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 Table of Contents  
LETTER TO EDITOR
Year : 2017  |  Volume : 5  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 64-65

Orphan children and yogic approach


1 Division of Yoga and Humanities, S-VYASA, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2 Division of Yoga and Physical Sciences, S-VYASA, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
3 Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, S-VYASA, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Date of Web Publication15-Feb-2018

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Pailoor Subramanya
Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, S-VYASA, Bengaluru, Karnataka
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/ijny.ijoyppp_21_17

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How to cite this article:
Sharma SD, Rajesh S K, Subramanya P. Orphan children and yogic approach. Int J Yoga - Philosop Psychol Parapsychol 2017;5:64-5

How to cite this URL:
Sharma SD, Rajesh S K, Subramanya P. Orphan children and yogic approach. Int J Yoga - Philosop Psychol Parapsychol [serial online] 2017 [cited 2024 Mar 28];5:64-5. Available from: https://www.ijoyppp.org/text.asp?2017/5/2/64/225623



Orphan children are more likely to be emotionally needy, insecure, poor, exploited, abused, or neglected, and they show high resilience in coping.[1] The children who have lost one parent (single orphan) or both parents (double orphan) usually live in stressful conditions.[2]

Many of the studies show that orphans are highly prone to psychological distress, depressive disorders of vegetative symptoms, anxiety, a sense of uselessness, hopelessness, and suicidal tendency. Hence, only material support and sustenance (in the form of food, clothing, and shelter) may not be enough/effective to address these issues in orphans.[3] In addition to this material support, they also need additional support to ensure psychological well-being.[4] Thus, our search for effective interventions leads to the solution through yoga, as many studies show that yoga can lead to psychological well-being and symptom reduction.[5] This is understandable from the attention and acceptance of Yoga in the light of positive role that yoga can play in prevention and management of psychological conditions.

There is a progressive trend toward the use of yoga as a mind-body complementary and alternative medicine intervention to improve specific physical and mental health conditions. Yoga is a holistic system of varied mind-body practices that can be used to improve mental and physical health, and it has been utilized in a variety of contexts and situations.[6] A study assessing the impact of yoga intervention on a group of Israeli school children residing in the region affected by the Second Lebanon War reveals that yoga may be beneficial as an intervention on children in postwar stress situations. The participation in yoga was both enjoyable and beneficial to children living in stressful conditions.[2] A study on effectiveness of 3-month yoga for orphans reported that yoga enhances their executive function and may have potential implications on learning, classroom behavior, and in handling the adverse circumstances and stand as a preventive measure for mental health problems.[7] Furthermore, an evidence-based yoga review suggests that certain postures, breathing techniques, concentration, and meditation practices help in effective rehabilitation of orphans.[8] A study aimed to assess the effect of a 12-week yoga program on the minimum muscular fitness of adolescents dwelling in an orphanage suggests that yoga has considerable benefits to improve muscular fitness and may be recommended as an effective training activity.[9]

Based on previous research findings, yoga program for orphans may include [6],[7],[8],[9] warm-ups, loosening and stretching practices, Surya Namaskara, yoga postures (asanas) which include standing, sitting, prone and supine asanas, Pranayama, and trataka.

To address the problems of orphan children, it is recommended setting up of a National Policy and Support Services for Orphans, Child Guidance Counsellors in those schools having more number of orphans, and yoga as a social skills training for orphan children.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.



 
  References Top

1.
Musisi S, Kinyanda E, Nakasujja N, Nakigudde J. A comparison of the behavioral and emotional disorders of primary school-going orphans and non-orphans in Uganda. Afr Health Sci 2007;7:202-13.  Back to cited text no. 1
[PUBMED]    
2.
Ehud M, An BD, Avshalom S. Here and now: Yoga in Israeli schools. Int J Yoga 2010;3:42-7.  Back to cited text no. 2
[PUBMED]  [Full text]  
3.
Atwine B, Cantor-Graae E, Bajunirwe F. Psychological distress among AIDS orphans in rural Uganda. Soc Sci Med 2005;61:555-64.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Makame V, Ani C, Grantham-McGregor S. Psychological well-being of orphans in Dar El Salaam, Tanzania. Acta Paediatr 2002;91:459-65.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Carmody J, Baer RA. Relationships between mindfulness practice and levels of mindfulness, medical and psychological symptoms and well-being in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. J Behav Med 2008;31:23-33.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Ferreira-Vorkapic C, Feitoza JM, Marchioro M, Simões J, Kozasa E, Telles S, et al. Are there benefits from teaching yoga at schools? A Systematic review of randomized control trials of yoga-based interventions. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2015;2015:345835.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Purohit SP, Pradhan B. Effect of yoga program on executive functions of adolescents dwelling in an orphan home: A randomized controlled study. J Tradit Complement Med 2017;7:99-105.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Sharma SD, Pailoor S, Tikhe SG. Rehabilitation in orphan children: Role of evidence-based yoga. Yoga Mimamsa 2015;47:3-5.  Back to cited text no. 8
  [Full text]  
9.
Purohit SP, Pradhan B, Mohanty S, Nagendra HR. Effect of yoga program on minimum muscular fitness of orphan adolescents by using kraus-weber test: A randomized wait-list controlled study. Indian J Posit Psychol 2015;6:389.  Back to cited text no. 9
    




 

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