| Do you want your child to be healthy, flexible and | | | | pressing your heels to the ground, focus on bringing |
| strong? Would you like your child to know how to calm | | | | your chest as close as possible towards your legs as |
| and relax their minds, to concentrate and focus better | | | | you lift your hips back and up. Think of a dog |
| at school? Are you concerned that your child does not | | | | stretching when they wake up and bark and growl like |
| like exercise and prefers to spend their spare time | | | | a dog. Hold the pose for as long as you feel |
| playing video games rather than mixing with their | | | | comfortable and keep breathing deeply.b. To come out |
| peers? | | | | of the pose, slowly come down on your hands and |
| As a parent or carer you naturally want your child to | | | | rest in the Child Pose. |
| be healthy and fit. Yoga exercises, with their emphasis | | | | 2. Child/Mouse Pose - ideal to relax your body and |
| on gentle stretching exercises, joyful breathing | | | | calm your nervous system after a hard day at school, |
| exercises and creative relaxation techniques | | | | or strong yoga pose. Think of a mouse as you kneel |
| encourage your child to exercise and feel good about | | | | on the floor with your bottom on your heels. Lower |
| themselves. | | | | and rest your forehead on the floor, place your arms |
| If your child is anxious and not keen to attend a | | | | by your side with palms facing up. Close your eyes |
| Children's Yoga Class, you can always introduce them | | | | relax and breathe quietly. Stay as still as a mouse or if |
| to yoga poses at home, so that when they attend | | | | you feel more energetic, you can "squeak" like a |
| their first class they feel more confident and | | | | mouse. |
| comfortable. | | | | 3. Cobra/Snake Pose. Your child will love wriggling and |
| Naturally, if you are showing your child yoga poses at | | | | hissing like a snake. A great exercise to release |
| home, please make sure you practice in a warm | | | | tension, stretch a stiff back and open your heart. |
| environment, ideally practice bare foot on an exercise | | | | Lie face down on the floor/yoga mat and rest your |
| yoga mat. Make sure there is sufficient space for your | | | | forehead on the mat. Place your palms flat on the |
| child to move without risk of hurting themselves, keep | | | | floor, elbows pointing up and hands directly under your |
| an eye on them, in fact practice together as it's a | | | | shoulders. Take a steady breath in and as you |
| lovely way to bond and reconnect with your child; and | | | | breathe out gently lift your forehead and chest up |
| most importantly have fun and make sure your child | | | | from the ground. Keep your lower abdomen (belly |
| stays relaxed and non-competitive. | | | | button area) on the mat and press your hands down |
| 3 Basic Yoga Positions for Children to Practice At | | | | into the mat. Keep looking straight ahead; relax your |
| Home | | | | shoulders and hisssss like a snake. Slowly lower your |
| 1. Downward Dog Pose. A lovely pose which gently | | | | chest and forehead to the ground. Make a pillow with |
| stretches your child's back, strengthens their heart and | | | | your hands and rest your cheek on the pillow. |
| brings blood to their head which helps to nourish and | | | | This basic yoga sequence consisting of Downward |
| calm their mind.a. Start on your hands and knees, with | | | | Dog, the Child Pose and Cobra is ideal to introduce |
| your arms straight and your hands underneath your | | | | your child to yoga exercise. Join in, make up an |
| shoulders. Curl your toes under and breathe out as | | | | Adventure Story using the poses and enjoy spending |
| you lift your knees up and straighten your legs. Keep | | | | quality fun time together. |