The benefits of yoga seem to be endless. I find myself falling more and more in love with yoga each day, as I feel and learn new benefits with each practice. Yoga heals and strengthens the body. Yoga teaches us proper alignment so that we may prevent further injuries. Yoga calms the mind and lifts the spirits. When we practice yoga we regulate our glands, boost the body’s systems and allow our joints to move in their full range of motion. It’s just so great! We all should practice yoga!
All of these things that benefit us adults will also benefit our children. Physical strength, learning how to make the mind-body connection, reducing stress...these are things that benefit kids and adults alike. Think of how many peaceful, happy, strong, and healthy little people we could have roaming this planet.
Children today are totally bombarded by stimuli. Technology is coming at them in the forms of images whizzing by on the television screen and a constant noise of cell phones and video games. Extra-curricular activities and pressure to succeed in school leave them stressed out and weary. Children need, perhaps even more than adults do, to get away from this over stimulation and learn to calmly focus while moving their bodies in a healthy way.
A kid’s yoga class will be more playful and silly than a class you and I are used to. The goal is not to get them into the perfect pose, but rather just get them moving. Allowing them to explore a pose and how their bodies feel when they get into it. It is also a time for them to create social connections with each other in a non-judgmental and supportive environment. Yoga will help them release excess energy and promote acceptance of themselves and others. They will also learn basic breathing techniques that will strengthen their practice and bring them peace. Teaching children peace is perhaps the most important lesson we can leave them.
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