Importance of Yoga for Kids Development
By Pallavi Agarwal | Health & Wekknes Writer and Editor
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Yoga is beneficial to kids in many ways. Because children encounter emotional, social, and physical challenges or conflicts, a dedicated and intentional yoga practice that includes breathing techniques, behavioral guidelines, and physical postures can be incredibly valuable for them. In this post, we will discuss the importance of yoga for kids’ development, the keys areas in which your kids can be benefited from practicing yoga and also some of the important points to keep in mind.
Kids derive enormous benefits from yoga. Physically, it enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation also improve. Doing yoga, children exercise, play, connect more deeply with the inner self, and develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them. Yoga brings that marvelous inner light that all children have to the surface.
There are five key areas where kids benefit from the practice of yoga, and each of them improves their overall well-being
Yoga Improves Memory and Cognitive Functioning
When kids practice yoga, they are essentially practicing their ability to focus on the task at hand. In their day-to-day lives, this translates to better focus and cognitive functioning at school, leading to improved academic achievement.
Yoga Improves Sleep
Practicing yoga helps kids to relieve stress by using their breathing to calm the mind and the nervous system. The physical practice of yoga also helps to relieve tension and release negative emotions held physically in the body, helping them to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Yoga Improves Strength and Breath Control
Yoga takes some strength – both mentally and physically. When practiced regularly, we notice many physical and cognitive changes within ourselves, particularly increased flexibility, upper body strength, and mental clarity. Teaching proper breathing techniques and building physical and mental strength from a young age, helps to reduce the chances of obesity, depression, and depressive symptoms, as well as increases self-esteem, self-confidence, and improves overall well being.
Yoga Improves Mood
Like any physical exercise, practicing yoga helps kids to release their negative thoughts and feelings, bring about mental clarity, and feel better about themselves.
Yoga Increases Determination and Perseverance
When Kids learn how to practice the pose and continue to practice it, they are very excited and want to show everyone the new thing they learned at a yoga class. This determination and perseverance lead to a feeling of excitement. When this happens, kids will do anything to keep that feeling. In their day-to-day lives, kids will learn that sticking with something, even when it is difficult, pays off and they will want to bring that feeling of excitement to other areas of their lives.
Things to consider when you are practicing yoga with your children
- Feel free to adapt or change the yoga poses to suit your needs.
- Focus on having fun with movement, not on practicing perfectly aligned poses.
- Engage the children. Follow their passions and interests.
- Create authentic, meaningful experiences.
- Cater to their energy levels and different learning styles.
- Be creative and enjoy yourselves, but please be safe.
- Wear comfortable clothing and practice barefoot.
- Play yoga games to engage them in learning about the poses.
Meet Amaya Gulati, she is just 4 years old, loves yoga because that helps her in extending her imagination.
Parents may notice how yoga benefits their kids, but the best judges are the kids themselves. Children who have practiced yoga tell teachers and parents that they are able to concentrate better during the day, focus better on their activities, and pay attention to their tasks.
Learn more about other techniques that can help in the personality development of your kids. Please visit: Kids Development
