By Angelina Dufrain
Kids and yoga. This may seem like a curious concept—mixing young children, whose boundless energy brings up images of wrestling and food fights, with the ancient art of yoga, a calming discipline to align body and mind.
But yoga and children do mix, and there are incredible benefits.
In our modern society, yoga is thought of as a physical practice of postures or poses (known in yoga as asanas.) The word yoga means 'union' and the practice of yoga is believed to bring together body, mind, and spirit. More and more, educators are seeing that a program of yoga brings these benefits to not only adults, but children as well.
Benefits
Physically, yoga addresses an awareness of the body through stretch, strength, coordination, and balance poses. Yoga aids many body systems including digestion, hormones, circulation, and the immune system. As the body feels better, respect and care for that body is encouraged.
Every traditional sport skill can be enhanced by the practice of yoga. The risk of injury is also reduced. Mentally, there is more focus and the calming aspects of yoga can help reduce the anxiety of competition. Studies have shown that children who practice yoga are able to concentrate for longer periods of time. The breathing techniques encourage relaxation and can help handle big emotions or challenging situations in everyday life as well.
Yoga is non-competitive, giving children a chance to master challenging poses in their own timeline. The many experiences of success help to build confidence that transfers to other areas.
What is a yoga class for kids like?
Along with muscles and breathing, children learn poses through imagination. They are asked to be animals, plant, warriors, and insects. The skill of visualization is encouraged, imagining parts of the body from the inside out. They make sounds. They move the poses. Sometimes storytelling or music is incorporated.
While the children are learning about themselves in a non-competitive atmosphere, they are also encouraged to co-operate with each other through partner poses. They are asked to bring awareness to the world around them, and see how all things are connected. This encourages respect for others and the environment as well.
When to Start
Introducing yoga in early childhood is very beneficial. At younger developmental stages, before school age, children may have difficulty focusing. Short periods of exposure encourage an increase in focus, while still garnering the physical benefits. The young child may not be able to do the breathing exercises as asked, but it sets the stage for awareness. Learning to effect one's breath has a calming effect, a skill that can be used effectively throughout a lifetime.
Just like many skills for young ones, providing the exposure lays the groundwork so the skill is more easily learned later. It is that way with the poses and breathing exercises of yoga.
The older child has more body awareness and muscle memory. They are able to refine poses with instruction, increasing the benefits. As is often the case with increased physical activities, the more the body is used, the better it feels to move it. The practice of yoga is self-perpetuating.
And throughout a lifetime, yoga is a gift that keeps on giving.
Angeline DuFrain is the mother of three and has been practicing yoga for six years. Her site with more tips on Yoga for Kids is http://www.yoga-for-kids.info She discovered yoga when her oldest daughter was four, and children's yoga soon after that. Now, the whole family has a yoga practice that they do together in the living room, three times a week. In addition to the individual benefits of yoga, she has seen the powerful impact of moving joyously together as a family. Read more about Yoga and Kids at Angelina's site: http://www.yoga-for-kids.info
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