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The benefits of yoga for children are many. With
regular practice children:
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Develop strong, limber and healthy bodies
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Set a lifelong foundation for well-being
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Fosters creative expression and imagination
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Increases focus, concentration and
attention span
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Cultivates self-esteem, setting patterns of
success and achievement
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Relax and sleep better
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Cope with stress more effectively
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Learn about anatomy and physiology
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Discover a sense of awareness and respect
for themselves, others and the world around them.
Yoga is a fitness craze that has taken America by storm in recent
years, available in virtually every community and fitness club
around the country. Anyone who has given it a try can attest to the
general sense of wellbeing that comes with Yoga, helping to detoxify
the body, build flexibility, relieve tension, and manage stress.
But it is no longer just for
adults. Yoga can also be worthwhile, even therapeutic, for children
as well. Sometimes, for example, children who are being treated for
behavioral issues
 that
are causing problems
at home or school, such as impulsivity, aggressiveness,
hyperactivity, mood swings, or self-destructiveness, can also
benefit from Yoga. Typically, kids who practice Yoga sleep better,
develop their creative expression and imagination, have increased
focus, concentration and attention span, and cope with stress more
effectively.
Yoga is a natural fit for
kids. It is healthy physical exercise and gives children an outlet
to exert themselves and burn off energy. It gradually also teaches
coordination and focus, which are necessary to learning and
mastering the poses. The “asanas” have the indirect benefit of
working on the nervous system and helping kids to relax.
Yoga is also a good way to
engage with children. Classes are geared to be playful, fun and
interactive, allowing kids to express themselves and spark their
imagination. Usually there is a theme, such as “Going to the
Circus,” “In the Jungle,” or “Down by the Lillipad,” which inspires
a variety of amusing poses (“Let’s be a tree!”) that also help kids
to learn about ecology and animal life, as well as the
interconnectedness of all living things. Exercises to promote a
sense of inclusion are also built into the class:
My name is Mary
My name begins with the letter “M”
An animal that begins with the letter “M” is a mouse
While Yoga is not a cure-all, it can provide parents and schools
with a powerful alternative to traditional recreational activities
and yield positive results: helping kids to be more aware of their
bodies and the world around them.
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