If you think that yoga is only meant for adults then you are wrong! Anyone can engage in the practice of Yoga regardless of the age. It is not a complicated task to take up for the children, in fact starting yoga from a young age has incessant advantages for life.
Today’s scenario is way different than experienced years ago. Children stay engrossed in so many school assignments and competitive activities that they unknowingly get exposed to higher stress levels and the best way to counter stress is YOGA. If your child is physically inactive then Yoga can be a great start for them. Yoga includes simple techniques of breath control, meditation and bodily postures. It helps the child in mastering the 4 C’s- Coordination, Concentration, Confidence and Connection.
Coordination- Yoga is excellent for their bodies and health. It promotes balance, flexibility, coordination and strength. Yoga also demands a self-command on the body, so once a child gets accustomed to doing yoga he/she learns the art of body-balancing and life-balancing in the long run.
Concentration- The universal complaint of parents is that their child is prone to distractions and lacks tranquility. Well then yoga is a saviour as its main component is FOCUS. Doing meditation and inhalation exercises sharpen and expand their awareness and help them develop calmness. This in turn prevents the child from being easily disappointment or deviated from things.
Confidence- Learning the art of self-confidence from a young age is a great start for life. By successfully accomplishing the asanas and postures, children gain self-confidence. There are some animal poses in Yoga that accelerate the growth of children. By roaring like a lion or pulling the tongue out (simhasana) children become strong and gain self-esteem.
Connection- Yoga helps them cope with stress and difficult emotions. When we say connection, it doesn’t only mean with the people around but also with the self. It strengthens the mind-body connection by physically strengthening the body postures. It helps the child connect better with the people around him/her.
The best thing about yoga is that it is portable! A child can practice yoga anywhere and any time of the day. Though you might have a tough time gathering your child’s attention at one place as Yoga requires patience and single-mindedness. Associate the concept of yoga with ‘fun’ so that they are intrigued with it. Tell your child that ‘being healthy is fun’ and ‘yoga makes them healthy’, the fun element has it’s own charm for kids!
Yoga is all about exploring and learning new things in a fun way. Keep it simple and easy for the kids. Do not force them to do difficult poses as the child needs to be comfortable in order to absorb maximum benefits out of this practice.
