| Yoga for Children is a wonderful antidote to the hectic | | | | In the best classes the kids learn balance with dozens |
| lives that our children lead. Yoga can be relaxing, | | | | of yoga poses, develop strength, improve coordination |
| stimulating, and promotes well being. It provides closely | | | | and enhance their flexibility all with these children's |
| controlled exercise and is enormous fun for children at | | | | yoga exercises. Furthermore, kids develop an overall |
| the same time. | | | | sense of strength, flexibility and well-being, while they |
| A number of Yoga for Children programmes have | | | | get hold of their active lives and sometimes overactive |
| been created by Yoga teachers to introduce the | | | | minds. Kids get to prowl, growl and wiggle through |
| benefits of yoga and relaxation at an early age in a | | | | yoga animal poses from Alligator to Zebra! Certified |
| playful, simple and fun way. The combination of special | | | | children's yoga instructors will introduce stretching, |
| yoga moves, breathing exercises and relaxations will | | | | breathing, standing poses and simple meditation. |
| energize, strengthen, loosen and balance little bodies, | | | | Kids yoga provides an answer to children who we |
| while helping to calm and control and relax little minds. | | | | might described as being are little bit harder to reach, |
| Kids yoga is a wonderful opportunity for the child to | | | | although we stand firm with our belief that every child |
| learn life skills that can be implemented into their daily | | | | has an angel deep down inside them. |
| routine. Whether it's breathing and relaxation techniques | | | | We have said that children's Yoga allows a child to |
| that will help them, focus, concentrate or be calm; or | | | | deal with daily stress. What do we mean by that? |
| postures that will help their endurance, flexibility, balance | | | | The answer is that each time a child enters a Yoga |
| and coordination these are all very naturally a strong | | | | class for kids, he or she can "close the door" on |
| part of yoga. | | | | negative feelings that stress overload brings. They can |
| Yoga for children is most successful if the children are | | | | simply put that behind them throughout the lesson and |
| encouraged to use their imagination. A dynamic, | | | | afterward doing that tend to take a more mature |
| creative and stimulating approach grabs the children's | | | | perspective. Kids need a way to manage all of their |
| attention. | | | | stress and anxiety. It is not healthy for a child to feel |
| Yoga for children is practiced in the United Kingdom. It | | | | so much anxiety over any given situation. |
| is not new to Britain, with after-school clubs and | | | | There you have it! Kids and yoga seem like a natural |
| classes gaining popularity in recent years as parents | | | | match. It can be immensely therapeutic for those who |
| realize its wide-ranging benefits. What is new to the | | | | need it. |
| UK, however, is the method of Research on Yoga in | | | | However, yoga can be presented well and |
| Education (RYE), an international non-profit making | | | | insensitively. The best trainers recognize that kids need |
| organization which blends the standard school | | | | a practice that suits their physical and emotional needs. |
| curriculum with exercises on concentration, attention | | | | Luckily, many yoga schools across the nation are |
| and relaxation, drawn mainly from traditional yoga. | | | | responding to the growing interest in yoga for the |
| What is also claimed is that Yoga for children gives | | | | younger set in a very well managed and sensitive |
| the benefit that the children may be protected from | | | | way. |
| injuries and at the same time they get all the benefits | | | | It is a fact that to provide kids yoga a specialized |
| of exercising the system. This is not to suggest that | | | | training might be needed, and is in some places being |
| the other exercise including outdoor forms of | | | | made available, but patience is a key quality needed |
| exercises and sports and games are not beneficial. | | | | for Yoga instructors who want to embark on this path. |
| Parents have expressed appreciation for the | | | | I teach children myself, and a Kids Yoga class has to |
| presentation of yoga in a playful manner with its | | | | be well devised, be fun, and include games. |
| presentation of actively moving exercises balanced | | | | So, we hope that we have shown you how yoga is |
| with those that require stillness and inner concentration, | | | | such a great way to relax and de-stress equally for |
| all in a child-friendly way. Parents may be practicing | | | | the child and the adult. |
| yoga themselves, and kids are always interested in | | | | However, did you know that there are even now |
| what their parents are up to. | | | | some yoga practitioners who are providing training to |
| When assessing yoga trainers for children, parents | | | | parents in yoga from soon after birth? |
| should also inquire as to the spiritual nature of the | | | | By using yoga with babies, parents confidence grows |
| classes; some instructors take a strong religious | | | | in handling, playing and having fun with their babies. The |
| stance, while others offer no particular religious slant, | | | | classes are fun class in a system which also offers |
| instead focusing simply on the movements and | | | | gentle post-natal yoga and tummy toning exercises for |
| breathing. | | | | mummy! |