Six-year-old Rachna Mehta (name changed on request) has trouble keeping up with other kids. As an autistic child, a condition that is a pervasive developmental disorder, Rachna struggles to control her body movements and use appropriate social interactions.
Children practicing yoga at the Centre for Child Development
But she is flourishing in Aarti Mehta’s yoga programme for kids with special needs, says her mother Karuna Mehta. Special kids need yoga classes to improve their balance, strength and self-control, “It has a calming effect on them,” says Mehta as Rachna settles down happily in class giggling with her friend 10-year-old Jay Arora from Dadar who has Downs Syndrome. “When he gets angry at home, we do the pranayam (breathing exercise),” says Rajendra Arora, his father.
According to Mehta, who has been working with such kids for almost two decades, yoga helps special children control their emotions and reactions. “They can’t explain themselves or communicate in a way someone else can understand easily. Their ability to calm down and then try to re-approach the situation makes all the difference,” says Mehta, who is a yoga therapist who teaches and specialises in yoga for children with special needs.
Teaching at the Centre for Child Development (CCD) at Haji Ali, Mehta adds, “Yoga is something every child can do. Done in both individual and group settings, it assists kids to engage in physical activities and builds their self confidence.”
Aarti Mehta helping a kid
on the yoga ropes
Parents like Rajendra Arora and Yamini Jhadav did not expect that yoga would make a difference, but they are thrilled with the results. “As a parent, you want to give your child all the opportunities you can to help them become self sufficient and confident,” said Arora. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to put a smile on Mehta’s face – just ask her about her students and her face lights up.
“These are sessions where I learn a lot from them and we grow together,” says Mehta. The training commences with kids stretching themselves to music followed by stories on different animals, having them pose and make sounds imitating them. Training in yoga also promotes creativity, number-count, memory, hand-eye coordination and other functional skills and motor skills, informs Mehta. “The point is to do it the fun way and develop these skills progressively. The atmosphere does not matter; what matters is the approach – it should be proactive,” explains Mehta.
Apart from her pro-active approach, accolades from parents also motivate her. Jhadhav’s son Ashwin, who will turn 11 next month, has been taking classes with Mehta at CCD for the last nine months and the effects are very visible. According to Jhadhav, Ashwin’s concentration, fine motor skills and communication has developed, allowing him to laugh and interact with other kids at their society which in turn boosts his self confidence.
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