8 Awesome Benefits of Yoga for Kids
There are so many amazing benefits of yoga for kids that you are probably not aware of. Not only does yoga have physical benefits but it also has social and emotional benefits for kids too. Check them out below!
What is Yoga?
Yoga is a mind and body practice which connects the mind, the body, and the breath.
People of all ages and abilities can do yoga. There are various styles that combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation.
It involves movement, meditation, and breathing techniques to promote mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
How is yoga different for kids from adults?
A kids yoga class is very different from a yoga class for adults.
In Kids yoga, children have can practice yoga and mindfulness in a fun way using songs, games and stories.
You will find a lot of the asana’s (yoga postures) are inspired by nature and animals, which kids love!
At what age can kids start practicing Yoga?
Kids can start practicing yoga as soon as they start to understand instructions. It is such a fun kids activity to do at home.
Usually children from 3 years old are capable of understanding the instructions and following the teacher. However younger children can easily enjoy watching yoga videos on YouTube, and their parents can assist them with the postures from a very young age.
Benefits of Yoga for Kids
Studies have shown that kids yoga improved concentration, self-esteem and assist kids to manage stress, anxiety and regulate their emotions. Yoga can also increase strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and introduce them to healthy life-style choices from an early age. Here are 8 awesome benefits of yoga for kids.
1. Yoga is non-competitive
Yoga is all about your own journey and of the many benefits of yoga for kids, is that it is non-competitive.
Yoga is a place where you can just be and be accepted for what you are and accept yourself where you are.
Making it your own practice no matter what your age or ability is a very calming and rewarding feeling.
2. Yoga helps kids to develop body awareness and builds concentration
Yoga is one of the most well-known and widely practiced forms of body awareness exercise.
It connects breath and movement which makes children become more present in the body and mind, helping them to become calm more quickly and focus.
Yoga is also excellent for concentration, it’s been shown to improve focus, attention, and memory.
Research has found that yoga can greatly affect neural patterns in the brain, which can improve children’s ability to concentrate and focus.
3. Yoga teaches kids how to manage stress through healthy movement and meditation
Another of the great benefits of yoga for kids, is that the practice has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in adults. The same techniques often work for children.
By helping kids focus on the present moment and become aware of their breath and body, we teach them a very important coping mechanism in stressful situations and teaching them mindfulness.
4. Yoga helps to develop kids muscle tone and strength
Yoga helps strengthen children’s growing bodies and helps them improve their flexibility, which can reduce their chance of injury.
Yoga can help increase muscle endurance in children because you typically hold any given posture for a certain length of time and repeat it several times during the yoga class.
Starting yoga at a young age will set children up to have great muscle tone and strength for later in life.
5. Yoga helps to develop a positive self and confidence
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of yoga for kids is that it does wonders for their self-esteem.
Whether it’s using their imagination and creating a unique yoga story, perfecting a pose, or improving their balance and flexibility, these can give young children a sense of personal empowerment.
Kids yoga is very much about connecting with one another in a room and encouraging and helping those around you. It is a very positive environment for children, and they should leave feeling very secure and happy in who they are.
6. Yoga helps to connect families together
Yoga is great for the whole family. Children will really benefit from their families getting involved and helping them with certain postures.
Kids yoga will bring warmth and laughter into the home or wherever it is being practiced.
In a world where parents and children are so busy, family yoga provides a wonderful place to spend healthy and happy, quality time together.
It teaches adults to play and bring out their inner child and have quality bonding time with their children. It a very beautiful thing to be a part of!
7. Yoga encourages children to use their imagination and be creative
Imagine a room full of children making loud animal sounds: jumping like frogs, mooing cows, or unicorns flying high in the sky.
The room is filled with beautiful wild child energy and imaginations are soaring.
Stories are being acted out and created, children are participating in part of making this incredible story.
The sky is the limit when it comes to kids’ yoga and children’s ability to use their imagination and creativity, it is so beautiful to see.
Anything you can think of can be put into a kid’s yoga story, which children absolutely love to be part of!
8. Yoga is fun
Above all else, yoga benefits kids because it is fun! It is all about making yoga a fun adventure whilst getting those incredible mental, physical, and emotional benefits.
Yoga can be made into any story you can think of, and children can use their imaginations to their full potential.
Kids yoga is a lot more than just stretches and postures. It is songs, props and laughter, all into the fun yoga stories.
How to introduce kids to yoga
Introducing yoga to your kids can be as simple as going to a family yoga class being held in your area or checking out some yoga videos for kids on YouTube and following that in your living room or out in your backyard.
The beauty of kids watching yoga is that it’s healthy screen time and the whole family can get involved, assuring lots of laughter and throughout the household!
Once your children get the hang of it, it is fun to get them to practice yoga on in other places, like down at the beach, the park, and other places out in nature.
The idea of teaching yoga to young children might seem like it would be difficult at first, however the trick is to make it fun.
Check out the Little Yoga Gems YouTube channel which is ideal for children aged 1-12 years old with something for everyone.
Gemma from Little Yoga Gems releases free regular kids yoga adventure videos that you can do from the comfort of your own home and wherever you are in the world.
The whole family can join in, especially if the little ones need a little help to get started. Parents, you can also take comfort knowing that this is a healthier, active kind of screen time!
Yoga for Kids
With so many benefits of yoga for kids, it makes it a great activity to do at home that the whole family can enjoy. Make sure to check out our Yoga videos for Kids post.
Follow Mum’s Little Explorers on Facebook for more inspiration and if you are in Melbourne, join us in the Melbourne for Kids Facebook Group.
