According to the Equality Act 2010, a person is considered disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative impact on their ability to carry out everyday activities.
Globally recognised as the “largest minority,” individuals with disabilities often face poorer health, lower educational outcomes, limited economic opportunities, and higher poverty rates than those without disabilities. These challenges primarily arise from inadequate access to essential services, such as transportation, justice systems, information technology, and numerous barriers in daily life. These barriers may stem from the physical environment, discriminatory legislation or policies, and societal prejudices or stereotypes.
Individuals with disabilities are also at a significantly higher risk of violence. For example:
- Children with disabilities are nearly four times more likely to experience violence than their non-disabled peers
- Adults with disabilities are 1.5 times more likely to face violence compared to those without disabilities
- Those with mental health conditions are almost four times more likely to encounter violence
This increased vulnerability is often linked to stigma, discrimination, and widespread ignorance about disabilities. Additionally, a lack of support for caregivers further exacerbates these risks.
People with disabilities also face significant health disparities. They are twice as likely to develop conditions like diabetes, depression, asthma, stroke, obesity, or poor oral health and may have life spans up to 20 years shorter than those without disabilities. Additionally, in countries without a government sponsored universal healthcare system, 50% of disabled individuals cannot afford healthcare, further exacerbating these challenges.
Globally, approximately 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the population (1 in 6 individuals), live with significant disabilities, with the world’s total population currently around 8 billion. Over 1 billion individuals experience some form of disability, including more than 100 million children. In the UK alone, over 14 million people are disabled, according to the charity Scope.
On a global scale, efforts to support disability rights have gained traction. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified by 191 countries. Furthermore, seven targets within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) explicitly address the needs and rights of people with disabilities, aiming to promote inclusion and equity.
Disabilities can generally be categorised into four main groups: Behavioural or Emotional, Sensory, Physical, and Developmental.
Behavioural or Emotional Disabilities
These types of disabilities affect an individual’s ability to regulate their behaviour or emotions. If not diagnosed early, such as during childhood, they can interfere with an individual’s ability to maintain relationships or sustain employment. Examples include anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, impulsive behaviour, and pervasive developmental disorders.
Emotional disabilities, a subset of behavioural disabilities, may lead to challenges in managing interpersonal relationships or controlling emotions. Individuals with emotional disabilities might struggle with feelings of fear, anxiety, stress or unhappiness, and their reactions can often seem inappropriate in everyday situations.
Sensory Disabilities
Sensory disabilities involve impairments in one or more of the senses, such as vision, hearing, touch, taste, or smell. For example, individuals with vision impairments may require glasses, while more severe cases may involve blindness. Hearing impairments, including partial or complete deafness, are common, with some individuals using hearing aids. Other sensory challenges, such as reduced ability to taste or touch, can affect everyday activities like eating or fastening buttons. These conditions can impact people of all ages, but they are particularly prevalent among older adults.
Physical Disabilities
Physical disabilities affect a person’s movement, stamina, or ability to use their limbs. Some conditions are readily apparent, such as spinal cord injuries or multiple sclerosis, while others, like epilepsy, may not be immediately visible but still cause significant limitations or chronic pain. Additional examples include brain injuries, respiratory disorders, and visual impairments. Physical disabilities vary widely in severity and can affect an individual’s ability to perform daily tasks or maintain independence.
Developmental Disabilities
These disabilities arise during childhood and affect an individual’s growth and development. They can impact learning, language, and behaviour. Common developmental disabilities include ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, and learning disorders. These conditions, often chronic and severe, can hinder self-care, mobility, education, economic independence, and communication skills. They typically manifest before the age of 22 and continue throughout an individual’s life.
Visible and Invisible Disabilities
Disabilities can be classified as either visible or invisible. Visible disabilities are physically apparent and easily identifiable, such as mobility impairments or the use of assistive devices. In contrast, invisible disabilities are not immediately noticeable, such as mental health conditions or chronic illnesses.
Individuals with invisible disabilities may face additional challenges due to scepticism or lack of acknowledgment from others. For instance, they may find it difficult to explain their condition and feel misunderstood or judged.
Up to 70% of disabilities are invisible
Yoga & Disability
While yoga is often seen as a universally accessible practice, traditional forms may include movements and poses that are not ideal for individuals with limited mobility. However, there are many adaptable alternatives including chair yoga. This form of yoga allows anyone capable of sitting in a chair to engage in a meaningful practice, making it particularly suitable for those with movement challenges. At the same time, chair yoga can offer a satisfying and challenging experience for individuals without mobility restrictions, as it can be tailored to meet the needs of any practitioner. Its adaptability is one of its many strengths. Some of the benefits of chair yoga include:
- Enhancing Flexibility and Strength: Regular practice can improve range of motion and build muscle strength.
- Increasing Body Awareness: It teaches greater interoceptive (internal body awareness) and proprioceptive (spatial awareness) understanding.
