Benefits of Yoga for Children : Opening The World Of Yoga To Children

Brief introduction and benefits of Yoga

Yoga is an art of engaging oneself into the practice of physiological, psychological and philosophical enlightenment, the sole focus on toning and cleansing the body system. Yoga is mainly practised to free to the body and let the soul flow with ease. It is the attainment of peace of soul and the mind.

Yoga was invented in ancient India and has now found a global audience especially among the West. Many celebrities have embraced the art of Yoga, and they along with the guidance of their guru are trying to acquire this peace. Yoga has gained so much traction that International Yoga Day has become a norm that is celebrated worldwide on 21st June everywhere with great fanfare.

Following are the key benefits of YOGA.

Physiological benefits:

Yoga has many benefits except than acquiring peace and concentration. It helps in improving the energy levels, strengthens the immune system, one’s endurance level rises, the respiratory system is improved, muscular strength increases and the reflex actions get faster and more alert. With so many benefits there is no doubt that Yoga has gained the kind of popularity that it commands now.

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Psychological benefits:

Yoga impacts more than just the physical well being of the practitioner. Yoga has direct links with our mental health as well. Researchers have found several benefits of Yoga that directly impact the mental well being of the person. After practising Yoga on a regular basis, it was found that- concentration improves, social skills improve, anxiety and stress decreases, the memory improves, the cognitive functions get better among many other benefits.

Philosophical benefits:

While Yoga has been a great hit among the young adults, adults, middle-aged and the elderly, it still hasn’t found a place in the minds of the children. The children population in the world has still not embraced the way the adult population have. Yoga is especially beneficial for the young minds of children who are at a stage where they can be moulded. Getting your children to practice yoga is one of the best ways to ensure that your child has a wholesome development. It will also calm their nerves and make them more focused on. It is imperative that more and more parents inculcate this habit into their children.

However, this is easier said than done. Children tend to be restless and might just outright reject the idea and the spirituality behind Yoga. But there are certain ways in which a parent can make the children practice this ancient form of art.

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Here are the 5 Ways to get your children Practicing Yoga with You:

1. Disclose in front of children

2. Involvement of fun

3. Try to make it simple

4. Make them express themselves

5. Make them express themselves

Disclose in front of children:

Children usually learn through a method of observation. Psychology suggests that most children learn basic habits like eating, brushing teeth or combing hair by observing the action of their parents. This method can also be used when the parent wants to teach their child Yoga. If you are going to practice Yoga do it in front of them. More often than not they will not only ask you question on Yoga and its poses but also start imitating you. Try out some stretching Yoga poses, that can easily be imitated and are also exciting to watch. Once they get into it, they will definitely embrace the positivity and the excitement that comes from a good session of Yoga.

Involvement of fun:

In today’s fast paced life, the one thing that children miss out most on is the quality family time. Make Yoga the family activity wherein you are not only teaching your child Yoga but also having fun with them. Also, remember to not put undue pressure on your child if they don’t get it right in the first try. A lot of parents try to make their children perfect by making them practice the same Yoga posture again and again till they get it right. This makes the children not like Yoga as they start getting irritated and bored with it. It is important to encourage children rather than correcting their faults and king it monotonous.

The best part about Yoga is that it is flexible. It is not rigid. Everybody has their own way of doing it and modifying it. Let your children find the posture or the way that suits them the best.

Try to make it simple:

While performing Yoga is very simple, and any layman if dedicated can get the hangout, it can also get complicated if certain postures are implemented. These Yoga postures are performed by high-level practitioners who have been doing Yoga for a considerable amount of time. Don’t try to make your children attempt their Yoga Poses, and instead keep it as simple as possible.

Always find poses that are easy and children can do without much strain. You can try out some fun and easy poses like Bridge pose, Dancer pose, Sandwich pose, happy pose, etc. so that they get interested to perform yoga.

Make them express themselves:

Allow your children to have their own space and to understand Yoga in a way that they want to. You can let your children buy yoga accessories like mat, water and track pants which will facilitate their love for Yoga. Find out which Yoga poses your child loves and make sure that you prioritise that. This will help your child to really get into Yoga and actually embrace it fully.

Teach Some Breathing Exercises:

Sometimes your child is either too reluctant to try out yoga poses, or they might not get the hang of it. The best way to deal with this is to inculcate some breathing exercises like Pranayam into your child’s daily routine. It is possible that your child will not do it for a long period of time, but even doing it for a few minutes has a very calming and surreal effect. This is one of the best ways to introduce your child to the world of Yoga and to slowly bring them towards a more rigorous practice of Yoga.

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One of the most important things to remember is that Yoga should not be treated as a task. It should be treated as a fun family thing to do which will encourage your children to accept it and be engulfed by it. Inculcate Yoga into your family life in a way that it becomes a necessity like drinking water and eating food. Yoga is a marvellous art form that heals the body from inside out. It is something that must is encouraged and practised in every household.

Originally published at Sporcial.