The Benefits of Yoga For Kids

Summary

The article discusses the numerous benefits of yoga for children, including physical, mental, and emotional improvements.

Abstract

The article titled "The Benefits of Yoga For Kids" presents a compelling case for integrating yoga into children's lives. It emphasizes that yoga, being non-competitive, allows children to experience play and focus without the fear of making mistakes. The practice is associated with learning about one's true nature, finding inner peace, and improving the mind-body connection. Using animal names for yoga poses makes the activity more appealing to kids, facilitating their engagement and enjoyment. The article highlights significant health benefits such as reduced stress and anxiety, improved breathing, and enhanced physical flexibility. It also suggests that yoga can lead to better moods, increased happiness, and a decrease in aggressive behavior due to improved balance in brain transmitters. Furthermore, yoga is credited with boosting energy levels through better body alignment and blood circulation. The article concludes by noting that yoga's unique combination of body relaxation, muscle stretching, and breathing techniques is recognized by forward-thinking educationalists as a valuable tool for children's overall well-being.

Opinions

The author believes that yoga's non-competitive nature is beneficial for children who are often pressured to win and be the best.
Yoga is praised for its focus on inner peace and calm rather than physical strength and endurance, which are typically emphasized in other sports.
The use of animal names for yoga poses is preferred over Sanskrit names to make yoga more accessible and less religiously affiliated for children and parents.
The author reflects on personal experience, suggesting that practicing yoga from a young age could have prevented respiratory problems they suffered.
The article expresses that yoga's emphasis on breathing has numerous benefits, including stress reduction, increased oxygen to the brain, and improved mental alertness.
It is argued that yoga can stimulate both sides of the brain, which may enhance learning and cognitive function.
The author opines that yoga contributes to a better mood and feelings of happiness due to balanced brain transmitters.
Children who practice yoga are observed to be less aggressive and less impulsive, which is attributed to the improved body-mind balance from yoga.
The article posits that even simple yoga routines can significantly aid in channeling children's thoughts constructively, potentially benefiting those with ADHD.
The author endorses the view that yoga's benefits are widely recognized by progressive educationalists, who see its potential for improving children's physical and mental health.

Why don’t we get our kids to do yoga?

When I tried yoga a few years ago, I found that there were certainly a lot of benefits. Why not for kids, as well? Read on to discover that kids can thrive when they do yoga.

Kids are always on edge because they have to be the best and to win. That is a very big part of childhood. Losing is for losers and that is bad. Ask Donald Trump!

Yoga is non-competitive. Everyone is the same and there is no prize for winners and they never have to worry about making a mistake.

“A child’s yoga practice is a rare opportunity to experience play and focus without worrying about being wrong,” — Shana Meyerson

I love the emphasis on learning about our true nature and finding inner peace and calm. Contrast that to most sports where performance is always at the top of the list and also there is far too much emphasis on physical strength and endurance.

The mind-body connection is such an important part of our human lives. Yoga is great for making us aware of that.

I like the fact that when kids do yoga they can learn the various poses by using animal names (rather than the Sanskrit ones which put off many parents because they think it might be another religion!)

Kids love doing the cat, downward dog, table, tree and volcano poses. This makes it more appealing for kids.

Best of all, in my experience, yoga taught me how to breathe and I got rid of a lot of respiratory problems I had since I was a kid. If only I had done yoga instead of hockey, cricket or gym games!

As we know there are so many other benefits when we become more aware of our breathing:-

reduction in stress and anxiety

less tension

relaxed breathing means more oxygen in the brain

there is a definite feeling of calm and mental alertness

forward bends help to deepen breathing

relaxation can boost the central nervous system

it is well known that the pose and routine of the Sun Salutation can stimulate both sides of the brain which will help with learning.

We should not be surprised that forward-looking educationalists realize the value of yoga. It is truly a unique combination of learning how to relax the body, stretching major muscle groups and learning to use breathing techniques for maximum benefit.

Other advantages of yoga are:-

Boosts physical flexibility

Kids learn to clear their minds and focus better.

The brain transmitters are better balanced too and that leads to a better mood and feelings of happiness and contentment.

Children who do yoga are found to be less aggressive and violent because the body-mind balance is starting to kick in.

Children are also found to be less impulsive, again because of a better balance all round.

Another great advantage is the fact that improved body alignment helps blood circulation which in turn had a knock-on effect of higher energy levels.

Even the simplest balancing routine can help kids to channel their thoughts constructively. Experts now agree that this routine can help the brain’s executive function which is often defective in those with ADHD, for example.

“All kidding aside, if everyone did yoga, we would have world peace.” ― Rory Freedman, Skinny Bitch: A No-Nonsense, Tough-Love Guide for Savvy Girls Who Want to Stop Eating Crap and Start Looking Fabulous!