Yoga for children!!!!

Although young children are very flexible, they lack staying power. However, with daily practice, their staying power and mental control improve greatly. Engaging in a mindful, active Yoga-play helps them to increase self-awareness, self-expression, and self-confidence as well as creativity. Yoga helps to strengthen their body and physical coordination to become more flexible and physically fit. Daily Yoga practice builds self-esteem and the ability to center oneself. Moreover yoga supports positive self talk, encourages positive thinking, appreciates artistic endeavors, improves performance in all areas of life, including school work, relieves stress and provides a greater sense of general well-being

Children who practice yoga may not only be better able to regulate their emotions, manage stress and calm themselves, studies now show that they may also choose better foods to eat and engage in more physical activity than children who do not.

However yoga exercises are not recommended for children, because certain postures - bending at the waist, lying on the stomach and lifting the arms and legs, done for extended periods - may interfere with the glandular system and affect the natural growth process. We know that yoga is an excellent way for children to exercise but it should be taken into consideration that children’s bodies are still growing and strenuous exercises might not be suitable for them.