HEALTH BENEFITS OF YOGA IN CHILDREN:
Yoga is absolutely a gift to humanity from our ancestors. Today Yoga is recognized all over the world, the sole reason being it does not only look into one's physical well being but also nurtures emotional, mental and spiritual connect. Yoga is a complete package with wonderful cardio, dynamic workout, meditative posture and influence on one’s behavior and life style. Regular practice of asanas and pranayama's lead to a holistic life style.
HOW DOES YOGA HELP CHILDREN MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY?
According to studies, practicing yoga can let children have a stress-free and balanced life along with stable mental health. Trying different yoga poses for kids as a daily routine is a great way to induce calmness in children.
Physical benefits of yoga:
1)Yoga develops children’s strength and enhances physical flexibility. Yoga helps strengthen children’s growing bodies and helps them improve their flexibility, which can reduce their chance of injury.
Children are born natural yogis, by practicing Yoga they are able to retain their flexibility which most people tend to lose with age. Yoga promotes physical strength because kids learn to use all of their muscles in new ways.
2) It Refines Balance and Coordination - Balance is a key element of yoga.
3)Yoga teaches body and self-awareness - Yoga asanas help kids understand how different body parts work in sync with their breath to get the whole system together. This self-awareness helps them respect, love and take care of their body.
4)Increases immunity - A child's immune system is of utmost importance. The initial years are the building blocks to a healthy future. Yoga is a natural booster which improves resistance and helps build a strong defence mechanism which in turn improves the body’s immunity.
5) Keeps the heart, respiratory and digestive system fit - Yoga focuses on one's breath which makes sure there is a good circulation of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the heart. Stomach pain, indigestion, flatulence and constipation are common issues faced by children. Yoga helps strengthen the digestive system and overcome these issues.
6) Improves body posture and maintain body weight - Yoga is a great way to improve one's body posture and body weight.
Mental benefits of yoga:
1. Yoga helps children manage their anxiety. The breathing exercises and relaxation techniques learned from practicing yoga can help children with stress management. Teaching children how to reduce stress in a healthy way is an important life skill that will help them as children and as adults.
2. Yoga improves children’s emotional regulation. Another benefit of yoga for children is that it helps children learn to be in the present moment while relaxing and gaining a peaceful state of mind, which ultimately improves their emotional regulation. Yoga helps children identity, control and deal with their emotions. The awareness that they develop about themselves through yoga helps them build a balanced state of mind.
3. Yoga boosts children’s self-esteem. Yoga for kids can do wonders for their self-esteem. Perfecting a pose or improving their balance and flexibility can give young children a sense of personal empowerment.
4. Yoga increases children’s body awareness and mindfulness. Going through a variety of yoga poses helps children learn about their bodies and the movements they’re capable of doing.
5. Yoga enhances children’s concentration and memory. One of the top benefits of kids’ yoga is that the different types of moves requires children to focus and work on their memorization skills—both of which can translate over into their academic performance.
6. Yoga teaches discipline and reduces impulsivity. Yoga can reduce challenging behaviors in the classroom by providing a physical outlet for children to express themselves. It also teaches children about discipline as they work on clearing their minds and perfecting their poses.Read More