Yoga is well known for its myriad of physical and mental benefits, but it's not just for adults. In recent years, kids’ yoga has gained immense popularity as an effective way to promote mental health and well-being for young children. In this blog post, we'll explore what the benefits of yoga are for kids, specifically the older elementary and middle school age group (ages 9 to 12).
How is Kids’ Yoga Different from Regular Yoga?
Yoga for kids is a special type of yoga designed to cater to the unique needs and interests of children in the 9 to 12 age group. It blends traditional yoga practices with age-appropriate movements, mindfulness exercises, and playful activities to create an engaging experience for tweens. Some examples of fun yoga activities include mirroring poses with a partner, Simon Says, balancing as a group (for example in tree pose), and guessing games (like doing a pose and having others guess what animal). Oftentimes the yoga teacher ends up learning new fun activities to try as the students experiment and create with their peers. There is no limit to the imagination of this age group!
How is Yoga for Kids Ages 9 to 12 Beneficial?
Yoga is making its way into schools across the country as an elective option and in some cases as part of the physical fitness curriculum. Coaches are incorporating yoga poses into their warm-up and cool-down routines and teachers, some of whom practice and teach yoga in their free time, are using yogic poses to calm and comfort their students. By allowing your adolescent to attend a yoga class or a yoga event, you are opening up a world of possibilities for their mental and physical well-being for many years to come.
Physically, young adolescents strengthen and lengthen their muscle through yoga, helping to relieve muscle pain and soreness as they grow older. Yoga can also help with balance and coordination - two things that do not always come naturally during puberty. Lastly, yoga can help kids become more aware of the sensations that they feel in their bodies and make decisions as to what works for them and what doesn’t, for example being aware when a pose feels too strenuous and backing out of it. This practice creates a mindful attitude and a sense of agency when it comes to decisions about their bodies. Overall, learning the practice of yoga at a young age has the ability to bring an awareness to self-care and the practice one can undertake to live a healthy lifestyle - and we’re just scratching the surface.
Introducing your older child to yoga can help them understand and manage their mental health for many years to come.Yoga teaches young students to be present in the moment which can translate to reduced anxiety and stress associated with school, peer pressure, and other adolescent challenges. During yoga, students also learn deep breathing techniques which can be used independently to calm their minds, increase focus, and manage stress. Yoga improves concentration and attention span, and practicing in a studio or a structured setting offers a reprieve from modern stresses like cell phones and computers. Oftentimes students report feeling stressed and anxious in school or at home, but once given the tools, are surprisingly capable of managing feelings on their own in a multitude of environments.
Conclusion
Yoga for tweens is more than just a physical activity; it's a holistic approach to nurturing physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It provides them with tools to navigate the challenges of adolescence while promoting lifelong habits of mindfulness and self-care. So, whether your tween is looking for a fun way to stay active or needs help managing stress, yoga could be the perfect solution.
Talk to your child about the possibilities of yoga for kids and if interested, consider enrolling them in one of our fantastic Yoga for Kids events offered at Yoga Haven. On October 7th, Kat Finsterle, a certified yoga instructor and Florida educator will lead students age 8-13 in a practice combined with fun activities and games. To sign up, visit our special events page. We look forward to seeing you and your family on the mat!
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