4 Ways Yoga Can Help Kids

Knowingly or not, modern parents plunge their children into a stressful adult world too soon. School, lack of quality time with parents, TV, computer, sports and much more: all this influences children’s minds and puts unnecessary pressure on them. And, just like with adults, yoga can help kids too! How? In this way:

• Yoga increases self-esteem and body awareness awareness thanks to its lack of competitiveness . In our super-competitive world, yoga is a safe haven where kids don’t have to improve, push themselves, or aim higher for encouragement from the teacher, or feel bad when they don’t meet their parents’ expectations. At the same time, it offers a nice way to let children get to know their bodies and their abilities.
• Yoga develops strength and flexibility . Yoga provides enough physical activity for children’s physical development and stretching without overloading them. In addition, emphasis is placed on correct breathing and relaxation.
• Yoga improves concentration and the ability to relax . Stillness and balance (the basic principles of yoga asanas) are taught to children in the most effective way possible, so that they learn to value these skills and use them outside of yoga class.
• Yoga develops imagination and creativity . Yoga for children is really different from yoga for adults. Children inspire yoga instructors to intersperse a variety of other activities in yoga classes: drawing, music, storytelling and much more, so it’s never boring for children to exercise their bodies and minds.