ADHD symptoms are controlled by a particular area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. As compared to a normal brain the prefrontal lobes do not light up as much indicating decreased activity in this area which is revealed by a PET scan. Being intuitive, human beings have interestingly decided that they are “adults” at the age of twenty-one. This is the time when the prefrontal lobes finally mature. In fact, it is closer to the age of twenty-four in males. That is the reason why many may look back at the years before twenty-one and wonder how they could have made some of those unintelligent decisions and assumptions. Some may wonder how they actually survived.

Well, the formative years were not completed yet. That is the reason why children require the support of their parents through those years when they think they know everything, sometimes even to just keep the children alive. Children and teens that are diagnosed with ADD often act on their half baked ideas seeking out dangerous activities.

Undivided attention make things interesting. A simple act such as observing ants carry food twice their size can be quite entertaining to individuals who can stay with the ant’s feat. Individuals with ADD do not find many of life’s activities very interesting because they are incapable of continued concentration. However, if the activity they are engaging in is thrilling or dangerous then the ability to focus is forced by the instinct to remain alive. Seeking sensation often becomes a way of life for individuals with ADD as it helps them to focus on something. What people focus on excluding other things, they enjoy.

The right Pharmacological interventions when suited for an individual can work like magic. Addressing the children directly and discussing the effects of medication can contribute to increase in their self esteem. The results of medication vary from instant effects to the time taken to determine the right dosage and type. Sometimes, medication does not work simply because ADD may not be the root cause of the problem. Most adults with a psychiatric diagnosis have had problems with attention and focusing when young. Human beings are quite complicated. Medication can be tremendously helpful for ADD. However, medication when combined with a comprehensive behavioural plan can cultivate life-long skills. Yoga is a valuable practice which promotes the development of the body at the physical level, the more complicated mental plane (including the prefrontal cortex of the brain) and the spiritual level.

Unlike pharmacological interventions, the effects of regular yoga on ADD/ADHD are not instantaneous. However, unlike the effects of medication that wear off with time, the effects of regular yoga are deep and can stay permanently with an individual. “A headlong rush into life” is how Dr. Cantwell, past director or UCLA Child Psychiatry department describes the life of a young individual diagnosed with ADD. Inappropriate decisions and accidents can result in serious consequences. Sometimes such children do not have a sense of space and are therefore more likely to suffer physical injury to a greater extent as compared to an average child.

Proprioception is defined as the phenomenon of knowing where our body is in space and functions as a feedback mechanism to maintain safety of the physical body. Yoga is a remarkable method of learning preprioception that helps students to engage in asanas with awareness and sufficient time for feedback from the teacher. For example, when instructing a child to stand like a mountain, the teacher would say, ”Now look down at your feet. Are they standing just the same? Now look up at your arms. Are they reaching up just the same?”. Some children however have no idea about where in space they are and are often surprised at the amount of adjustment they are required to make.

When learning involves the entire body, senses that aid integration enhance brain function. The Sun Salutation asana that helps bilateral stimulation of the two sides of the brain with a prescribed activity flow helps in brain integration and makes the brain more efficient for learning. Scattered brains can derive great comfort from the yoga class that consists of a prescribed ritual. A typical yoga class for ADD children begins with arrangement of the mat space, being seated on the mat and preparing for a breathing exercise referred to as a Peace Breath. The Peace Breath is a series of exercise that comprises of a full breath in combined with the raising arms and a slow breath out while bringing the arms down with palm to palm aligned with the center of the body. It is suggested that children focus all their attention and energy into the body while they bring their hands together. The next exercise may suggest “picking grapes” wherein from the seated positions, the hands reach up and over crossing the midline of the body. This asana enhances brain integration and improves balance.

There are several balancing postures. Through a variety of balance postures that require focussed attention, children are taught to balance on their head, on their hands and on one foot. The children are first taught alignment and visual focus before proceeding to the balance posture. Children learn about how talking, laughter and looking at someone can result in losing their balance as they get instant feedback from their body and understand that the mind affects the body.

As the mind is distractible, they appear to entertain multiple thoughts at once or a at least a few up to the concluding stages. Distractible minds enjoy video games and television programmes immensely as the field changes very quickly. Parents are cautioned against unlimited video game and TV time as it reinforces ADD symptoms. In a yoga class, children are trained to be aware of the many thoughts within the mind field and learn to pay attention only to those that are useful at a particular time. They also learn that continuing to think about something unnecessary can get them in to trouble. Such learning promotes the development of the executive center of the brain.