| Today's kids face increased homework loads and | | | | transformed. He could maintain his composure, and he |
| pressure to compete academically, athletically, and | | | | chose to react without violence. He could react from a |
| socially. Stress relief tools for kids are becoming | | | | calm, neutral and strong place." |
| increasingly important. More and more, kids are finding | | | | One mother, whose 8 year-old son started doing yoga |
| Yoga to be an effective way to deal with stress, and | | | | after working with an occupational therapist on motor |
| gain other valuable tools for living at the same time. | | | | skills, says that yoga helped her son gain coordination |
| When older kids come to yoga classes, they arrive | | | | and confidence. "He was never very athletic, but now |
| tired from the stresses of homework, extra curricular | | | | he has found a sport that he enjoys. He is learning |
| activities, and their social life. Their yoga class gives | | | | how to become aware of his body, and this helps |
| them a chance to release stress from their body with | | | | improve his motor skills." Yoga also helps kids improve |
| the active exercises, and then the quieter, relaxing | | | | their concentration for reading, writing, and doing |
| poses soothe their nervous system. It's their chance to | | | | homework. |
| focus on themselves, where there's no competition, no | | | | For the younger kids, yoga is mostly a joy-filled, |
| pressure to perform. Their yoga becomes about | | | | heart-opening practice. Classes focus on finding the |
| knowing themselves. | | | | joy in exploring the poses as a group, and learning to |
| The benefits of yoga go beyond stress relief. Working | | | | express themselves. For children of all ages, yoga |
| with the basic physical yoga exercises called asanas, | | | | provides tools and life skills that can equip them to |
| kids develop control over their emotions, gain | | | | better deal with the stresses and challenges of |
| self-confidence, and learn about themselves. Because | | | | growing up in today's world. |
| of the non-competitive philosophy of yoga, kids learn to | | | | Kids, did you know:o Yoga is over 5,000 years old!o |
| make decisions for themselves, without worrying about | | | | Yoga started in ancient India.o Most movie stars and |
| peer pressure. | | | | Olympic athletes do yoga daily.o Yoga is the world's |
| The documented benefits of yoga are many: | | | | oldest exercise.o Yoga is not a religion.o Boys who do |
| improving flexibility, concentration, lung capacity and | | | | yoga well are called yogis.o Girls who do yoga well |
| circulation, strength, balance, and mental clarity. For kids, | | | | are called yoginis.o Yoga poses are called asanas: |
| these benefits translate into important life skills. One of | | | | there are thousands of them.o Asanas copy nature: |
| my instructors, Aurora, who has taught yoga at Yoga | | | | animals, insects, trees, mountains.o Yoga makes you |
| Centers for over 6 years, saw how yoga positively | | | | strong, healthy and flexible.o Yoga is fun, makes you |
| affected one of her 12 year-old students, who originally | | | | happy, and kids love yoga.o Yoga prevents sports |
| saw yoga as a way to improve his tennis game. "He | | | | injuries and makes sports easier.o Yoga builds |
| told me there was another boy at school whom he | | | | confidence and self esteem.o Yoga makes you think |
| would have hit before he started practicing yoga, but | | | | more clearly.o Yoga balances your emotions. |
| since he'd been practicing yoga his response was | | | | |