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You know that delicious feeling you get from doing yoga — the clearer thinking, the suppler and stronger body, the improved mood? Your kids could be experiencing that, too. After all, yoga isn’t just for adults. It’s an infinitely customizable practice that can be tailored to every age level, from the littlest babies on up.
“Yoga helps kids in all the same ways it helps adults — it improves flexibility, strength and balance, and it also teaches focus and provides a means of self-soothing,” says Marcia Wenig, a kids’ yoga teacher for 25 years and developer of the YogaKids method.
Nicole Cherubini of Brooklyn, New York, credits yoga with helping her three-year-old son settle himself. “He is much more in control of his body, and knows to do his breathing when he’s upset,” she says. And Julie Margolis, a yoga teacher and mother of two yoginis from Montclair, New Jersey, has seen her girls develop confidence. “They are so proud of their practice. They love showing me a particular asana or telling me what they thought about during final relaxation,” she says.
Science has also noticed the positive effects yoga can have on children: Studies have found that yoga can improve symptoms in adolescents with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and children with ADHD, and that it is an effective way to help obese teens lose weight.
But perhaps the most important reason to introduce your child to yoga is much more far-reaching. “Children are the culture of tomorrow,” says Paramhans Swami Maheshewarananda, a yoga master and the founder of Yoga in Daily Life, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the teachings of yoga to people of all ages, fitness levels and spiritual leanings. “By helping them grow up happy and healthy, yoga can create a brighter future for everyone.”
How to get started with the right yoga program for your child
You can start going to Mommy (or Daddy) & Me classes as soon as you’re up to it, and many yoga classes for the littlest kids accommodate crawlers (with parents also attending the class). It is important, however, to find a teacher who is trained in working with children, Maheshewarananda notes. “Because children are still developing and certain poses have very strong effects, you do have to work with care. The teacher should know which poses are good for which ages and be able to make adjustments for the physical and mental needs of your child.”
If your kids are past the age where you can simply attend class together, one of the best ways to encourage your kids to try yoga is to let them see you doing it. Margolis saw that talking to her girls about her practice got them intrigued. “I would tell them how much I enjoy yoga, and how it makes my body and my heart feel,” she recalls. “But probably the most compelling thing for them was to see grouchy Mom go to class and super Mom come home.”
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I think yoga and meditation for children is absolutely wonderful and actually essential for their physical, mental, and spiritual growth. It's a great way for them to get to know themselves, to focus their energy, and to better concentrate in school. I feel so strongly about the benefits of meditation for children that I included guided meditation videos on meditation for children in The Big List of Free Guided Meditation Videos. I hope you benefit from them!
Edited by: Sonia Gallagher on Sep 24, 2009 4:21:09 PMSep 24, 2009 4:19:53 PM
Oct 7, 2008 11:53:57 AM