Yoga for children: What are the positive effects?
Yoga for adults is wonderful – many yogis already know this. But the asanas from Buddhist teachings can make a difference not only for adults. Little ones also benefit from children's yoga, which is specially tailored to them. Parents will learn in this article whether it's really worthwhile and what benefits come with these yoga exercises.
Why is yoga also suitable for children?
The answer is clear: Firstly, children love to move, so they respond to the urge to move much more automatically than adults do. Therefore, you probably don't even have to force your child to use their own body and imitate simple yoga exercises.
Secondly, physical activity is healthy. Children's bodies need to move, just like an adult's. Yoga involves special asanas that have a lasting effect on the body, mind, and soul. This is an advantage over other physical exercises.
What are the benefits of practicing yoga?
If you exercise regularly with your child, you're killing two birds with one stone—physical activity is important for young and old alike. If you also choose yoga, you'll achieve amazing results. In the following section, you'll learn about the most significant benefits associated with the best yoga exercises.
1. Movement
Of course, the factor of movement is almost the most important. Many children's daily lives consist of a lot of sitting. This is especially true because they spend at least six hours at school sitting in a chair. Therefore, it's advisable for them to get enough exercise in their free time. Whether you take your kids out into nature, invent ball games, or do gymnastics – it gets their circulation going. With children's yoga, you also have the advantage that the asanas on the mat affect the body, mind, and soul. This effect applies to children just as much as it does to adults.
Depending on which asanas are practiced, they have different effects on the body. If you practice many strenuous sequences, you'll probably get out of breath, which will train your endurance. Otherwise, the main focus is on strengthening muscles, strengthening joints, and stretching ligaments. Your child will automatically become fitter, more flexible, and stronger – all in a playful and fun way.
2. Improved motor skills
Improving or training motor skills plays an essential role in children. Children between the ages of three and six learn sequences such as balancing, standing on one leg, or climbing stairs by alternating legs. Yoga can therefore be valuable during this time and promote these movements. At later ages (between six and twelve), the focus is on improving fine motor skills, such as drawing or writing. Of course, gross motor skills can also be trained and practiced more specifically at this age.
3. Concentration is increased
Adults also experience the problem of losing concentration after a while. There are various exercises to improve mindfulness and focus. Yoga can be helpful in this case. It shifts the focus to other areas of the brain, allowing the concentration area to breathe. Therefore, you can also incorporate yoga exercises at home to strengthen your little yogi's concentration—especially when they have a lot to learn.
4. Body weight is in balance
In this country, as in other industrialized countries, many children are overweight at a young age. Here, too, yoga can be beneficial in keeping children active and, above all, psychologically balanced. Psychological disorders (which are not always immediately recognized) are often the reason why children overeat and don't want to exercise.
You can counteract this with yoga. However, please note that yoga exercises are best discussed with your doctor. If your daughter or son is of normal weight, these exercises will help maintain it.
5. Better body awareness/feeling for the body
Children only learn to sense their bodies over time. With yoga, you can intensify and improve this process. If your child practices yoga exercises daily, you will notice a change in your daughter's or son's body awareness. This will affect various areas of life. This will help your child understand more easily when they need rest, when they want to eat, or when they want to move.
6. Relaxation and rest
Many children's daily lives are just as stressful as those of adults—especially considering that children aren't yet able to cope well with stress and challenges. Schoolwork, homework, and constant classes during their free time can make children feel overwhelmed. If this is the case with your child, you can change this. You can adapt your daily routine and incorporate daily asanas.
Yoga is particularly beneficial and promotes a relaxed body and a free mind. Give it a try.
What exercises can you do with your child?
If these tips have helped you and you'd like to incorporate yoga into your child's daily routine, you can incorporate the following poses. They're very easy to learn and can therefore be practiced by your child alone.
a) Seated forward bend
Forward bends are very important. You'll also find this exercise in yoga for adults. The great thing is that you can do this pose together. To do it, sit opposite each other, stretch out your legs, and touch the soles of your feet. If the pose is difficult, a blanket or small yoga cushion can provide support. Once you're in this pose with your yogi, you can both bend forward. Be kind to each other and see how far you can go.
b) Tree
In the tree pose, your daughter or son stands upright and lifts one leg. The sole of the foot is placed either on the lower leg or the thigh. This pose promotes balance.
c) The frog
In this position, you squat down and place both hands on the floor, keeping the soles of your feet flat on the floor.
d) The turtle
It's particularly calming and therefore an ideal yoga position for a restless child. Here, you bend forward with both legs almost straight, your upper body leaning forward, and your arms tucked under your knees, palms flat on the floor.
e) Warrior III
This pose is ideal for promoting balance. It can also be performed together. You stand on the mat with your daughter or son and step back one foot (it will hover in the air). At the same time, you bring your arms forward, and your little yogi does the same. This way, you can hold hands to help maintain balance.
f) cat
In the cat pose, the little yogi gets into a quadruped position and raises the left leg while extending the right arm forward. Then, the arm and leg are brought together beneath the belly. This is repeated a few times, then the other side is switched.
End your yoga class gently: Shavasana and meditation
To end the training session gently, it's worth doing a short breathing exercise. A short meditation journey or simply lying down can also be beneficial, helping your yogi relax even more easily.
Have you ever practiced yoga with your child? If so, what changes have you noticed in your son or daughter?
