This is taken from our Spring 2015 issue. Subscribe here to receive our summer issue.
As parents, you can choose from many different children’s activities, so why would you choose yoga? In my experience, because it’s one of best to develop healthy bodies and minds. Yoga is fun, engaging and helps kids focus and calm down – while infusing self-worth. Physical poses grow strength, fl exibility and confi dence while yoga also teaches valuable lessons about being mindful and present.
What happens in kids’ yoga class? Children playfully explore through breath, stretching, jumping, twisting, bending, balancing, focussing, singing, being upside-down and relaxing. Whether children arrive tired or overactive, yoga helps to bring balance with vitality. It differs from a lot of other options in that it’s non-competitive, children don’t need to do more, better, faster. Practising poses develops awareness so they can access strengths and areas to improve but without self-judgment or comparison. Yoga’s framework and ethos lends itself to positive transformation, without the pressure. It provides quiet, perspective and rest – something that is as welcome to many children as it is to adults – and yoga stimulates the calming parasympathetic nervous system.
Introducing or offering the possibility to your child you may want to let them know a few things. Our classes often begin with bells or breathing, and include yoga poses and songs – many of which are theme-based – fun and empowering themes like jungle or courage! Relaxation includes visualisation techniques like imagining walking on a beach meditation or even a foot massage. We also include games, art or a chance to teach their friends.
wellwithin.ie | kidsandyoga.com
This is taken from our Spring 2015 issue. Subscribe here to receive our summer issue.
