Yoga for Every Body
Yoga and Children By Laura Bonanni Want to get your child away from the video screen? Consider involving them in a yoga class. In addition to its strength building and flexibility benefits, yoga is well-known for its positive effect on stress. Hectic schedules, school and peer pressure are making today's children more stressed than ever. A yoga class may be just what your child needs to "take a break" from it all. Young children benefit from classes designed specifically for their age group, while older children (pre-teen/teen) may be able to handle an adult class. Very young children (toddlers) would enjoy a "Mommy & Me" class. Yoga helps children build strong, limber, and healthy bodies through functional strengthening and flexibility exercises. Mindful movement, breath work, and visualization are used during class to energize the body and calm the mind. The techniques used in yoga help children improve concentration, focus, and attention. Yoga also encourages children to participate at their own level, so they have control over how hard they work. With yoga, every child can feel empowered and successful, leading to improved self-esteem and confidence. Yoga is an ideal activity for all children, including those who participate in sports. The functional strength, balance, and flexibility exercises complement many sports and can help your child improve core strength, concentration, and coordination. Yoga also promotes a more holistic approach to movement, which may counteract the potential negative effects of participating in a single sport (i.e. overuse injuries). The Benefits of Practicing Yoga for Children:
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