Is your child
• Restless and often cranky?
• Unable to concentrate on studies?
• Falling sick often?
• Not sleeping properly at night?
• Not eating enough?
If your answer is ‘yes’ to all or some of these questions, perhaps it will be a good idea to enroll them into yoga classes. Kids can benefit tremendously from many easy yoga poses and postures. Children learn to stretch, breathe deeply, relax and concentrate through yoga. If taught from an early age, yoga is not only great fun but also prepares them for a healthy lifestyle!
Benefits of Yoga
Beyond the well known benefits of yoga like increasing strength, flexibility and concentration, yoga benefits the body, mind and soul in many ways:
Body
• Assists neuromuscular-development
• Encourages motor development on both sides of the body
• Develops a strong and flexible body
• Increases balance, body awareness and coordination
• Reduces injuries and improves performance
• Improves digestion and strengthens the immune system
• Relaxes the body and promotes better sleep
Mind
• Relieves tension and stress
• Increases concentration, focus and attention span
• Promotes thinking and memory
• Stimulates auditory processing and responsiveness
• Calms and quiets the mind
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Balances energy (high or low)
Soul
• Builds confidence and self-esteem• Enhances team skills and social interaction
• Develops discipline and self-control
• Inspires respect for self and others
• Enables social interaction and self-expression
• Encourages a fit and healthy lifestyle
Getting Kids Interested in Yoga
Children are busy and constantly on the move. They have boundless energy and most love to be outdoors with other children. Finding time to bring yoga into a child’s life may not seem easy at first, but it can improve their way of life immensely. When your child wakes up in the morning, take 10 minutes for a simple yoga session. When they become more comfortable with that practice, extend the session a little. Little by little, they will begin to enjoy yoga and some benefits will visibly emerge. The child may be sick on fewer occasions, be exercising regularly, and be less stressed with daily life.