Therapy Decision Guide
Yoga and mindfulness classes are not covered under OAP core clinical services. If an occupational therapist or psychologist incorporates yoga-based strategies within their regulated clinical practice, those sessions may qualify for OAP funding as part of a broader self-regulation treatment plan.
Ask any prospective provider which of these credentials they hold, and confirm the credential with the relevant regulatory college before starting.
Yoga provides proprioceptive and vestibular input through poses that involve weight-bearing, balance, and body positioning. For autistic individuals with sensory processing differences, these inputs can be organizing and calming. The predictable sequence of a yoga practice offers structure while building interoceptive awareness — the ability to notice internal body signals.
Adapted yoga programs modify traditional yoga for autistic participants. Modifications include visual schedules of poses, reduced verbal instruction, shortened hold times, sensory-friendly environments (dim lighting, reduced noise), and the option to skip poses. Programs like Yoga for the Special Child (Sonia Sumar) and Connected Warriors offer autism-specific adaptations.
Mindfulness practices teach non-judgmental awareness of the present moment. For autistic individuals, adapted mindfulness uses concrete anchors — feeling feet on the floor, counting breaths with visual aids, or noticing specific sensory experiences. These techniques build emotional regulation capacity through body-based awareness rather than abstract cognitive strategies.
Hourston and Atchley (2017) conducted a systematic review of yoga interventions for autism. Published in Autism, the review identified emerging evidence for improvements in social communication, behavioral functioning, and self-regulation. The authors noted that most studies had small sample sizes and methodological limitations.
Koenig, Buckley-Reen, and Garg (2012) published a school-based yoga study in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. Results showed improvements in classroom behaviour, including reduced maladaptive behaviours and increased prosocial behaviours after a 16-week yoga program. Ridderinkhof et al. (2018) found that a mindfulness-based program (MYmind) reduced emotional and behavioural problems in autistic children.
Ontario offers several autism-adapted yoga programs through community centres, yoga studios, and children's treatment centres. Some occupational therapists incorporate yoga-based strategies into their clinical practice. The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) certifies yoga therapists who complete specialized training beyond standard yoga teacher certification.
Families should look for instructors with autism-specific training and experience. Small class sizes or individual sessions are preferable for autistic participants who may find group settings overwhelming. Many Ontario programs offer virtual options that allow participation from home — a preferred environment for some autistic individuals.
Hourston & Atchley (2017)
Autism and mind-body therapies: A systematic review. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 23(5), 331-339.
Koenig, Buckley-Reen & Garg (2012)
Efficacy of the Get Ready to Learn yoga program among children with autism spectrum disorders: A pretest-posttest control group design. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66(5), 538-546.
Ridderinkhof et al. (2018)
Running head: Mindfulness training for autistic children. Mindfulness, 9, 901-912.
Written by Spencer Carroll
Founder & Autism Advocate
Evidence on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) delivered to children aged 18–30 months produced significant gains in IQ, adaptive behaviour, and autism severity — some children no longer met diagnostic criteria at follow-up
Cochrane systematic review finds evidence that early intensive behavioural intervention (EIBI) may produce positive effects on adaptive behaviour and communication for young children with ASD (low certainty of evidence)
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement
89,799
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
23%
Only 20,633 children have active funding agreements — less than one in four