Yoga for Children? Why not!
Children today are under a lot of strain. Homework, stress to compete with other children, endless after-school activities, over-scheduling -- it all keeps up. And just like their parents, kids today are whirling to Yoga to facilitate them relax.
Yoga Helps Kids Find Balance in Their Lives
Yoga helps them build up better body awareness, self-control, elasticity and dexterity. Also yoga teaches how they can carry these skills beyond class and into their daily routines.
Yoga can help counter these pressures. When children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they can navigate life's challenges with a little more ease. Yoga at an early age encourages self-esteem and body awareness with a physical activity that's noncompetitive. Nurturing cooperation and compassion, instead of antagonism and resistance, Yoga no doubt, is a great gift to give children.
Benefits of Yoga for Children:
Children obtain massive benefits from yoga. Physically,
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It enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness.
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In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves.
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Doing yoga, children exercise, play, connect more deeply with the inner self, and develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them.
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Yoga brings that marvelous inner light that all children have to the surface.
Tips for making yoga a part of your family:
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Create a special time of the day for yoga. Take some time in the morning or evening, and follow it with a deep relaxation.
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Make a "sacred space." Use a small table or cover a box with a cloth. Decorate it with pictures and objects that have special meaning for your child.
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Use a candle for focus during a meditative yoga time.
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Begin by closing your eyes, and taking a few deep breaths. Mentally or out loud recognize the inner guidance, and connect it to the universal guidance, however you perceive it to be.
How long do you practice yoga?
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With preschoolers, ten to fifteen minutes is a good start. Each exercises lasts thirty seconds to one minute. You can add more time as they get used to it, and develop the ability to stay focused.
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Elementary-age children can easily keep up for twenty minutes, including a few minutes of deep relaxation, and perhaps a meditation of a few minutes. Of course, each individual child is different. You will know best what the capacity of your child is. Remember, it is better to start simply, and build gradually.
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Keep it F-U-N, those three little letters that are so important! Allure your child with interesting, imaginative, engaging exercises. Challenge them using a timer ("Let's see how long you can stay up in that pose with deep breathing!"). Reach into their inner self using your intuition and light-hearted humor rather than your intellect.
A Child's approach:
Yoga with children offers many possibilities to exchange wisdom, share good times, and lay the foundation for a lifelong practice that will continue to deepen.