One of my favorite things about yoga is it's ability to be modified to truly work for anyone, of any ability level. This includes those who are old, those who are young, those with physical or mental limitations, those with an hour to spend on their practice, and those who have 15 minutes to spend. No one is excluded from yoga!
Yoga for each of these demographics will look different, so today's focus will be on yoga for children.
Yoga is not only physically beneficial for kids, but just like adults, it also provides cognitive and emotional benefits.
Physical Benefits:
Coordination
Strength
Fine Motor Skill development
Flexibility and stability in the joints
Cognitive Benefits:
Following step by step directions
Understanding of verbal cues
Increase problem-solving skills
Goal-setting skills
Time management
Emotional/Social Benefits:
More aware of self
Higher self-esteem
Manage emotions
Introductions to emotions beyond happy & sad
Higher empathy towards others
Multiple studies show evidence that children and teens who practice yoga are able to develop better stress-management techniques, increase their attention spans, better regulate their emotions, improve their sleep quality, and had lower levels of stress and anxiety.
One study followed children between the ages of 6 to 11 years old, with ADHD as they participated in a year-long yoga therapy program. At the end of the year, improvements were seen in their symptoms of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and anxiety, as well as their academic performance.
Another study, which looked at children aged 8 to 14 years old, all whom have an Autism spectrum disorder, observed improvement in their eye-to-eye gaze and sitting tolerance, as well as receptive skills to verbal commands and increased alertness, after following a regular yoga program for 10 months.
While a children's yoga class will have many differences that an adult's class, the benefits, across the board, are strikingly similar.
I am currently working through a children's yoga certification program and can't want to add this specialty to my practice!
-Charlene
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