Yoga for Kids: Why is Yoga Good for Children?
Yoga for children is a wide range of yoga positions and techniques for relaxation. Children learn about breathing techniques and their importance, practice correct body posture, acquire knowledge and skills to improve cognitive abilities, and what they learn in yoga classes can later be applied in everyday life.
It is very interesting for children that the positions performed during yoga sessions are named after animals, and the performance itself somewhat resembles the position or movement of animals in nature. Yoga for kids is a specific way of expression that allows them to be themselves and free.
Children experience yoga classes in a fun way because they are created to be interesting and because the “impulse” with which children communicate is followed, thus creating an authentic, creative and inspiring environment in which greater safety, confidence, and greater enjoyment in exercise are gained.
In addition to the mentioned techniques and exercises, work is also done on visualization as a tool that allows children to develop their creativity and imagination. With this method, as a result, they will have a feeling of freedom, joy, and peace.
Research has shown that children who practice yoga, unlike children who do not, have a greater attention span and better performance in visual attention tasks and verbal memory. Yoga has been found to help develop self-regulation skills in preschool children.
Children showed improvements in agility, balance, strength, and flexibility. Also, the work of the brain is improved to a great extent, and children learn how to manage their emotions, thus improving social self-confidence, mutual communication, and interaction both with classmates and parents.
Just like adults, children also need knowledge about breathing techniques and relaxation techniques that will bring them a sense of well-being, and carefreeness and teach them how to keep a balance of positive and negative emotions.
How can you explain to a child what yoga is?
In yoga, there are positions for everything, whether it’s an animal, a tree or an airplane, and we can show it with our bodies.The first yogis lived a couple of thousand years ago, surrounded by the forest, mountains, and caves of India. They observed their surroundings and saw how animals and nature move in perfect harmony, and they too began to imitate the movements of animals, trees, mountains, and even the movements of the stars and created a wonderful technique called yoga.
Yoga is a way of exercising the body, spirit, and mind at the same time, and practicing these exercises makes us feel great! It is an ancient science that helps us develop flexibility and strength in the body and happiness and peace of mind. It also teaches us that happiness is our natural state. When the body and mind are out of balance, we do not feel this happiness.
Benefits of yoga for children
The benefits of yoga for children are:- Increased confidence and self-esteem
- Improved concentration and focus
- Developed cognitive abilities and teaches us to be flexible from within
- Improved balance, coordination, and strength
- A deeper understanding of emotions reduced stress
- Developed creativity and imagination
- Sharpened and expanded awareness
- Strengthened immunity
- Reduced anxiety, insecurity, and fears
- Improved communication with others
- Maintains healthy sleep
- Raised the level of healthy energy
- Improved ability of self-control,
- Reduced outbursts of anger
- Improved memory
- Improved posture, strengthens the body
- Improved breathing
- Improved symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)