Health Benefits of Yoga for Kids

Can you guess today’s blog topic with these 3 hints? Namaste, downward facing dog, and tree pose. If you guessed “yoga”- you’re right! Maybe you’ve seen your parents do yoga, or you’ve even tried it yourself in a P.E. class or on YouTube. After reading all of the health benefits of doing yoga from a young age, I’m sure you’ll be begging your parents to buy you a yoga mat so you can begin!


### What is Yoga? Yoga is an ancient physical and spiritual practice from India, dating back to 5,000 years ago! Did you know that yoga even has its own language called Sanskrit (pronounced: san-skruht)? “Yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root word “yuj” which means “to unite.” This practice unites your mind, body, and spirit in harmony to create the happiest and healthiest version of you! It also teaches that we are all one- created from the same light.

There are many ways to practice yoga, but I’d like to highlight 3 ways in which you can get started reaping the benefits at your ripe age!

### Physical Practice First, there’s the physical practice of moving your body through different postures, or asanas (pronounced: AH-suh-nuh). Would you believe that there are 84 traditional postures that you can try? Some are as easy as standing up tall and straight in a mountain pose, and some require balancing upside down in a headstand! I recommend starting with a teacher or a video to learn how to properly hold each posture. Then, you can practice anywhere from 3 to 60 minutes a day.

__Physical Benefits__ ● Cultivate a disciplined healthy habit ● Improve your flexibility to prevent injuries ● Build muscle strength and stamina to do activities with ease

### Meditation Practice In yoga they teach you that the purpose of doing the physical postures is so that your body can sit in a comfortable seat. You may be thinking, “Why is that important?” Well, you know that feeling when you’re sitting at your desk all day and your body starts to ache? You get the wiggles and lose focus on what your teacher is saying? If your body was comfortable, you’d be able to keep your engagement. Yoga prepares your body to be comfortable in stillness so that your mind can also achieve a state of stillness in meditation. It only takes a few minutes a day to sit up straight, close your eyes, and check in with what’s happening inside of you. Observe how your mind focuses better!


### Mental Health Benefits ● Clear your mind so you can problem solve more efficiently ● Increased concentration and engagement ● Become more present and mindful

### Breathing Techniques In yoga your breath is your best tool to regulate your ever-changing emotions. Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed by a conflict with a friend- I take a few deep breaths, expand my belly like a balloon, and then exhale slowly to deflate the balloon. If I do this before I want to react, it helps me respond in a calm manner.

__Emotional Benefits__ ● Reduce levels of stress or anxiety ● Handle tough situations calmly ● Promote peace in your relationship with yourself and others

Yoga is a mindful practice that will promote physical activity, focus, and relaxation- so what are you waiting for?