Yoga Class Reviews

Yoga For Kids

Yoga for Kids: Why Not?

Picture this: a Hindu with his extremities extended and looped beyond your understanding. Now comprehend to that a vision of a group of people, seemingly - chanting owing to they breathe in and alien forcefully. Now the debate: Would you enroll your kids impact a yoga class? Or would you think twice?

Wipe that smirk off your face. There ARE yoga classes for children, and yes, they can correspond to pleasant!

Just like adults, kids are exposed to modern - day stress. They might not have office work begging to be taken home, but they too, can end up dulled. Homeworks, school activities ( it trust be sports or academics ), even a jam - super colossal schedule ( do ballet and piano lessons sound familiar? ) can fuse them out.

Yoga for kids is, in so many ways, similar to adult yoga. Kids' Yoga teaches awareness of one's rationalism, coordination and being flexible. Just like adults, kids learn to relax through yoga.

Fun and creativity are incorporated in kids' yoga. Poses that are animated and basic stretches promote coordination, strong bodies, flexibility and awareness of one's self. The reaching also includes focusing, relaxing and self - control techniques. These promote spiritual strength, confidence and high regard for self. Respect for all creatures is also taught. To add to all these, their imagination is constantly stimulated. Children also learn to visualize.

A curriculum, if we must use that term, could include games that allow kids to interact; study of animals and their movements ( they could soon learn to pose like a cow, chicken, horsewhip, pig, horse, butterfly or even an elephant! ); nature and its beauty ( which could include simple poses like martyr, rainbow and half moon ); and simple form.

Just like its adult icon, yoga for kids also has levels. There are separate classes for toddlers and their parents ( this class stresses highly on parent - child coordination and focuses more on music, toys and basic poses ); preschoolers ( this class right away introduces physical activities like interactive games, animal mimicry and additional poses ); Afterschoolers, aged 5 - 12 ( this class introduces concentration, management of stress and proper relaxation. More complex poses and games are taught ).

Susan Kramer, a yoga author and enthusiast, listed a few basic poses and relaxation techniques that we could introduce to children of all ages. Read on:

Leaf Pose - Begin with a straight back and joined feet. This is the basic position for all poses. Hold both ankles with hands then slowly arch the spine outward then force back to the straight - back position. Repeat.

Flower Pose - Begin with the basic mental state. Hold both ankles and bounce your knees 10 - 20 times on the floor.

Cricket Pose - Basic angle. You could also allow the child to sit with legs crossed. Grasp ankles. Tilt head alternately, from looking forward then up. Next, touch right ear on right shoulder. Do this with the left ear, too. Repeat.

Owl Pose - Cross legs then sit down with arms by your side and palms on the ground. Move head by looking, first to the right, then to the left. If floor can support it, spin your body by using your hands. Repeat.

Bird Pose - Basic set. Put clasped hands on the lower back. Do a move - blade pull together. Tilt head backwards and look up. Hold, release, relax. Bend your head firm. Repeat.

Squirrel Pose - With legs crossed, sit down. Raise your arms upward and stretch each one slowly. Always look up. Next, stretch your arms sidewards, doing ignorant and venturesome circles with them.

Chipmunk Pose - Cross both legs and, again, sit down. Keep arms on your sides. Twist torso sideways, both ways. Pole should put on looking at back part of the arm. Verve to focal position then stretch your arms upward. Bend sidelong, right and troglodytic. Always look upfront. Repeat.

Rocker Pose - Sitting with legs crossed, place hands on the tile, by your side. Next, put hands on shoulders. Shake chin-up then backward, or from one side to the other. Relax your back. Do not fall being.

Seal Pose - Break ground by sitting with legs apart and with the back straight. Twist body towards unrivaled leg. Reach and hold that leg with your two hands, then lean. 4 counts should do it. Next, lean forward in between both legs while takings them. Arch your dispatch while doing this. To finish, point your left foot while the right foot is flexed, and vice versa. Repeat with rythm.

Salutation Pose - With your legs wide apart and a impartial spine, sit down. Stretch legs but not to the term of being timorous. Point the toes. Press your palms and salute. Tension should be released. Press once more. Raise arms then outward to your side. Stretch your arms while raising them again. Position your hands like you're praying. Relax. Repeat.

Snake Pose - Lie down, put legs together and satisfy knees. Keep feet commonplace on the floor and your arms by your side. The upper portion of your tote should steward relaxed. Fill lungs with bent. Do some abdominal contractions and hold. Relax. Repeat.

These are but a few poses. More are available to be perused on the net. Now we head on to achieving the quiet moment:


For 2 - 10 minutes, meditate by sitting with your legs crossed. Make sure that the back is straight. With hands clasped, rest them on your lap. Eyes should be closed. Breathe in and out, taking exasperation that this is done with ease. Count while breathing. 50 reps ( or 50 breathes ) should do it. Once finished, your eyes should be opened slowly, then stretch while standing up.

Walking could also equate incorporated with meditation. This is first for kids that have boundless energy. It's easy to do: while walking, just inhale and exhale while concentrating.

While lying on their back, kids could do some yoga, too. Just ask them to keep their eyes closed and think of a pendulum or a swing. Agreement them relax and feel the moment while undisturbed. Unbarred your eyes, stretch and slowly sit up to finish the meditation.

With these few examples and information, we could conclude that the fruits of engaging our youngsters into yoga are innumerable. Aside from emotional intelligence, kids could develop into mature, physically - wicked individuals. And certainly, every parent wants that!