134 ADHD & Yoga: Community Conversations with Emily Mariola

This episode explores how yoga can help individuals with ADHD manage their symptoms and leverage the positive qualities associated with this neurodevelopmental condition. Emily Morfield-Mariola shares insights from her 1,000-hour thesis, detailing an eight-week yoga intervention for college students with ADHD, emphasizing that ADHD affects the brain's self-management system and neurotransmitter levels, impacting executive function and reward processing. The discussion pivots to the components of a yoga practice beneficial for ADHD, including asana for physical outlet and patterned behavior, breathwork for nervous system regulation, and meditation for concentration. More significantly, the conversation highlights the importance of self-awareness and emotional regulation, teaching individuals to recognize and manage their physical and emotional states through yoga. Emily also addresses common ADHD behaviors in class, advocating for empathy and kindness from teachers, and concludes by emphasizing the need for self-study to understand and leverage the unique strengths and challenges associated with ADHD. This approach empowers individuals to take control and make informed choices about managing their condition.