- Alleviating Pain: Gentle movements and mindful breathing can help reduce physical discomfort.
- Promoting Relaxation: It activates the relaxation response, calming the nervous system.
- Reducing Stress and Anxiety: It provides tools for managing mental and emotional tension.
Contemporary yoga classes often emphasise physical movement, but yoga as a practice is far more comprehensive. In yoga philosophy, physical postures, or asanas, are just one aspect of the eight-limbed path:
- Yamas – Morals
- Niyamas – Observances
- Asana – Postures
- Pranayama – Breathing techniques
- Pratyahara – Sense withdrawal
- Dharana – Mindfulness
- Dhyana – Meditation
- Samadhi – Contemplation/Enlightenment
A broader framework, such as the Panchamaya Kosha model, further illustrates the multidimensional nature of human existence. This model views the physical body as just one layer among many, all of which are interconnected and mutually influential.
Yoga Therapy
Injury, pain, or trauma often manifest in the physical body, prompting attention to this area. However, it’s important to recognise that no part of the self exists in isolation. Yoga Therapy is a holistic approach that considers the interconnected nature of the mind, body, and spirit, enabling a more profound and comprehensive understanding of health and healing. By broadening our perspective, healing can be approached in a more integrative and meaningful way.
Yoga therapy extends beyond physical movement to include all eight limbs of yoga and uses the Panchamaya Kosha model as a framework.
The Kosha model offers a holistic approach to healing and wellness, addressing multiple layers of the self beyond the physical body.
This comprehensive perspective is especially important when working with clients experiencing sensory processing challenges or neurodiversity. A somatosensory approach, which integrates all eight senses: visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, olfactory, vestibular, proprioceptive, and interoceptive, can support sensory integration in both children and adults.
Yoga Therapy is adaptive and unique to each individual, working alongside their current functional abilities and emphasising personalised practices over achieving traditional postures. Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, considered the father of modern yoga, taught that yoga should be adapted to suit the individual, with the ultimate goal being to calm the fluctuations of the mind. His concept of “vinyasa krama” which translates as placing in a special way and in stages, highlights the importance of gradual and intentional progression. Unlike the common Western interpretation of vinyasa as “flow yoga,” this approach is accessible to all, regardless of physical ability.
Krishnamacharya’s teachings have been expanded upon by his students, including A.G. Mohan and B.K.S. Iyengar. Mohan emphasised five key elements of asana practice which can be adjusted to meet an individual’s specific needs and goals:
- Mula – base
- Desha – part
- Kala – time
- Shakti – force
- Marga – direction
This personalisation transforms adaptive yoga into adaptive yoga therapy, offering unique applications tailored to individual outcomes.
Iyengar, who overcame severe illnesses as a child, revolutionised yoga by developing props such as blocks, belts, and bolsters. These tools made yoga accessible to individuals with limited mobility, weakness, or stiffness, allowing them to experience its therapeutic benefits. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping modern yoga therapy, and his influence continues to inspire practitioners worldwide.
Yoga therapists are trained to recognise the unique journey each client faces. Some clients with disabilities or chronic illnesses face a range of emotional and psychological challenges as they adjust to their new reality. This process often involves grief, identity struggles, and a reassessment of their place in society. However, many clients have already navigated this journey and reached a place of acceptance. Yoga therapy may therefore include the recommendation of additional support services, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or group counselling as part of its holistic approach in helping clients develop positive coping mechanisms.
While disability may make tasks more challenging, it does not necessarily prevent individuals from achieving their goals. By offering individualised modifications and supports, yoga honours and becomes accessible and inclusive to individuals of all brains, bodies and abilities. As T.K.V. Desikachar said:
“Anybody can breathe; therefore, anybody can practice yoga.”
In gratitude to my teachers, Emily Smith and Shawnee Thornton-Hardy, for their invaluable knowledge and teachings that have enriched my understanding of accessible & inclusive yoga therapy. I also extend my heartfelt appreciation to the pioneers who have paved the way in this field, including Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, A.G. Mohan, and B.K.S. Iyengar, whose foundational work continues to inspire and guide the field of yoga therapy.
Sources & Resources
Eisenberg, Mindy. Adaptive Yoga Moves Any Body. Orange Cat Press, 2015.
Smith, E. (2022) ‘Psychosocial Aspects of Disease and Disability; and Yoga Therapy’ (Lecture). YT 305.06: Intersectional Psychology: East West Perspectives. 19 October.
Smith, E. (2021) ‘The Principles of Adaptive Therapeutic Yoga’ (Lecture). YT 106.13: Essential Applied Yoga Therapy. 17 August.
Thornton-Hardy, S (2023) Yoga Therapy for Children and Teens with Complex Needs. Great Britain. Singing Dragon.
https://www.un.org/en/observances/day-of-persons-with-disabilities
https://yogauonline.com/wellness-news/disability-justice-in-yoga