How Yoga Helps Neurodiverse Children

Yoga supports emotional regulation, focus, and body awareness through gentle movement and mindful breathing.

A Holistic Integration Approach
at Teamwork Therapies

At Teamwork Therapies, we believe in supporting the whole child—mind, body, and nervous system. Yoga is one of the holistic tools we integrate to complement Speech, Occupational, Physical, and Behavior therapies.

Yoga provides neurodiverse children with structured movement, calming breathwork, sensory regulation, and mindfulness practices that strengthen their ability to navigate daily challenges with confidence.

Benefits of Yoga for
Neurodiverse Children

Supports Emotional Regulation

Yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping children calm their bodies and emotions. Through simple breathing practices, grounding poses, and predictable routines, children learn effective tools to manage:

  • Anxiety
  • Overwhelm
  • Meltdowns
  • Transitions

Poses like Child’s Pose, Butterfly, and Belly Breathing help reset the nervous system and promote emotional balance.

Enhances Sensory Integration

Yoga naturally stimulates the vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile systems—key areas targeted in Occupational Therapy.

This helps improve:

  • Body awareness
  • Coordination
  • Balance and posture
  • Sensory modulation (reducing defensiveness or seeking)

Slow, controlled movements provide the predictability many neurodiverse children rely on.

Improves Focus, Attention & Executive Functioning

Yoga encourages children to practice:

  • Following multi-step directions
  • Maintaining focus through movement
  • Predictable transitions between poses
  • Pausing before reacting
  • Building impulse control

Mindfulness and movement combined improve a child’s ability to stay engaged and regulated during school, therapy sessions, and daily activities.

Builds Strength, Balance & Motor Skills

Yoga poses strengthen the core, improve posture, and develop coordinated movement patterns.

For neurodiverse children, this supports:

  • Gross motor development
  • Balance and stability
  • Fine motor readiness
  • Endurance and flexibility

Poses such as Tree, Warrior, and Cat–Cow help children become more confident in their bodies.

Encourages Social Connection & Confidence

Yoga can be practiced individually or in small groups, supporting:

  • Turn-taking
  • Mirroring
  • Cooperative activities
  • Joint attention
  • Following peers

The non-competitive nature of yoga allows children to explore movement at their own pace, helping build self-esteem and confidence.

Why Yoga Works So Well
for Neurodiverse Children

Yoga is adaptable, predictable, and sensory-friendly

It is: 

  • Non-competitive
  • Easily modified for all abilities
  • Supportive of cognitive, emotional, and physical development
  • Calming and grounding
  • Structured with consistent routines

These qualities make yoga a powerful addition to holistic care at
Teamwork Therapies.

Integrated Into Our
Therapeutic Approach

At Teamwork Therapies, yoga is not a standalone service—it is woven into our holistic philosophy to support:

  • Sensory regulation
  • Mind–body connection
  • Postural control
  • Emotional resilience
  • Engagement in therapy

Families often report that children sleep better, handle transitions more smoothly, and feel more confident after incorporating yoga-based strategies.