| Practice Yoga regularly, let children over 5 (some | | | | wonder why it has not happened much like this in the |
| suggest over 4s can benefit) join in as well in all | | | | past. Well, be that as it may, Yoga for children is finally |
| appropriate exercises, and it will strip away the | | | | becoming main-stream in America. Millions of |
| obstacles that separate you from your source. Yoga | | | | Americans that enjoy myriad benefits of their own |
| can be wonderful for this process, as it can alleviate | | | | yoga practice are now able to offer these same |
| tension from and clear energy blocks in the body and | | | | benefits to their children. Yoga for children is about |
| mind. | | | | having fun! For example, as children learn sun |
| Practiced for thousands of years in India, its birth home, | | | | salutations, they will also become snakes, trees, |
| yoga has become a refuge for so may around the | | | | butterflies, and many other animals found in nature. |
| world, and is indeed the greatest unsung great cure in | | | | They like you will find that classes will leave you feeling |
| the western world. Nobody has ever attempted to | | | | stretched, toned, calm and serene. The feeling is one |
| estimate the suffering alleviated and the shear cost of | | | | of feeling as if you've had a good workout. Classes |
| healthcare avoided by those that use yoga in their | | | | provide an opportunity for parents to exercise and |
| lives. In the Far East, yoga is a spiritual path to be | | | | have fun with their children, promoting strength, flexibility |
| followed towards superior enlightenment, but usually | | | | and balance, with relaxation to contrast with energetic |
| for the very practical mind of the modern westerner, | | | | activity. The best organised classes bring together a |
| the health benefits of yoga are the ones that matter | | | | combination of stretches, back arches, twists and |
| the most and it is those aspects which have been the | | | | balances. These help to support and strengthen |
| most adopted. | | | | children, not only physically but also mentally by building |
| This means that the practice of yoga can be passed | | | | confidence in themselves, improving their concentration |
| on to children while they are still quite young and | | | | and helping them to sleep better. |
| hopefully it will then be with them for the rest of their | | | | The fact is that kids yoga is an interactive, boisterous |
| lives. | | | | romp that challenges children physically, mentally and |
| Parents have expressed appreciation for the playful | | | | emotionally. Yoga postures become fun group games. |
| manner in which yoga can be taught it can be | | | | It is a wonderful opportunity for children ages 4-9yrs to |
| presented as a series of actively moving exercises | | | | enhance self awareness, imagination and creativity, |
| balanced with those that require stillness and inner | | | | improve social interaction and aid in relaxing their |
| concentration, all in a child-friendly way. Parents, who | | | | bodies and minds. |
| are practicing yoga themselves, will find that their kids | | | | Through fun warm-ups, breathing games, dances, yoga |
| are always interested in what their parents are up to, | | | | poses, and relaxation exercises, children are |
| and quite naturally will wish to participate. | | | | encouraged to maintain focus, work on strength, |
| Yoga for children encourages them to use their bodies, | | | | balance, coordination and flexibility all in a fun, |
| minds, senses and imaginations as they learn. Of | | | | non-competitive atmosphere. Kids Yoga is a fun, |
| course, you can send them to yoga classes which | | | | creative approach to yoga that can be very helpful for |
| foster a loving, creative environment in which they | | | | children whose bodies are still developing. These |
| discover their own truths. Reinforcing that at home | | | | classes usually include fun partner work postures, |
| with you will add to the experience for them and for | | | | yoga games, animated poses and basic stretching |
| you. | | | | exercises to promote strength, flexibility, and |
| You might think that this is all so obvious that you | | | | coordination plus body awareness. |