Practicing yoga offers numerous physical and psychological benefits. What better way to enjoy your practice than by sharing it with the people you love most? Yoga helps children strengthen their developing bodies, reduce stress and anxiety, improve flexibility, prevent injuries, enhance focus and school performance, foster self-regulation and discipline, and encourage creativity.
Research shows that children aged 5 to 18 experience decreased anxiety, improved confidence and self-esteem, and enhanced concentration and memory through yoga.
The physical benefits of yoga extend to everyone and include increased blood circulation and metabolism, improved muscle strength and flexibility, better posture and cardiovascular health, and lower blood sugar levels.
Yoga and mindfulness have been shown to enhance physical and mental health for all participants. Teaching children from a young age how to manage impulsivity and develop discipline is incredibly valuable. What better way to do this than by rolling out your yoga mats and connecting with one another? Yoga has also been demonstrated to reduce challenging behaviors in the classroom by providing a healthy outlet for children to express themselves. It’s important to remember that children have much to teach us, even in their naivety and youth.
Kids can start practicing yoga as early as age 4 or when they understand instructions. Engaging in daily exercise for 30 to 60 minutes can help maintain hormone levels and act as a stress reliever. Balancing and regulating hormone levels in adolescent children has even been shown to delay the onset of puberty.
There are many fun ways to start practicing yoga with your family. You can act out stories, pretend to be animals, watch kid-friendly yoga videos together, enroll them in a yoga class, assist them in creating their own yoga space, teach them to pay attention to their breath, meditate outdoors together, or lead by example using your yoga mat.
When you practice yoga as a family, you’ll be amazed at how much closer your bond with your children becomes. Make it enjoyable, silly, and playful. Listen when they need to express themselves, laugh when you stumble out of your poses, and embrace it all when it’s time to put the mats away.