YOGA FOR CHILDREN

Society has seen a growing interest in mindful modalities for kids, such as yoga, for many of the same benefits they provide adults. Children are struggling with how to self-regulate, manage their emotions, and get along with others. Teaching kids mindful movement, breathing techniques, and other sense-awareness exercises not only creates healthy fitness habits for life, but also strengthens their mind-body connection. Learning mindfulness tools when toddlers, and continuing the practice throughout their K-12 years, will likely lead to happier and healthier children because they will learn how to ride through difficulties with greater ease.

Growing research evidence is emerging from studies of healthy children, as well as those with issues like ADHD, learning disabilities, or conduct disorders. The following are some of the identified benefits of children doing yoga:

• Less aggressive and disobedient behavior
• Fewer feelings of anxiety and stress
• More feelings of calm, relaxation, and self-acceptance    
• Fewer symptoms of ADHD
• Better attention
• Less test anxiety and better test performance
• More emotional stability and self-control
• Better social skills and social relationships
• ​Increased optimism

Yoga instructors for kids must genuinely respect, support and love teaching children, and be a good role model for mindfulness. With younger children, the focus should be on feeling the body move; reaching, balancing, and moving in all directions. Playfulness is essential - combining mindful movement, games, breath-work, and visualization to move energy through their bodies as we calm their minds.  As they get older, attention should move to the quality of movement and maintaining good posture.  Good instructors emphasize “feeling the pose” in the body, not “perfecting the pose”, allowing the children to hold the pose naturally and providing alignment detail over time.

Starting this Fall, Nimaste Yoga will offer many classes that embrace the child in your life:

• Family Yoga: monthly workshops on Sunday afternoons for children ages 3-10
• Baby and Me: 6 week series of classes for babies able to hold their head up
• Tot and Me: 6 week series of classes for children ages 16 months to 3 years
• Playtime Yoga: 6 week series of classes for adults with kids along for the ride
• Tween Yoga: 6 week series of classes for children ages 7-11
• Teen Yoga: 6 week series of classes for children ages 11-16
• ​Prenatal Yoga: regular Saturday class for the soon-to-be born crowd!

​Make an investment in your child today!