Benefits of Yoga For Children
How can yoga help children feel good about themselves?
Today’s kids need to develop healthy habits as early as possible, and practicing yoga nourishes the mind, body, and spirit and paves the way for a life-long tradition of health and fitness. By helping kids maintain a healthy weight and feeling more prepared and focused in school, yoga can help them feel better about themselves. Some of the ways in which yoga translates into healthier minds and bodies and better school performance in kids include developing discipline, heightening body awareness and self-control, increasing concentration and focus, and building strength and flexibility. Yoga can definitely help empower children to feel good about themselves for life.
Can yoga help kids who have anxiety or difficulties with mood?
Inhale Pose from ABC Yoga For Kids
Most definitely! Yoga can help children stay calm (even kids with ADD or ADHD). Yoga is a form of exercise which combines breath and movement, and in our increasing stressful lives it teaches children how to relax, concentrate and be quiet and still. For example, by teaching kids to breathe in and out through their nose, they will learn how to calm themselves by focusing on their breath. One of the poses from my book, The ABCs of Yoga for Kids, is called the INHALE Pose and the instructions go like this “One of the mose important parts of any yoga pose is remembering to breathe deeply by inhaling through my nose”. Yoga for kids helps to build a positive mental outlook which can aid in how children handle anxiety and stress.
What tips do you have for parents who are interested in doing yoga with their kids but don’t have the money for group classes?
Try to remember that it is the journey, not the destination, that counts when encouraging children to start a yoga practice. By spending time with your child practicing yoga, you are planting the seed for a lifelong interest in yoga and all of its health and mind-body connection benefits.
Anything else you’d like Healthy Offspring readers to know?
Many people are beginning to realize the many health benefits of yoga for adults. What they do not realize is that kids can reap the same benefits from yoga as well. Practicing simple yoga postures is the ideal way for kids to naturally unwind and obtain physical activity at the same time.
Endorsed by athletes, film stars, and moms alike, The ABCs of Yoga for Kids is a multiple award-winning book which uses the alphabet, rhyming vignettes and colorful illustrations to introduce children to yoga in a kid-friendly way.
Teresa Anne Power has been practicing yoga for 25 years. For the past 8 years she has taught yoga to young children, both in school and local organizations, helping 800+ kids develop a healthy attitude towards their body.
[...] with your children. You can read more about what Teresa says about how yoga can benefit children here. And don’t forget to check out ABC Yoga for Kids, where she offers helpful books, charts, [...]