The Positive Effects of Yoga on Children

You might love to go to the yoga studio to focus your mind and body, and you might consider allowing your children to do the same. Teaching children to do yoga, or enrolling them in a yoga class can be beneficial to their health. While they should never practice unsupervised, a yoga instructor can show your child how to do the correct poses to result in greater well being. With so many children inactive and gaining weight, yoga may be the right type of exercise to get them moving and active.

Rehabilitation

A study published in a 2008 Journal of Pediatric Physical Therapy noted that yoga was an effective way to help rehabilitate children who had undergone surgery or been in accidents. Yoga limbers the body through stretching, and researchers found that children who practiced yoga as part of their rehabilitation plan found physiological benefits as opposed to children who did not practice yoga.

Attention and Impulses

Yoga website YogaDelights.com claims that yoga can help with children who have physical impulses or attention problems. Yoga helps train children to focus, meditate and control impulses, channeling that energy into something more constructive. If your child constantly has problems speaking out in class or taking his turn, yoga may be a good way to harness those impulses and make them more manageable.

Anxiety

Many children suffer from some form of anxiety. Whether they are nervous about school, stressed because of family life or even social situations, yoga can help calm an anxious child. Even simple and specific breathing exercises can be effective when a child isn't in a position to do traditional yoga. She can take the principles from practicing yoga in a studio and apply them in her day-to-day life.

Hyperactivity

Hyperactivity and overstimulation is a problem that many parents battle with daily. Thanks to an age of computers, television, DVDs, video games and wild graphics, it's no wonder that kids can't seem to sit still. Allowing your child to practice yoga gives him the opportunity to participate in an activity that focuses on the inward and uses no props, games or controllers. Even just an hour a week can calm the overstimulation form other activities.

Self Esteem

Children find self esteem when they master a skill. Yoga may be a good choice for boosting your child's self esteem. As she gets better at the poses and more comfortable with her technique, you'll find that she has confidence that rivals any football star or cheerleader. Yoga also places a focus on health and well being, and she'll be able to take time for herself to concentrate on her own health.

References

Article reviewed by Carolyn Williams Last updated on: Nov 12, 2009

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments