Individualized Yoga Program for Exceptional Children at MNC

A REPORT ON THE IPP PROGRAMME CONDUCTED BY SATYANANDA YOGA CENTRE & SATYANANDA YOGA EDUCATION CHARITABLE TRUST, FOR  MADHURAM NARAYANAN CENTRE.

INTRODUCTION

SYC started its yoga programmes at MNC in the year 2006.Workshops were conducted for teachers caretakers and parents. Then the programme was designed to teach children with the help of mothers. In the academic year 2007 to 2008 and 2008 to 2009,the yoga programme was designed in such a way that the first two weeks of the month was utilizes to teach the practices to mothers and the caretakers and the following two weeks were utilized to teach yoga to children along with the help of mothers and caretakers. Mothers and the caretakers could experience certain positive changes happening within themselves and also for children. This gave way for SYC to develop a special programme for each child of phase 2.

DESCRIPTION OF YOGA IPP AS A MODEL

The two years of basic yoga programme for mothers and kids extended the vision and developed simple knowledge about the practices of yoga amongst the mothers. A specific curriculum was designed with several practices for forming IPP; (IPP stands for Individual Programme Plan); and it was taught to the mothers over a period of time. The practices were divided in groups. Each group was taught and revised over a period of time.

Then, these practices were taught to children in the IPP model. SYC insisted that the mothers learn the practices so that it can be well understood and experienced before they could implement the practices for children. The benefits of all these special practices were explained to the mothers. Then a two day orientation programme was taken for teachers also, in order to ensure that the practices are performed well in the classroom by the mothers and children.

BASIS OF DESIGNING CHILD’S IPP

A child’s IPP was designed based on the questionnaire made by SYC called as challenges assessment mechanism. Certain observable and modifiable conditions and behavior were taken into consideration & the IPP program was designed to suit every child based on the individual assessment made on each child. The questionnaire is as follows.

1 What is the basic special need?

2 How are the general habits of the child?

a) Eating habits

b) Sleeping habits

c) Toilet indications

3 What is the behavioral pattern of the child?

a) Does he or she get angry very often?

b) Does he or she is adamant?

c) Does he or she obey parents and teachers?

4 What are the physical limitations?

a) Is the neck having control?

b) Can the child stand and sit?

c) Is the child able to walk?

d) Is the child having good eye contact?

e) Is the child healthy or weak?

5 What is their level of intelligence?

a) What is the level of concentration?

b) What is the attention level?

c) What is the communication level? (Speech, eye contact etc)

· Considering the observations, conclusion was made to include specific practices, to bring about specific changes on a child to child basis.

· The challenges were analyzed and confirmed with the help of teachers and mothers.

AIM OF IPP

· Introduction of Yoga is aimed at minimizing or eliminating the physical limitations faced by the child in the first place.

· Improve general health of each child.

· Develop awareness.

o From No awareness state to Self awareness

o From Self awareness to environmental awareness

o From Environmental awareness to Enhanced communication

o Development of harmonious relationship

o However we have to remember that depending upon each child’s condition the stages would vary from child to child.

o Also the time taken for growing through these stages will also vary from child to child.

o Ultimately this would lead to improved participation of every child in the Early Intervention program offered by MNC.

THE INDIVIDUALIZED PRACTICE PROGRAMME WAS DESIGNED AS FOLLOWS.

a) General practices

b) Specific practices

c) Sankalpa was decided together by teachers of SYC and parent.

d) Expected outcome.

GENERAL PRACTICES

These are a set of practices aimed at improving the general health of the child. The general practices had two main groups of practices.

1. Pawan Muktasana Series – All children have been introduced to this series of practices. This set of practices is suitable to all children; those who can sit or stand; only lie down on the back, all could benefit from this set. A separate article giving details of the efficacy of this series is included later.

2. Tadasana Series - This sequence of practices require the practitioner to stand on their legs and these have been introduced to all the children who are capable of standing. Detailed information on the benefits of the Tadasana series of practices in given later.

3. Vajrasana Series - This sequence of practices are suitable for all children.

4. Abdominal group – This sequence of practices are suitable for all children, except a very few children.

SPECIFIC PRACTICES

These practices include a wide range of practices that would bring about specific outcomes in a child. The list is given below.

1. Simha Garjanasana

2.Eka Pada Pranamasana

3. Ardha Shalabasana

4. Makarasana

5. Sarpasana

6.Uttan Padasana

7.Pada Sanchalanasana

8.Netra Sanchalan Series

9.Greeva Sanchalan Series

10. Shashankasana

11. Surya Namaskara

12. Khandarasana

13. Vajrasana

14. Saral Bhujangasana

15.Head Raises

16.‘Ha’ Breathing

17. Bramhari Pranayama

18. Jalandra Bandha

19.Vama Kukshi

20.Uttara Kukshi

The benefits of these practices and its implication on the anatomy & physiology of the child is given separately later.

SANKALPA

Sankalpa is a positive seed sown in the subtler realms of the child’s mind. Usually when a child goes to sleep, after about five minutes the mother reads out the sankalpa to the child. Each child can have about five sankalpas and it is gently, but audibly read out to the child. These sankalpas get embedded in the child’s subconscious mind and brings about specific and welcome changes in behavior, attitude, health etc.

A sankalpa is coined for each child as part of IPP together by the mother and SYC teacher. This is then read out to the child at night when the child goes to sleep.

EXPECTED OUTCOME

The IPP is conceived based on a practical and desired expected outcome. Over a period the child’s condition and the assessment to observe if the IPP is having any effect on the child helps us to go to the next stage of IPP for the child or to go back and re design the IPP for the child.

Sankalpa Shakthi

We have the ability to remove this existing program from our mind so that we no longer have to follow its commands, and to replace it with a program which allows us a harmonious way of life and allows us to expand our consciousness. We can build a future that is consciousness orientated, positive and awake, merely by altering the mind that we now have. We can eventually aim at experiencing the hidden truth and beauty that exists inside us.

- Paramahamsa

Swami Satyananda Saraswati

If you wish to read the entire content of

Sri Swamiji's speech on this topic follow the link given below

http://www.rikhiapeeth.net/2009_04_17_archive.html

I had realized this in my own life and had observed this in the lives of many people around me. I had the opportunity of introducing many people to an empowered life, in which they were able to realize their potential; Understand their swabhava(1) & recourse the way their mind processed the inputs that were comming in their way.

However I wanted to try this with the lives of exceptional mothers as well as exceptional children. The fact that the communication channels are not open with people who are affected by one or more mental handicaps is known to all. The victim however is the exceptional child as well as the immediate family.

The challenge:

The inability to communicate through regular methods leaves these parents totally helpless, they realize that they are faced with a mammoth task ahead in their life. The anguished parent is not able to communicate! The child is unable to listen to them, see them, unable to say if he/she understands or not understand.

How to proceed further? it appears like a dead lock! The exceptional schools & centers all over the world are doing a great job in providing a program that would enable the establishment of communication channels.

At Madhuram Narayan Centre for Children with exceptional needs we have experimented with as many as 150 children. During our yoga program at MNC we first of all we introduced "YOGA NIDRA™" to all the mothers. We explained to them about Sankalpa Shakthi (2). Encoraged them to regularly practice YOGA NIDRA and then make sankalapas during their practice. They were able to see what they were capable of; using sankalpa in their own life and communicate to themselves many things that was not possible earlier.

Breaking through the limitation:

When mothers could realize the way in which they could communicate to the inner mind, we suggested to them that they should coin Sankalpas that they could introduce to their child. Mothers decided on general sankalpas relating to health, change in behavior, ability to communicate( it could even be just looking at the parents) which they introduced to the children at the suggested time in an appropriate manner. They were delighted to find that their child had begun to respond to sankalpas that were introduced. The doors of the child's mind that were completely locked so far had to give in to this wonderful approach.

Hope:

Mothers became very enthusiastic about sankalpa. There were lot of questions they had. They were moving forward to make a priority list of sankalpas. There was hope that they would be able to finally communicate with their child.

However we wanted to go step by step & ascertain the efficacy of sankalpa, do we decided to include Sankalpa in the IPP(Individualized Practice Program). We observed the needs from physical, health & behavioral angles. IPP was drawn up for every child & sankalpa was also coinded specifially to suit the need of each child.

In the last academic year (08-09), every mother at MNC administered sankalapas as planned. We had outstanding results. We are sure that this can be a very useful contribution of Satyananda Yoga to exceptional children.

We look forward to all avenues to share our findings with all those who working with exceptional children, parents of exceptional children.

Positive Parenting Practices:

We wish to provide this as an important method for building nourishing relationship between parents and children. for further reading about Positive Parenting with Yoga you can visit - http://syectchennai.blogspot.com/.

Exceptional Mothers !

God had these wonderful Jivas

They had received the boon that they will be taken care fully with flawless love in their life on earth, without any expectation.

He started searching for people on earth who would have the inner strength to abundantly give love. Without expecteing anything in return. It was a tough search!

Finally the thought that dawned in God's mind gave him relief. He knew for sure that he had some Exceptional Mothers who had a very very strong heart. A heart that had so much space in it. He safely deposited these special souls to the custody of the special mothers.

When I visited MNC & witnessed the activities there, I could see that they were indeed the chosen mothers who had the strength & ability to shower their love on these tender souls.

It has been our privilege to serve these exceptional mothers and their exceptional children at MNC.

Satyananda Yoga For Exceptional Children - 1

In 2005 while looking for opportunities for Seva, I met Mrs.Jaya Krishnaswamy in a meeting of NIP (Network for Information on Parenting). She is the Director of Madhuram Narayan Centre, a centre dedicated to children with exceptional needs. She invited me to visit MNC and see what can be done for the children. When I visited MNC for the first time, it was shocking to me to see the children with disabilities.

I decided to spend some time for MNC to apply the practices of yoga in the life of exceptional children.

At first it was decided that the care givers, staff, organizers, special educators, occupational therapists and coordinators of MNC would be given a course. PM1 series of practices, Tadasana, Triyak Tadasana, Kati Chakrasana, Marjari Asana, abdominal & yogic breathing & simple Yoga Nidra was taught to the participants for a period of three months. The program was received very well; all participants were convinced with the usefulness of regular practices.

The academic year was coming to a close & we decided that we would take the program forward to the children of MNC. I was convinced that any program for the children would be complete only if the mothers were empowered with the techniques and the attitude of Yoga. It was suggested to MNC that firstly a program would have to be conducted for the mothers of exceptional children. The coordinators & faculty of MNC were not used to this kind of an approach. They were focusing on finding some kind of solution to improve the condition of children, whereas I was suggesting them to accept a program for the mothers.

However finally they agreed my proposal & before the close of the academic year we conducted a series of workshops for the mothers of MNC to educate them and sensitize them about the need for yoga in their life and in the life of their children. During these workshops, they we given opportunities for participating in group discussions with other mothers & with yoga teachers from Satyananda Yoga Centre and to practice PM1, Yoga Nidra. We were able to create interest in the mothers. All were looking forward to the next year.

At this time Swami Niranjan had decided to visit Chennai & Bangalore. This was a great blessing for the initiative. In Feb 2007 when Swamiji visited Chennai, the mothers of exceptional children of MNC came to meet Swamiji & got the opportunity to listen to Swamiji. As Swamiji was addressing them most of them were moved by the compassion that was showered on them and were weeping in joy. They all felt blessed and expressed their heartfelt gratitude for arranging the meeting.

Swami Niranjan met the children and mothers of Madhuram Narayan Centre.

Lecture by Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati

in Chennai on 21/02/2007

I am very happy to see all the children with special needs & I am also very pleased to see their mothers. Children with special needs are children who have not received something in their lives. May be in the past they have gone through several situations in life, that they have been isolated, rejected neglected & God has sent them with special needs so that they can receive the special attention & care & love which they missed before. Mothers have been honored by GOD by giving this duty to them. Remember you are not the sufferer but you are chosen one of GOD. Yes physically, socially in family life this can be seen as a crisis. In family life it can even been perceived as a burden that one has t carry throughout life. But that is our perspective as a social being, but if you see the karma that is inherent in their life and their needs, then it is a clear indication that GOD wants them to have an exposure and experience of that they have lacked in their previous experience. And definitely as their parent we have the responsibility to give ensure that we are able to provide the environment for their development and growth. This development and growth in these children with special needs can be had in the following manner.

When they sleep at night put on a Kirtan cassette beside them. Let their subconscious mind absorb the name of GOD the kirtan sung, the devotion. It will make them more peaceful more comfortable within themselves. So when they are sleeping at night just put on a cassette with bajan or kirtan for one hour or so that they can listen at night.

Second item: In a tape recorder record five different sankalpas or sentences. Sankalpas such as “I will be receptive”. “I will be receptive to learning I will be expressive in my life”. “I will be happy in life”. In this manner you will look the different traits of the children and give the appropriate Sankalpa in a cassette. Each resolution should be repeated at least seven times in the cassette. At night when they of sleep or when they come to the class room the Sankalpa should be the first thing they should hear. I had mention before that after playing the kirtan cassette put the Sankalpa cassette. After that let them sleep.

Also expose them to certain yogic practices. You have to understand that they will be unable to practice yoga practices on their own. What should to be taught to them, should be actually done by you. And my advice is that these children should be made to practice TADASANA, TRIYAK TADASANA, and KATI CHAKRASANA should be followed & those who are capable and can be guided into the practice of slow SURYA NAMASKAR.

