134: ADHD & Yoga: Community Conversations with Emily Mariola

What is it about yoga that makes such a significant difference in well-being for people with ADHD? Today host Rachel invites guest Emily Mariola to help answer that question. Emily is a Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist and studio owner who recently completed her 1000hr research project on Yoga for ADHD.

In this episode Emily shares yoga practices that help those with ADHD learn to self-regulate both on and off the mat—from asana, to breath work, meditation and use of drishti. She also encourages yoga teachers and practitioners to view disruptive behavior with more compassion.

“Meditation, concentration and breath work are all parts of the practice, in conjunction with asana, that are things that ADHD people should practice.” – Emily Mariola

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“They can increase and decrease dopamine if they can regulate their nervous system with breath or movement or thought patterns. Now all of a sudden you are giving people control.” – Emily Mariola

Show Notes:

• Describing ADHD, its challenges and opportunities [4:22]
• How Emily’s thesis project came about [10:56]
• Yoga practices for ADHD [16:49]
• Sun salutations: discipline & patterned behavior [21:52]
• Suggestions when struggling with stillness [25:31]
• Fixed gaze: focus & impulse control [31:14]
• Yoga for emotional regulation [33:27]
• Breath work for regulation, and a cue to internal state [38:34]
• Recognizing ADHD behaviors with compassion [44:23]
• Key outcomes of Emily’s research project [49:45]
• Final takeaways [54:37]

Links Mentioned:

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Connect with Emily Mariola:

Facebook | Instagram | Flex Yoga Wooster

“We don’t need to know why or how these tools help us; they seem to help us anyway and isn’t that just a lovely thing to know as a yoga teacher and student.” – Rachel Land