to "feel" where their bodies are, by making contact with the yoga mat, stretching and strengthening. 

(2) Coping Skills
At Kahlon Family Services, we make sure that children know that they are in control of their bodies. It is very empowering for a child who has very little control over their environment to remember that their body is something they have mastery over. Even if it is extremely difficult, (or seems impossible) for some children to control their body, we celebrate each small step in the journey towards self-regulation. Yoga teaches children to persist in situations that are uncomfortable, new and may go for a longer time than the child expects. Certain poses will be challenging (but never meant to hurt) and they will learn that over time, bodies become stronger. The YEAS program doesn't focus on perfection, but instead, keys in on best efforts. 

(3) Self Esteem
Each YEAS session is designed to leave the child feeling more empowered than we he/she arrived. Many children who have "disabilities" or differences can become quickly discouraged with activities that involve complex motor coordination. In situations where typically developing children are learning activities like yoga, teachers are not often able to handle students with processing delays, which leaves children with Autism feeling alienated by multistep instructions. The chain reaction is that the child with Autism may act out because the demands placed upon him are beyond his ability, or stop trying because he has already perceived failure. YEAS addresses these problems in a very concrete way with the items in the backpack (pictured above). 

(4) Sequencing
As mentioned, children on the Autism Spectrum are likely to struggle with sequencing instructions, and processing auditory directions. The YEAS program uses special FIRST/THEN instruction boards, visual schedules and choice boards. We set children up for success by giving extra cues, so that their minds can be focused on the content of the lesson. 

(5) Routine
Many people on the Autism Spectrum find comfort in routine. The great part about YEAS classes is that there is a level of predictability about each session. Class starts with Sun Salutations and ends in Savasana, giving children a sense of time, community and routine. During class, the children are both the students and the teachers - Vanessa is big on having the children teach one another, which reinforces their learning and builds self esteem. 

(6) Relaxation
As mentioned by Lois Brady in the interview, children with Autism Spectrum Disorders may have trouble learning how to "relax" because they are not 100% sure what "relax" means. Children are given a reference point for relaxation in a YEAS class, when they are directly taught how to breathe deeply and meditate. 

(7) Transferable Skills
Yoga can be done on and off the mat. This means that no matter where you are, yoga can be used to stretch and calm the body. Children can use yoga poses to help focus them at school (e.g. Planking builds core strength, which makes it easier to sit still and focus in class, and children who have stims that involve hand-play can benefit from the input provided by Downward Dog). Deep breathing that is used in yoga can be transferred to moments where a child with Autism needs to calm down after a meltdown or a moment of frustration. 


If you would like to know more about the YEAS program, or if you would be interested in attending or hosting a YEAS training session, please visit www.kahlonfamilyservices.com. Likewise, you can email info@kahlonfamilyservices.com or comment on this post. 

Namaste!