| A yoga teacher often says
that children are natural yogis. We don't generally consider children as
having stressful lives, but when you think about how busy they are and we are
as well, always rushing around to school, sports, lessons and so on, we can begin
to realise that they are under major pressure. This can definitely have a negative
effect on their lives in many areas. If you closely watch your children
when they are playing and being silly, you too will notice some basic yoga postures,
or asanas that children do naturally. The most obvious is the child's pose. Another
pose you may see a child take is the Downward facing dog, or to squat very low
to the ground. Because children are naturally flexible and open-minded yoga is
an ideal form of physical activity that will suit them. Yoga classes
for children that take this multi-disciplinary approach are certainly an excellent
learning experience. Kids are provided with the opportunity to explore their innate
abilities across many planes: linguistic, logical, visual, musical, kinesthetic,
naturalistic, interpersonal and intrapersonal. The great challenge in teaching
kids is to be able to hold their attention. Fortunately, kids love to be in motion
and they love to talk. They can do both of these in a yoga class and they will
love playing like various animals, trees, flowers, cobras and warriors. The instructor
should allow them to let go and roar in the lion pose, bark in the dog pose, meow
in a cat stretch and hiss like a cobra. In yoga
classes for children lessons can be integrated as well. Narrating their
ABC's or practicing counting their 123's can be a lot of fun while holding a pose.
Children love the release of making sounds and their yoga classes will allow them
to connect an auditory experience to a physical sensation. Providing a responsive,
creative and loving environment in a yoga class will help children to discover
the world on their own and is an optimal method for instruction. Their minds can
be engaged as they perform animal and nature asanas to deepen their awareness.
When they're snakes, invite them to really imagine that they're just a long spine
with no arms and legs. Could you still run or climb a tree? In Tree Pose, ask
them to imagine being a giant oak, with roots growing out of the bottoms of their
feet. Could you stay in the same position for 100 years? Yoga classes for
children provides benefits like: balance, flexibility, focus, peace, grace, connection,
health and well-being can be imparted to children in an interactive and pleasurable
way that create the foundation for a life-long practice. Children will be given
the occasion to express themselves and learn important principles such as reverence
for life and the interdependence of all beings. To get more information
about Yoga Classes For Children, feel free to contact
Tatty Bumpkin
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