Picture this: Mountains tumbling into headstands. Headstands morphing into speeding cycles. Bridges collapsing into roaring lions. Sound like a movie? Actually, they’re just scenes from a normal household where a child plays the lead role. Heavy on drama, kids are also born acrobats. Yoga postures, for instance, are natural poses for a child. In fact, simple yoga asanas seem to be embedded in the human body.
Read “You Were Born a Yogi” from our blog.
If you observe an infant, you will see a lot of toddler yoga. A sleeping baby inadvertently strikes the ‘Chinmudra’ where the thumb and index finger touch. Frequently, a six-month-old is found on its back in Bhujangasana (cobra posture). While Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward dog pose) is a perennial favorite. And who hasn’t seen an infant in child’s pose—yoga’s most important resting posture?
Benefits of Yoga for Kids
Unfortunately, it’s not easy being a kid these days.
Children spend most of their time on school, homework, and school-related extra-curricular activities. There’s little time for free play. They face overstimulation, distractions, and academic and peer pressure too early in life. Plus, they’re plagued by their own insecurities and fears. Yoga can help children deal with this pressure-cooker environment and infuse energy and confidence into their personalities.
Yoga for kids
- Develops awareness of body, mind, and breath
- Helps arrest a child’s wandering mind; builds attention span and concentration power
- Augments imagination and creativity
- Relieves mental and physical fatigue
- Boosts energy levels and provides deep relaxation
- Helps overcome negative emotions like jealousy, fear, and anger
- Fosters a positive self-image and increases confidence
- Increases lung capacity
- Exercises, strengthens, and lengthens different muscles in the body
- Encourages healthy food habits. A blessing for parents who have to deal with picky eaters and junk food addiction
- Reduces obsession with TV and other electronic devices.
Yoga Poses for Kids
School-age kids benefit enormously from the supportive, non-competitive environment of a yoga class. And if they wish to continue a yoga practice at home, the following asanas will prove helpful.