Using Yoga in Occupational Therapy Sessions: How the Body Stores and Releases Tension in Children

By Heather Hodgins Chan, OT Reg. (Ont.), Psychotherapist
On The Ball Pediatric Physio and Occupational Therapy

Families looking for occupational therapy and pediatric physiotherapy support in Kanata and Orleans often seek ways to help children manage stress, body tension, and sensory challenges. At On The Ball Pediatrics, therapists use movement based strategies such as yoga, breathing exercises, and therapeutic play to help children regulate their nervous systems and feel more comfortable in their bodies.

The body and nervous system are deeply connected. Through movement, stretching, and breathing, activities such as yoga can help release tension held in the body’s fascial system and support regulation in children.

How the Fascial System Stores Stress and Tension in Children

In occupational therapy, we often observe that children who experience anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or stress frequently hold a significant amount of tension in their bodies. Their muscles may appear tight, their posture may be rigid, and their movements may look guarded or restricted.

One important structure involved in this process is the fascial system.

Fascia is a continuous network of connective tissue that surrounds and interconnects every muscle, organ, nerve, and structure in the body. It can be thought of as a three dimensional web that provides support, stability, and communication throughout the body. Rather than functioning as isolated parts, the body’s tissues are connected through this fascial network.

Fascia plays an important role in movement, posture, and sensory awareness. It contains a large number of sensory receptors, particularly those related to proprioception, which is the body’s sense of position and movement. Because fascia is richly connected to the nervous system, it is increasingly understood to be an important component of how the body experiences and responds to stress.

When a child experiences anxiety, chronic stress, or traumatic experiences, the nervous system may shift into protective states such as fight, flight, or freeze. During these states, muscles tighten and the body prepares to respond to perceived threat. Over time, repeated activation of these stress responses can lead to patterns of tension being held in the fascial system.

Researchers and clinicians have increasingly described how emotional stress and trauma can be reflected in patterns of muscular and fascial tension throughout the body (Schleip, Jäger, & Klingler, 2012; van der Kolk, 2014). Because fascia is a continuous network, tension in one area of the body can influence posture, movement patterns, and overall body organization.

In young children, this tension may show up in several ways. Some children may appear physically stiff or rigid, with limited fluidity in their movements. Others may show poor posture, tight shoulders, or difficulty relaxing their bodies during quiet activities. Some children appear constantly “on guard,” with elevated muscle tone or difficulty settling into restful positions.

Children who have experienced stress or sensory overwhelm may also demonstrate frequent fidgeting, difficulty sitting still, toe walking, clenching their jaw, or tightness in their hands or shoulders. These patterns can sometimes reflect the body’s attempt to manage internal tension.

How Occupational Therapy and Pediatric Physiotherapy Help Children Release Tension

In addition to attending physiotherapy for children who experience significant tightness or postural tension in their bodies, occupational therapy can also play an important role in supporting children who carry a great deal of physical tension.

Occupational therapists focus on how the nervous system, sensory processing, and emotional regulation influence the body. Through sensory based movement activities, body awareness exercises, breathing, and therapeutic play, occupational therapy can help children gradually release tension and learn how to feel more comfortable and regulated in their bodies.

Because the fascial system is responsive to movement, pressure, and stretching, activities such as yoga, rhythmic movement, and gentle stretching can help support the release of fascial tension. Yoga movements often involve slow, controlled stretching of the muscles and connective tissues, which can help improve the elasticity and hydration of fascial tissues.

When fascia is stretched gradually and rhythmically, it becomes more flexible and better able to transmit movement throughout the body. Research has shown that stretching and mindful movement practices can influence fascial tissue properties and improve mobility, body awareness, and regulation (Schleip et al., 2012; Wilke et al., 2018). These changes may also influence the nervous system by providing calming proprioceptive input.

Yoga also incorporates slow breathing patterns, which help activate the parasympathetic nervous system through the vagus nerve. When breathing slows and the body begins to relax, the muscles and fascial tissues often begin to soften as well. This combination of breath and movement can support the body’s transition from states of tension toward states of safety and regulation.

In children, yoga based movement can help improve body awareness, flexibility, postural stability, and emotional regulation. Studies examining yoga programs in children have shown improvements in attention, stress management, emotional regulation, and physical self awareness (Telles et al., 2021; Butzer et al., 2016).

Using Yoga in Pediatric Occupational Therapy Sessions

Within occupational therapy sessions, yoga activities are typically presented in playful and developmentally appropriate ways. Children may engage in poses such as child’s pose, downward dog, cat cow movement, tree pose, or gentle stretching activities that encourage movement through the entire body.

These movements help gently lengthen muscles and fascial tissues while providing strong proprioceptive feedback to the nervous system. Over time, repeated experiences of stretching, breathing, and movement can help children develop greater awareness of their bodies and learn how to release tension more easily.

Another important aspect of these activities is the presence of a co regulating adult. When children engage in calming movement activities alongside a regulated therapist or caregiver, the nervous system receives cues of safety. This relational context supports both emotional regulation and physical relaxation.

For children who carry a great deal of tension in their bodies, movement practices such as yoga can offer a powerful way to help the nervous system reset. By supporting both the fascial system and the sensory systems of the body, these activities can help children move toward greater comfort, flexibility, and regulation.

Ultimately, occupational therapy aims to help children feel safe and organized in their bodies so that they can participate fully in daily life. Understanding the role of fascia in stress and tension provides another window into how movement and body based interventions can support children’s well being.

Families who are interested in occupational therapy, pediatric physiotherapy, or movement based therapy for children can visit On The Ball Pediatrics in Kanata or Orleans. Our team supports children with sensory processing challenges, anxiety, motor development, and regulation through individualized therapy programs designed to help them build confidence and comfort in their bodies.

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References

Butzer, B., LoRusso, A., Windsor, R., Riley, F., & Frame, K. (2016). A qualitative examination of yoga for middle school adolescents. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion.

Schleip, R., Jäger, H., & Klingler, W. (2012). What is fascia? A review of different nomenclatures. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.

Telles, S., Singh, N., & Balkrishna, A. (2021). Yoga and its effects on regulation, attention, and emotional functioning in children. Frontiers in Psychology.

Wilke, J., Krause, F., Vogt, L., & Banzer, W. (2018). What is evidence based about myofascial chains? A systematic review. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.