And also a special research was done in Switzerland with children of special needs. And these children were given a coloring book. But in the book there were no pictures of animals, or houses or cars or sun or moon or Mickey mouse or Donald duck. But it had black and white reproduction of the Yantras. You know “Yantra Coloring book.” It had Shri Yantra, Kali Yantra, Shiva Yantra, Ganesha Yantra it had all the different yantras of our Paramapara. And children were given the coloring pens to color that. After about three months of coloring, which in the early stages used to be lines all over the page, after three months the yantras were seen as yantras with colors in them. And this doctor in Switzerland uses only the Yantra coloring book to help children with special needs. So if there is a Yantra coloring book available then that should be used by these children. Yantras are geometrical figures right. When you are looking at that the eyes are capturing that image and it creating certain influence inside the brain. And this kind of Tratak on Yantra in Black and white actually readjusts and realigns the centers that are under active or over active. So Yantra coloring book, the four five asans, listening kirtan and Sankalpa at night are a must for these children. Accept our heartfelt prayers for their well being in their life and also accept our gratitude specially the mothers for fulfilling their responsibilities.

VANAKKAM
HARI OM TAT SAT

In June 2007 the Satyananda Yoga program was started in Madhuram Narayan centre for mothers and children. Every day mothers and children assemble at the hall in MNC. After Om Chanting, Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra and Gayatri Mantra are chanted 11 times, the 32 names of Durga are chanted. It is followed by asanas and concluded with a short yoga nidra.

When we started the program the volunteers from Satyananda Yoga Centre and the care givers of MNC were startled because it was totally unmanageable to have children in the class. They were crying so loudly and were so restless that we could not give the instructions & even if we were shouting out instructions no one would hear our voice.

We kept our fingers crossed about how effective these classes would be. However the decision was made that we would definitely conduct yoga for the children. The classes were conducted for half an hour for one batch & then the next group would come for the next half hour. We had four batches every day from Monday to Friday. A total of 110 children were going to benefit from this project.

We decided to run the two programs; first for the mothers and the second for the children. The programs were run parallely. First two weeks of the month we held classes for mothers and second two weeks for the children, with the help of mothers.

Mothers program:

• Pawan Muktasanasa Part-1
• Tadasana
• Triyak Tadasana
• Kati Chakrasana
• Marjari Asana

were taught amongst asanas.

• Abdominal breathing
• Bramhari Pranayama
• Nadi Sodhana Pranayama Stage-1&2

were taught in pranayama

• Yoga Nidra was conducted every day for 15 minutes.

These were covered over a period of one academic year.

Initially mothers were reluctant to new learning

They did not see any possibility of including something new into their already cramped day; however within few months mothers realized that regular Yoga practice was having a positive effect on them. They have shared with us that they are having lot more energy than they used to have. They expressed that the relaxation was giving them a great leverage in dealing with the daily domestic chores. The mothers have seen a new hope in their life with Yoga.

The mothers realized that they should avail the guidance given by Swamiji about the practices to be taught to the children with special needs. Mothers began to enquire us about Yantra painting, about kirtan and sankalpa.

During the year we conducted several workshops for all the mothers to explain about Yoga Nidra & to emphasize the relevance of the yoga input in their own life as well as the lives of the children. The workshops were like elaborating Swamiji’s formula.

We did a Yantra painting activity in which every child of MNC participated. We painted the palms of the child with colors and with their palm print we painted the Mooladhara Chakra. Now this Yantra hangs on the wall at MNC. Children are seeing it as they learn the practices. We have planned to take up one Yantra after another.

Sankalpa:
Mothers were guided to frame sankalpa’s that they could whisper into their child’s ears in the night when they had just begun to doze off. The sankalpa had suggestions that would change their behavior; make them calm and relaxed; improve their ability to communicate; begin to look into the eyes of others; improve health & the like wise.

When we moved into the next academic year many mothers were smiling with lot more energy & enthusiasm that Yoga had brought into their lives.

Satyananda Yoga Centre

Inspired by "Bihar School of Yoga" & the teachings of Swami Satyananda SYC was founded by Shri.NKT.M.Jeyagopal (SHIVA RISHI) on the day of Diwali in 2005.

Shri.NKT.M.Jeyagopal has been practicing yoga since he was twenty. He has a unique ability of providing insight to the aspirants of yoga who approach him for learning. The schemes of courses offered are designed based on his understanding from fifteen years of teaching yoga.

The courses have homogeneous combination of
o Tatwa or Philosophy
o Shastra or Scripture
o Anushtaan or Practice

They are like the three legs of a tripod, which give the program balance & stability.

Sadhana, Seva and Samarpan are the guiding light for aspirants in SYC for progressing in their yoga learning.

Satyananda Yoga Centre provides professional yoga training to several organizations which include

• Educational institutions ( Schools & Colleges)
• Hospitals
• Corporate companies
• Non Governmental Organizations
• Public Sector Undertakings
• Banks
• HR companies
  
  
  
  

Hari Om

On This wonderful day I am creating this blog for the joy of giving what I have.
Which I received from a great Parampara.
SHIVA RISHI