Monday, 12 January 2009

Yoga Lessons for Children in Focus

Yoga has many good lessons for the young


Children are not little adults. They have different needs, respond to different stimuli, and learn in different ways. Children can relax with relaxation techniques and calming visualization but it des need to be presented in a way that they will identify with. Children’s yoga at its best is particularly designed to inculcate the importance of yoga and meditation in everyone’s lives and the actual training is chosen to bring the maximum range of benefits to kids.



Children should receive certificates at the end of each course to show which yoga postures they know.



Watch below! - Another video in the series How to Teach Yoga to Children'







They are natural-born yogis. Their spontaneity, flexibility and energy are inspirational and sometimes challenging for parents. Children will incur increased flexibility, awareness of their bodies, knowledge of health and nutrition, and much more. In the short term however, Yoga can still be used to educate children socially and make them aware of what their bodies can do, and above all - have fun!



Children with special needs are included into mainstream classes wherever possible. All classes are offered at concession rates. In one course which is available the children are always the heroes of their Yoga-Bugs adventure and love using their imagination in the stories. We tend to find that children are such natural yogis that they surprise their teachers with their skills. Yoga means union of mind and body, and anyone who has seen a child run, play, laugh, bend and stretch has seen how beautifully unified they are.



Postures take on new life, becoming magical tools to keep the children's attention through shorter classes based on play and creativity. Postures are described and clearly illustrated in stages of progress into the final pose.



Often these stages have their own descriptive name, so there are lots more Sanskrit terms for us all to learn. Postures are normally held for 10 breaths with an emphasis placed on correct alignment. Detailed verbal instructions are given by the teacher along with very gentle hands on adjustments.



Classes bring together a combination of stretches, back arches, twists and balances which help to support and strengthen children mentally as well as physically by building confidence in themselves, improving their concentration and helping them to sleep better.



Classes are typically 45 to 60 minutes long, and are tailored to suit the needs of the children. Classes with small numbers work best and also we like it best when they are seen working slowly with the breath and gravity to undo tension and encourage effortless asanas from deep within the body.



Breathing is important in yoga and one course recognizes this in the name they give to the whole course which is named Breathing Yoga. This is one yoga school which runs regular hatha yoga classes for men women and children of all abilities. The aim of this trainer, as for so many others, is to offer small tailored yoga classes that allow students to develop their practice in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Breathing should not be learned from your Yoga teacher and forgotten.



You and your children should practice proper breathing every moment you think of it. Breathing and relaxation techniques will allow you to enjoy deep rest to compensate for lack of sleep. The classes you attend will help bring a sense of well being, alleviate aches and pains, combat fatigue and re-tone the muscles.



Practice Yoga regularly and it will strip away the obstacles that separate you from your source. Yoga practice can be invaluable in this process, as it can alleviate tension from and clear energy blocks in the body and mind. Practical study features aid individuals in understanding and retaining relevant information. Practiced for thousands of years now in India, its birth home, yoga has become a refuge and a great cure in the western world.



If in the Far East, yoga is a spiritual path to be followed towards superior enlightenment, for the very practical mind of the modern westerner, the health benefits of yoga are the ones that matter the most.



Yoga is one of Steve Evan's favourite subjects. We encourage you to go to his Yoga for Children web site where he writes about the kids yoga mats.

Yoga Do Let the Whole Family Practice it Regularly

Yoga for the Whole Family


Practice Yoga regularly, let children over 5 (some suggest over 4s can benefit) join in as well in all appropriate exercises, and it will strip away the obstacles that separate you from your source. Yoga can be wonderful for this process, as it can alleviate tension from and clear energy blocks in the body and mind.



Practiced for thousands of years in India, its birth home, yoga has become a refuge for so may around the world, and is indeed the greatest unsung great cure in the western world. Nobody has ever attempted to estimate the suffering alleviated and the shear cost of healthcare avoided by those that use yoga in their lives. In the Far East, yoga is a spiritual path to be followed towards superior enlightenment, but usually for the very practical mind of the modern westerner, the health benefits of yoga are the ones that matter the most and it is those aspects which have been the most adopted.



Watch Below! - Another great 'expert village' Yoga for Children trainign video







This means that the practice of yoga can be passed on to children while they are still quite young and hopefully it will then be with them for the rest of their lives.



Parents have expressed appreciation for the playful manner in which yoga can be taught it can be presented as a series of actively moving exercises balanced with those that require stillness and inner concentration, all in a child-friendly way. Parents, who are practicing yoga themselves, will find that their kids are always interested in what their parents are up to, and quite naturally will wish to participate.



Yoga for children encourages them to use their bodies, minds, senses and imaginations as they learn. Of course, you can send them to yoga classes which foster a loving, creative environment in which they discover their own truths. Reinforcing that at home with you will add to the experience for them and for you.



You might think that this is all so obvious that you wonder why it has not happened much like this in the past. Well, be that as it may, Yoga for children is finally becoming main-stream in America. Millions of Americans that enjoy myriad benefits of their own yoga practice are now able to offer these same benefits to their children. Yoga for children is about having fun! For example, as children learn sun salutations, they will also become snakes, trees, butterflies, and many other animals found in nature.



They like you will find that classes will leave you feeling stretched, toned, calm and serene. The feeling is one of feeling as if you've had a good workout. Classes provide an opportunity for parents to exercise and have fun with their children, promoting strength, flexibility and balance, with relaxation to contrast with energetic activity. The best organised classes bring together a combination of stretches, back arches, twists and balances. These help to support and strengthen children, not only physically but also mentally by building confidence in themselves, improving their concentration and helping them to sleep better.



The fact is that kids yoga is an interactive, boisterous romp that challenges children physically, mentally and emotionally. Yoga postures become fun group games. It is a wonderful opportunity for children ages 4-9yrs to enhance self awareness, imagination and creativity, improve social interaction and aid in relaxing their bodies and minds.



Through fun warm-ups, breathing games, dances, yoga poses, and relaxation exercises, children are encouraged to maintain focus, work on strength, balance, coordination and flexibility all in a fun, non-competitive atmosphere. Kids Yoga is a fun, creative approach to yoga that can be very helpful for children whose bodies are still developing. These classes usually include fun partner work postures, yoga games, animated poses and basic stretching exercises to promote strength, flexibility, and coordination plus body awareness.



Yoga is one of Steve Evan's favourite subjects. We encourage you to go to his Yoga for Children web site where he writes about the yoga for kids.