Benefits
Where to begin
A child is like an open book, able to learn and absorb from those around them, their activities and surroundings. To introduce a child to yoga is to open a whole new world of possibilities and lead them towards being healthier on the inside and out.
Physically
In a world where children have less opportunity to build healthy bodies and minds and spend so much time sitting behind desks, yoga is a holistic practice which will help the child to achieve a healthier, stronger inner and outer body in a supportive and non competitive environment;
- Through the development of balance, and the building of core strength in the abdominal and back muscles, the child achieves a stronger posture, leading to correct alignment of the body.
- Yoga improves the child’s co-ordination, movement and awareness of the body by teaching imaginative ways to move from posture to posture.
- Improved flexibility is achieved by using a variety of simple poses, backbends, forward bends, twists and balances to work the spine and all major muscle groups in a safe and achievable way.
- Through the use of simple breathing exercises the child strengthens and tones their lungs and learns techniques to calm and relax themselves when in stressful situations.
- The internal organs, kidneys, liver, intestines etc are massaged using safe simple postures which help with digestive problems and maintain a healthier inner body.
Mentally
- The child will, through the use of exciting and engaging stories, games and artistic activities stimulate their imagination and creativity and be enable to express themselves in a safe environment.
- This in turn boosts self confidence, self awareness, self esteem and personal power for the child leading to a feeling of overall well being and energy for life.
- Yoga helps to improve a childs concentration, memory and general ability to focus.
- Relaxation techniques and visualisations will help the child to develop a calm and balanced emotional state, give them tools to cope with the problems of everyday living and promote better sleep.
