YOGA
Children’s yoga class includes breathing exercises, balance and coordination, creativity and spontaneity, things that we generally do not find in regular yoga classes for adults.
Yoga for children is a solution to their everyday problems: the hustle and bustle we all live in, school pressure, multiple extracurricular activities, competitiveness – encouraged by both teachers and parents.
What physical and emotional benefits do the little ones get from these classes?
First, they become aware of their own body, the space around them, the way their body interacts with the space, as well as with other children.
In yoga classes, no child is judged on how they perform a pose or play a game. The perfect execution of a posture is not a goal in yoga, the goal is to harmonize the inside with the outside, body, mind, soul.
The relaxed atmosphere encourages children to relax and have fun, while developing not only endurance, coordination, flexibility and balance, but also better concentration and self-confidence.
Children learn how to synchronize movement with breathing, that is, asanas or postures accompanied by correct and conscious breathing.
Yoga helps them develop their emotional intelligence, learn to cooperate, express their feelings, trust in their own strength, manage their emotions.
It teaches them to have a clean and positive thinking, to solve their problems alone without the help of others, they learn to be independent and aware of their own value.
Modern man directs his attention to the outside, the inside remains almost completely ignored. And children do what they see in adults, whether we like it or not.
Children learn from a young age to look at the successes of others, at the performances of others, at the objects that those around them own, at anything other than themselves. And that’s what yoga does: it turns the attention from the outside to the inside.
If we want our children to be healthy and happy adults in the future, we must help them see themselves as a whole – mind, soul, body -, not just in pieces.
Yoga can be practiced at any age, and women who practiced yoga before becoming pregnant can continue with specific exercises during pregnancy. So, the child can practice yoga right from the mother’s womb.
Until the age of three, yoga is practiced in tandem with one of the parents or even with both, and after the age of three, the child can participate in the class alone.
There are many benefits of yoga for children, which makes it an ideal activity. Asanas can help with flexibility, increase balance and coordination, and develop focus and concentration. In addition, it boosts self-esteem and self-confidence and strengthens the mind-body connection.
1. Improves flexibility: Yoga teaches kids to exercise and engage all their muscles in new ways while incorporating gentle stretches. All yoga poses work to challenge different muscle groups, which helps to increase children’s awareness of their bodies.
2. Increases balance and coordination: Many yoga poses rely on balance and coordination, which improves mental clarity and physical stability. Even if a child struggles to cope with a new position, he can find his psychological and physical balance.
3. Helps develop attention and focus: Focusing on balancing and mastering certain yoga poses can help children learn to pay attention and encourages them to clear their minds. This has been proven to be beneficial for their concentration in school and helps them pay attention in class, thus improving their grades.
4. Boosts self-esteem and self-confidence: Yoga instills self-confidence in children, teaching them to persevere, be patient and work towards their goals. When a child masters a new posture, he experiences fulfillment and satisfaction. This has an impact on school, relationships and extracurricular activities as they become progressively more attentive. Yoga also gives children the tools to be more compassionate and generous.
5. Strengthens the mind-body connection: Children can achieve a stronger mind-body connection by exercising the physical body and calming the mental spirit. Children who practice yoga are seen as more attentive, more compassionate, happier, braver and more peaceful. This is because yoga releases feelings of pressure and stress, nurturing children to be more resilient and resourceful of mind, body and spirit.
Yoga is very beneficial for children. Because they are still in their developing phase, they are generally quick learners, and incorporating a yoga practice into their daily routine can help them lead a healthy lifestyle. Younger people are often overstimulated in the digital age, which damages their attention span and concentration levels. In addition, unhealthy eating habits are becoming more common in children, causing an increase in childhood obesity. Yoga for kids is one of the best activities to combat the many health problems and concerns that children face in today’s society. Yoga is not just an activity, but a lifestyle, and the benefits of exercise, meditation, and nutritious food can support a child’s healthy development. In particular, tweens with special needs, including autism and ADHD, can gain a lot from yoga because it reduces stress and helps them focus and participate socially in class.
Hatha Yoga
Isha yoga
Yin yoga
Nada yoga
Restorative yoga
Vinyasa yoga
There is no single answer to this question because every child is different. However, many experts believe that children as young as 3 or 4 can benefit from yoga, as long as the practice is tailored to their individual needs and abilities.
All parents want to do everything they can to make sure their children are happy and healthy. Yoga helps them develop a skill set that helps them build their character and ability to make good decisions. As a parent, you don’t want to force anything on your child, but you do want to guide them toward activities and practices that support their growth and development. There are several ways you can initiate your children. First, you might want to enroll your child in a weekly kids’ yoga class. If this doesn’t fit your family’s schedule, you can bring yoga into your life at home.
Turn your living room into a space to teach yoga and invite your child to practice it as a family on a regular basis. This will allow for family bonding while supporting health, happiness and spiritual development. When teaching yoga to your children, use simple language that they can understand. This will help them relate to their own life experiences and develop a connection with yoga. Make sure to make it fun and interactive to keep your kids engaged. Additionally, try using an incentive such as a video or playtime to keep them interested and engaged. Teach your children breathing exercises and techniques associated with yoga that they can carry with them in their daily lives to learn stress management.
However, younger children and toddlers are more likely to be interested in interactive lessons. Growing up with your child in the family can help support their achievements and inspire their involvement.
