Many adults have taken up yoga, but yoga has not gained as the same
popularity with children. Child yoga can offer many of the same benefits
to kids as it does to adults.
What can yoga offer your child?
A healthier body – Childhood obesity is on the rise and one of the main
reasons for it is that kids today do not move enough. Yoga is a powerful
technique for children to begin moving their bodies in ways that feel
good and help them look good. Even if your child is of normal weight,
yoga can help her become stronger, gain endurance and flexibility. If
your child is involved in another sport, a regular yoga practice is a
great cross training activity and it may help him reduce the risk of
injuries.
The ability to control stress – Today's children are under enormous
stress. They are often over scheduled, they face tough competition in
school, they have to deal with peer pressure, and they are trying to
find their way in the world. This combination can cause children to
become stressed out. Yoga can help your child learn how to relax. When
your child learns how to control her breathing and relax during her
practice, she can then apply this to her world when she encounters
challenging situations.
Increased self-esteem – Yoga is a non-competitive activity. Yet it does
offer your child the ability to master challenging poses (especially as
he gets older). Your child can feel good about his increasing ability
without having to worry about how he compares to everyone else. This
experience of success can help your child feel more confident in his
ability to be successful in other things too.
Greater concentration –
The breathing and inward focus that is a main component of any yoga
practice can help your child learn to focus his mind more effectively. A
number of studies have shown that many children who practice yoga,
especially those with problems such as ADHD, are able to concentrate for
longer periods
of time.
What is a child yoga program like?
The main focus of a child yoga program is on fun. Often the children
will pretend to be the animal for which the pose is named. For instance,
when they are doing Cat Pose, they become the cat and may even meow. If
they are doing Downward Facing Dog with their butts high in the air,
they will often bark, as they become the dog. The children are
encouraged to fully participate in and enjoy the 'game of yoga.'
Sometimes the instructor will create an entire story about the poses
that the children are in so as to make the class interesting and to
fully engage them. The children don't realize how much they are
benefiting from the practice; the only thing they know is that they are
having a good
time.
Practicing yoga at home with your child
While child yoga classes are wonderful, they are often hard to find.
Depending on where you live, you might not be able to find a place to
take your child. Don't fret. There are a number of excellent videos and
books that you can get which will help you become your child's yoga
teacher.
*Find a spot in your home where you have room to move freely.
*Establish an atmosphere of fun.
*Put on the video and do the poses together, hopefully with lots of
giggles sprinkled in.
*Pick out some poses from a book that you can do – have your child
choose some of the them.
*When doing the relaxation exercise, talk your child through it by
describing a warm, inviting place such as a quiet field near a bubbling
brook with butterflies and singing birds. Use your imagination to create
a safe and friendly space and help your child experience it in his
imagination.
Child yoga is an enjoyable activity that can provide major benefits to
your child. It will help her grow stronger physically, mentally, and
emotionally – and she'll have a lot of fun too!
Della Menechella is a yoga and fitness enthusiast who has been involved
in fitness for over thirty years. Her website
http://www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com/ is filled with
practical information about how you can make yoga and fitness a positive
part of your life. Visit the site and get your free meditation e-book.
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