My Autism Insights

Prompt by Mo at Manic Monday

“Last week the candle factory burned down.  Everyone just stood around and sang Happy Birthday.”

~Stephen Wright

Because why try to fight it?  It occurred to me that I was going on about this whole Christmas tree thing all wrong.  So what if Gus wants to obsessively redecorate the tree during every waking moment?  I watched him at it this morning, and he was oddly calm, singing his versions of Christmas carols and just moving the ornaments around.  He actually spread them out now so they’re not all clumped at the bottom.  I’m not entirely comfortable with him around the lit tree with all that water in the bottom, so maybe I just disconnect the lights at a point where he can’t reach?  Or maybe I just don’t worry about it.  Maybe I just go find a yoga class, chill out and let it go. I mean, it’s just a tree, right?  There’s aren’t even any candles on it to start a fire.

Yoga and meditation can be a great way to cope with the stresses of life, especially when autism is a daily part of it. Although I’ve been a yoga teacher for six years, I’ve never been very drawn to classic meditation where you sit on a cushion for log periods of time clearing the mind. For me, the movement through yoga postures is what has usually helped me to focus and get my head back on straight. But yesterday, I decided to take a meditation class and was pleasantly surprised.

I typically have trouble sitting still - my body just doesn’t like it. As a result, I get distracted and can’t find stillness. Yesterday was the second morning in a row that I’d been roused from sleep at 3 am and I was exhausted. I thought I might fall asleep. But for some reason, I found myself able to find my breath and follow it to a quiet spot at the core of my mind. I thought I’d only been in meditation for a few moments, but actually sat for a straight thirty-five minutes! I felt very calm for the rest of the day.

Parents of autistic children can benefit from yoga and meditation because it helps them to find reserves of patience and understanding in those moments when they may feel they’re at the end of their rope. These practices are also quite beneficial for individuals on the spectrum. Yoga and meditation can help build coordination, balance the nervous system, increase focus, and build confidence. Yoga is also wonderful for enhancing brain development.

Gus has taken yoga in the past and loves it. The slower movements allow him to get a grasp on his body despite his coordination being a challenge. There haven’t been any classes lately that we have been able to fit into his schedule, but the summer may prove to be a bit more flexible. And if you’re wondering why I don’t teach him myself, it’s because I’ve tried and the practice becomes oxymoronic and stressful. Occasionally we will play yoga, but there are just too many distractions in our house for him to be able to really benefit.

If you can get out to practice yoga and/or meditation, or if you can find a few minutes at home, I strongly recommend giving these ancient methods a try.