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 lots of ways to practice yoga, but I want to share 3 simple ways you can start enjoying the benefits right now!

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 reason we do the different poses is to help our body sit comfortably. You might be thinking, "Why is that important?" Well, think about how your body feels when you sit at your desk for a long time, and it starts to hurt or get tired. You might wiggle around or have trouble paying attention to your teacher, right? If your body was comfortable, you could focus better. Yoga helps your body feel good when you sit still, so your mind can also be calm when you meditate. It only takes a few minutes each day to sit up straight, close your eyes, and check how you’re feeling inside. You’ll notice how much better you can focus!


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

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