Why Yoga?

Yoga is becoming increasingly popular with both children and adults alike. You're bound to have a studio near you, or know someone who is an avid yogi. But why is this? What's so good about yoga? 

It is no secret that breathwork and mindfulness is beneficial, it's even prescribed by doctors and is being introduced into the school curriculum! Mindfulness is all about being in the now, not worrying about the past or the future, focusing on what you have in that moment and being appreciative of it. In a kids yoga class, you can expect the whole session to be based around mindfulness- mindful movements, listening to your body, taking the time to really think about how you're feeling. Having a greater awareness of your body and how you feel can help you to look after yourself; if we start this young, then we can grow learning to be kind to ourselves and hopefully avoid burnout. Technology and electronics are so prevalent in today's society, kids yoga classes are the perfect escape to be truly present. Yoga and mindfulness teaches children that whatever they are feeling, that's OK! But it also teaches them that it is just a feeling, and feelings pass. Yoga can be very therapeutic and can work especially well with Autistic children and those with ADHD. 

As a school staff member who has imbedded yoga into our daily routine- I can tell you that it is magic! Through yoga and mindfulness, children show increased concentration, a better ability to focus, being kind to their peers and teachers, and the list goes on! Using poses in a kids yoga class helps them work on their determination, and with yoga being a non competitive sport, their practise is exactly that, THEIR practise. They don't feel the pressure or competition that comes with other team sports- they purely feel good in doing what is right for their bodies. Research from Harvard has shown yoga can improve both physical and mental health in school-age children (ages 6 to 12).  It can help with classroom behaviour and anxieties and stress related to school life.

Of course, yoga also has its physical benefits too! It is a low impact, safe and accessible style of exercise that can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone, as yoga is just so versatile! Deep breathing is known to improve aerobic capacity, which can help children to stay fit. The poses (which are sometimes called asanas) can help improve stability, balance, coordination and strength, which can help them to develop correctly. For example, a young child who skipped the crawling stage and began to walk straight away, will lack muscle in their upper body. Yoga uses poses that safely improve muscle tone and flexibility across the whole body, and can be adapted to focus on certain aspects if needed. It can be beneficial for children with hypermobility to strengthen the muscles around their joints to keep them safe. It helps keep children fit and active, which improves mobility and healthy habits. 

Everything we do through mindfulness and yoga can be imbedded into daily life! Yoga can help with self regulation; learning breathing techniques children can use whenever they feel they need it, whether inside or outside of the yoga studio. The more they practise yoga, the more relaxed their nervous system will be, leading to less stress, better sleep at night, aiding in digestion and even boosting their immune systems! 

Yoga and mindfulness has helped me so much both mentally and physically throughout my adult life, and I wish I had the opportunity to begin as a child! Give your child the greatest gift by introducing yoga to them. I promise you, it's worth it.