Simple Yoga For Kids

By: Darvin J. Hooey Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Yoga for kids? Absolutely! A centuries old practice, yoga has earned the designation as an essential practice for physical and mental health. The benefits of yoga are countless. Why not let your children share in these benefits too? Our kids can adopt this practice now which leads to increased flexibility, coordination, improved strength, enhanced concentration and stress relief, which would provide a lifetime of benefits for your children! Contrary to what many people think kids are NOT just pint-sized adults. They require a different approach… a different environment.

Yoga – Kid Style

Your kids may have difficulty doing the normal yoga poses the way they're supposed to, but they can still benefit from the practice of yoga. Yoga for kids has to be fun and entertaining simultaneously! Yes, the normal asanas are the foundation, but to keep the kids engaged the resulting postures are more improvisational in nature. There are classes popping up for kids across the nation. They deal with this entertainment requirement by building in music, storytelling, animal references, games, arts and crafts. There are yoga studios that offer classes to kids beginning as toddlers! Just be sure the instructor has the requisite certification to teach children.

Special Benefits To Kids

As mentioned above, the benefits of yoga for adults are well known, but the benefits of yoga for kids go far beyond those that adults realize. Yes, it can help with weight loss, flexibility, concentration and strength, but yoga also helps with more kid specific issues. For example, research has shown that yoga can help with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders in kids. Yoga satisfies the motor and sensory stimulation that kids need. The practice of yoga beginning at a young age helps kids to develop self-esteem and improved body awareness. Since yoga is noncompetitive, it fosters a sense of compassion and cooperation, instead of competition. This results in a more caring and giving kid.

At Home Yoga For Kids

The benefits of yoga can definitely be brought home for your kids to experience, as with adults! The main obstacle, as with most activities for kids, is keeping them engaged. However, as I said, if you incorporate animal sounds and movements, games and songs, they will stay engagedyou will keep their attention! Because kids love to move and make sounds, and yoga lends itself to both. You should not be too critical as they wander their way through the different poses. Don't get mad, if they aren't performing them perfectly. Instead, allow this to be an experience in self discovery with your guidance.

Yoga fro kids is in many ways better than yoga for adults. Why not begin your kids journey down this lifetime road of self-discovery and self-improvement sooner rather than later, and the benefits they gain will increase exponentially!

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