Tutorials: Yoga For Children

Yoga is a physical and mental practice that aims to unify mind and body. It has a variety of benefits for adults, like stress relief, increased flexibility and improved physical functioning. Studies have shown that yoga may also have benefits for children and adolescents when practiced correctly.

Getting Started

Marsha Wenig, founder of the YogaKids educational program, says doing yoga with children is different than taking an adult yoga class. You probably won't have as many moments of silent meditation, particularly if you are working with toddlers or very young children. In the beginning, you want to spark your child's interest in yoga to ensure she enjoys it. One way to do this is to do yoga together. Set aside a certain time of day for yoga practice, or do a short practice together first thing in the morning and right before bed.

Choosing a Program

When doing yoga with children, it is important to integrate elements that are appropriate for your child's particular age group and maturity level. Toddlers, for example, should not be expected to sit in quiet meditation for long periods of time, whereas older children may be more interested in quiet relaxation poses. For children under 6, you should limit yoga sessions to 15 minutes, with one minute maximum for each exercise. Kids older than 6 may be up for longer sessions, between 25 and 30 minutes. Integrate imaginative elements like stories to better relate to your child.

Dos and Don'ts

Yoga should never be competitive, especially for young children. If you teach multiple children, avoid selecting one child to demonstrate the pose to the others so you don't build competition between students. Always show children the pose yourself, then gently encourage them to try it. Always give the kids breaks after difficult poses and never push them into a position. Be sure the children warm up gently before they start and avoid practicing yoga after a meal.

Benefits

Yoga has been shown to benefit children in many ways. According to Yoga Chicago, studies have demonstrated that yoga may alleviate stress, help regulate emotions, improve self-esteem and even encourage healthy eating habits. Adolescents with eating disorders and depression have demonstrated decreased symptoms and a greater sense of overall well-being. In "Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Toddlers and Preschoolers," author Helen Garabedian provides eight-minute yoga sessions that may lessen the recurrence of temper tantrums in toddlers. Gentle yoga improves physical fitness by increasing flexibility and building muscular strength and coordination.