Yoga for Kids

The type of fitness obtained by yoga is important at all stages of life. A finely tuned body reflects a sense of well-being. It exudes a feeling of vibrancy, energy and confidence. Fitness and healthy habits ingrained during childhood stay with children forever. They should be encouraged toward physical fitness and aerobic exercises from an early age and involve themselves in a variety of sports and activities for development of strength, flexibility, muscular endurance and body co-ordination.

Yoga means union of body and mind. It is an ancient Indian series of exercises that focuses on body and breath. The exercise postures and regulated breathing are combined in such a manner that it relieves stress, improves flexibility, brings about body awareness and develops harmony through balance. Yoga teaches integration of mind, body and soul through simple physical activities. It makes you attain higher level of consciousness, thus leading to self-control and self-governance. Yoga when practiced from childhood, lays the basis for a healthier and disease free lifestyle through old age.

Ever since the west discovered the benefits of yoga, it has received a renewed respect and a facelift. The physical and emotional benefits of yoga have brought a sea of change in the lives of millions of practitioners. Children have also benefited a lot by achieving discipline and control in their life provided by their yoga practice.

Advantages Of Yoga Program For Kids

· Yoga postures are so designed that it develops total body flexibility. It stretches the inner and outer body muscles, strengthens the joints and connective tissues for better body coordination and flexibility. This activity when practiced regularly can help children who want to pursue dancing, gymnastics or calisthenics. It helps them to attain difficult postures with ease and total balance.

· Children like adults also undergo a lot of tension and stress in their lives. Peer pressure, homework, projects, presentations and never ending tests and examinations bring about a lot of strife in their young lives. Simple breathing and physical exercises effectively eases their muscle tension and instantly relieves stress. It fills the child with renewed vigor to face any daily strife.

· Yoga teaches patience. It is not easy to attain yogic postures. They have to be practiced again and again to be perfect. It teaches children the value of hard work and persistence to achieve their goals. They learn the valuable lesson of patience and not to be frustrated or lose heart if they don’t achieve success on their first go. It teaches them to keep trying until they achieve success in all spheres of life.

· Yoga teaches self-control and discipline. Like any sport, yoga postures have to be practiced every day with diligence and discipline to achieve some degree of mastery over them. Once this habit is ingrained in children, it benefits them in working on their assignments and participation in class activities.

· Yoga builds self-confidence. Participating in yoga, like in any other sport, gives them a sense of identity. Attaining the difficult yogic poses gives them a sense of achievement and accomplishment. It makes them feel self-reliant and independent leading to more participation in class and/or community activities.

· Yoga helps develop concentration. Radio, TV, toys and video games cause rapid stimulation, shortening the attention span in children. Yoga teaches a child to focus on particular aspects and avoid distractions. It also makes them self aware in dealing with their emotions.

· Yoga sublimates destructive hyper activity, dissipates energy through exercises.

Yoga provides numerous health benefits. Yogic postures and regulated breathing aid in reduction of various ailments by strengthening blood circulatory system, leading to a healthier and livelier childhood.

Yoga for Kids

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