Yoga can be done by anyone, young, old, even kids. With a little help, even toddlers can do it. Even though it is a simple introduction to yoga and done with a little bit of game playing, it doesn’t mean that kids cannot get the benefit out of this particular sport.
The benefits are:
- To be healthier and help obesity in children. By taking yoga classes, kids are triggered to move. Nowadays, because of computer games, kids move less than they ought to.
- To control their stress. Yes, children can get stressed out, too. Being overscheduled, tough competition in school, peer pressure, all cause your kids’ strain. Yoga can help them get relaxed. Their ability to control their breathing can be applied to deal with problems they face in real life.
- Better concentration. Controlling breathing is a way to learn how to focus. And yoga can be an excellent way in learning that. Some studies have shown that kids who practice yoga, especially those with special needs, such as those with ADHD, can concentrate for longer periods.
Besides those benefits, yoga also can be a way for them to express themselves and develop their self-esteem. To those with special needs, it can be a way to learn how to socialize. The method is flexible. Yoga for kids mostly is modified with game-playing, singing, storytelling, drawing, simple breath meditations and rest. Poses are balanced between quiet and active ones. Children follow the teacher’s instructions by learning the names of different body parts, their locations and function. That way, their yoga improves very quickly. Yoga for kids should be enjoyable. Try to put your kids in a yoga class and see how they can grow stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally. And they can have lots of fun. Ask them to stop, they would refuse.