Should Your Kid Do Yoga as Well?

Rebecca Lewis August 23, 2013

If you have been doing yoga as part of your regular routine, you’re doing your health a very good favour. And if you want to extend the benefits to your family, especially to your kids, you may also want to let them join you every time you do yoga. This mind-body exercise is not just for adults, it’s a good and fun activity for children as well!

Teaching yoga to your kids will not just engage them into a healthy lifestyle, but can also help your little ones effectively deal with many life situations that often stress them out. Why is that? Yoga is an ancient practise which involves breathing, postures and meditation. These three powerful techniques don’t only relax the body but also stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in a strong mind-body connection.

Here are the amazing benefits of yoga to children:

Better health, more energy. Physical benefits of yoga include improved strength, flexibility, body awareness and coordination. Practising this exercise regularly is important for children of all ages to improve gross motor development, agility and cooperation that allow them to feel comfortable with their body as they experience physical changes. Furthermore, nearly all yoga postures are designed to enhance blood flow. This could result to improved neural and cardiovascular function, muscle strength, and increased energy levels. Kids go through numerous challenges (physical and mental) everyday, at home or in school that usually sap their energy. Yoga is a great way to recharge their batteries. It’s also a good way to instil the habit of exercising to your children.

Mental clarity and relaxation. Young as they are, your kids may also be having a lot of things going on in their mind. Just like you, they need some time to get away from the distractions – anxiety, negative thoughts, worries and similar emotions. They need time to just be. They also require a high degree of stillness and quietness to achieve mental clarity and relaxation. Homework, peer pressure, television, internet, video games and the like can take a toll on their mental health. Yoga gives children an opportunity to steer clear from these things once in a while.

Resilience. They may not need too much of resilience at this point in time because you are there to help them out during difficult moments. But this trait is something you want your children to develop at the earliest possible time because they extremely need it when they grow up. Flipping upside down, balancing their body, and extending their limbs far enough can lead your kids to the idea that they are strong and capable. As they progress in their yoga practice, they will realise that they are still capable of doing more than they thought.

Higher awareness and focus. Being able to focus at one thing at a time is a very powerful skill that your children can carry through adulthood. There’s a plethora of research that shows how meditation can increase mind-body awareness, and improve mental focus and other cognitive functions. Awareness and focus can significantly boost your child’s performance in school, particularly in taking tests and doing homework. Research has shown that yoga can reduce symptoms of depression and other stress-related disorders.

Fun. Aside from play, yoga is one way for kids to enjoy and have fun. It’s not the usual hardcore workout so your children won’t get easily tired and bored. Yoga allows them to move in their own pace. This activity can also strengthen the bond between you and your kids. If you’re not the type of mum or dad who joins their kids during play activities, yoga gives you an opportunity to bond with them whilst personally enjoying the experience. What’s more, yoga has been proven to raise happiness and well-being. So over time, your little ones will get more ‘cheery’.

Getting Started with Yoga

Children need not be at a certain age to begin practising yoga. In fact, it can be taught even to infants, with the guidance of a professional instructor of course. Kids and teenagers who have behavioural problems such as attention disorder and hyperactivity can greatly benefit from yoga as well.

One way to introduce yoga to your kids is by signing them up in a kid’s yoga class. This makes the practice more enjoyable because they can find new friends of their age. And as soon as your kids get the hang of it, you can make yoga a part of your home life.