How can I improve my physical coordination; would that help?

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I've been doing yoga for a year and a half. It has not cured me of clumsiness. My balance is still quite poor, and I am still quite awkward. But I feel myself incorporating some of the poses into my daily life--which makes certain actions more graceful. Like bending down to pick something off the floor or reaching out to press the elevator button. My posture has also improved. People have noticed!

I walk two hours every day. Maybe my coordination would be worse if I didn't keep this up, but I can't say that my coordination has noticeably improved relative to how I used to be before I walked so much (five years ago). My legs are strong, though. And no one can accuse me of being clumsy because I'm out of shape.

I did Tai Chi and Qigong for a few years (started at university and took it up again after I first moved to London (Helped me cope with the constant sensory overload). Was always a clumsy child and it did help (also a side effect was it helped with mental/sensory control) plus was relaxing, quiet and enjoyable plus a surprisingly good work out. Only stopped as I moved away from the club I attended.

Other martial arts would also be good with the right instructor (was lucky at the assistant Taekwondo teacher was the one who taught Tai Chi) as some could be unnecessarily hard (although think if you explained about AS most would be considerate of it (but remember there being hard to push you, not because there jerks (usually (you always get one or two (welcome to humanity ))) they also helped my confidence (plus knowing how to use my knee, elbows well has been useful on odd occasions for self defense).

Plus got to agree that video games would help a lot. Those bloody Wii systems are great (only hate them as keep losing badly to my mates 11 year old daughter <sulks>) the Wii fit balance board does exactly what it says on the tin (better than kinetiq etc as it measures weight distribution (balance) and even helps you on some games.

Martial arts and video games did wonders for my coordination, especially with my hands.

Also, any decent martial art teaches you how to take a fall as safely as possible. This comes in handy for those moments when you still manage to trip on level ground or the like.

I can't really say if it helped with cognition though.

Practicing many, many years on end, several hours each day.
That's what worked for me.

Eventually you learn the ability to learn new movements, postures, gestures etc. faster and faster!

Great coordination is easy for those of us on the spectrum-------

Develop a special interest in something that requires it!! ! The rest will follow naturally!

As a child I developed a major interest in Transportation items - Cars - boats - airplanes - as a child I could not afford the real thing - so I built models - lots and lots of models - as a result I have truly excellent eye hand coordination and a fantastically steady hand and the ability to see and replicate shapes free hand. The fact like everyone else in the world - practice is the key to great results.

Now as for running and jumping and that type of coordination - not so much didn't need them for model building. Asperger's develop ability according to our interests - Often our lack of coordination can be explained in no special interest in an area or activity therefore no practice.

Sports do wonders for coordination.

Take a beginnner's dance class. Everyone will be awkward there.

Get a soccer ball, practice kicking it around yourself.

Try juggling.

Answering your questions in opposite order because that makes most sense to me.

The thing I've found most helpful is taking martial arts. I'd recommend it over taking other sports, because a) if you get physically attacked, you can defend yourself, and b) the way they teach martial arts is very helpful to people with motor planning problems. They tell you exactly how to position each body part, what order to move them, everything in detail, and they practice the basic skills over and over (even the black belts still practice the basic punch and blocks).



In my experience, it only helped with clumsiness. It could help with stiff posture, but I doubt it'll affect your facial expressions or tone of voice. (For that, I'd recommend acting classes instead.)