Kids' activities such as soccer, baseball, basketball, football, swimming, bicycling and skateboarding require strong and flexible muscles. Good flexibility helps kids perform better in some activities and helps them avoid injuries. Yoga has become an increasingly popular way for kids to improve their flexibility. The exercises can help kids get a good stretch while having a good time.
History
It's unclear exactly when yoga was created, or who created it. Archaeological excavations in India have uncovered references to yoga techniques that date more than 5,000 years. It's believed that a heightened self-understanding in ancient times gave rise to yoga's system of physical and mental exercises. The word yoga means "to yoke" or "to join" together. A goal of yoga is to bring the mind and body together in one harmonious experience. Yoga has evolved into many styles over the years and is now enjoyed by fitness enthusiast of all ages.
Equipment
Yoga doesn't require much equipment. Typically, a yoga mat is used so that yoga practitioners don't have to lie directly on the floor. Sometimes, yoga bricks are also used in classes. These yoga tools are foam bricks used to support the hands, feet or sitting bones. Kids can get into deeper yoga poses by using yoga bricks. Deeper yoga poses help to increase strength and flexibility.
Teaching Methods
Yoga classes for kids are usually quite different from classes for adults. Kids' yoga classes need to focus on fun in order to keep children interested. It's common for yoga instructors to use a lot of animal poses when working with kids. Both classic yoga poses and adapted poses are used in kids' classes. Sometimes, classic poses are renamed to make them more interesting for kids.
Poses
A well-known pose in the world of yoga is the downward-facing dog. A child performs this pose by getting on her hands and knees. The child straightens her arms and legs so that her body is in a V position as she faces the floor. A child can pretend to be her favorite type of dog while performing this yoga pose. The downward-facing dog stretches and strengthens a child's arms, legs and back. Yoga instructors teach several other poses that mimic animals--such as the eagle, roadrunner, cat and coyote poses.
A pose that mimics a reptile is the cobra. The cobra pose is performed by lying face-down on the floor. A child pushes his hands on the floor and lifts his chest slowly. The child raises his upper body off the floor as high as possible. The head is held back and the child looks toward the ceiling while practicing this pose. The cobra pose stretches the front spine, throat, chest and shoulders.
Benefits
In addition to improving flexibility, yoga practice offers many more benefits to kids. For example, kids can improve their balance while standing in some of yoga's poses. Yoga exercises also improve circulation throughout the body. The breathing exercises in yoga also benefit children. These breathing exercises can help calm them and improve their ability to concentrate.
Considerations
Although yoga is beneficial for kids, it can also be harmful if performed incorrectly. For example, if poses are held for too long, it can put too much strain on a child's growing body. Kids' yoga practices should be supervised by qualified adults to help kids avoid injuries.
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