Those with ADHD Can Find Focus and Peace Through Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness

If you have ADHD, the ancient art of yoga can support you on your path to increased focus and concentration. Millions of people the world over practice this physical, mental, and spiritual discipline for the health and relaxation benefits it provides.
 
Yoga is a practice that includes breath control, simple meditation, and specific body postures. It has been around for thousands of years, so it is “tried and true.” In today’s fast-paced world, yoga has enjoyed a much-deserved renaissance, as it can counteract the blaze of stimuli that surrounds us all day every day.
 
How Yoga Quiets the Mind & Balances the Body’s Systems
Yoga’s focus on breathing, meditation and poses has a positive effect on the endocrine system and helps balance hormones. The brain, nervous system, and endocrine system all work together to move the body. Yoga keeps the systems fluid and balanced.
 
Yoga seeks to bring the body, mind, and spirit into harmony. Through yoga, practitioners can achieve the balance necessary for bodily, spiritual, and emotional health. The benefits of yoga for people with ADHD include stress relief, increased focus, self-awareness, meditation and increased confidence.
 
The Breath of Life
Yoga can increase lung capacity and improve oxygen levels due to its encouragement of deep breathing—or “breath of life” —techniques. Deep breathing delivers more oxygen to the brain, which supports cardio and mental health.
 
Yoga may hep people with ADHD through postures that encourage deep breathing, such as forward bends. One study suggests that yoga may have more impact on hyperactivity than strenuous exercise.
 
Start Small: Alternatives to Yoga for Cultivating Mindfulness
If you believe in the positive effects of yoga and mindfulness for ADHD patients, we could discuss the benefits and how to make a minimal commitment to mindfulness therapy.
 
Yoga postures aren’t for everyone. If yoga isn’t your thing, here are some tips to help you bring your focus to the present moment:

1. Feel the breath flowing into and out of your body. Notice the sensations in your nostrils, shoulders, ribcage, belly.
2. Be present to sound. Allow sounds to pass like clouds in the sky. Let go of labeling. When you notice thoughts arising, gently return your awareness to listening.
3. Listen to yourself answer the phone. Share space with the person calling. Be aware of how you speak and listen. Choose words without the need to win.
4. At the end of the day, write down what you enjoyed during the day, what you are satisfied with, and what you are grateful for.

 
To learn more about methods to effectively manage your ADHD in healthy, positive ways, contact Cloud Counseling today.

Your adult ADHD diagnosis means that day-to-day tasks that seem simple to others can be daunting, but there’s no reason to despair. With knowledge and counseling, your symptoms are manageable. To learn more about strategies for tackling the symptoms of adult ADHD, contact me at Cloud Counseling today.