Yoga isn’t just for adults: it can be enormously beneficial to children, helping them to relax, improve their bodies and overall well-being.

1. Breathing exercises improve concentration as well as energy levels.
2. Relaxation techniques help clear the mind, aiding better memory retention.
3. Posture work helps build up a weak immune system and strengthens, stabilizing muscles in the abdomen and back.
4. Posture work also helps to tone the body and reduce obesity, maintaining a child’s natural flexibility, which can actually decrease from an early age.
5. Yoga classes also help develop creativity and self-expression and improve self-confidence.
6. The practice of yoga improves co-ordination and balance, promotes healthy sleep patterns and allows children to explore their intuitive and spiritual side.

If you’re unsure about whether child yoga classes are organized in your part of the world, why not contact a local yoga center and ask. At my son’s school the kids learn massage, relaxation techniques and yoga from aged seven upwards. No, he doesn’t go to school in Asia. We live in Sweden ! Maybe you should persuade your local school to invite a yoga teacher along.

Yoga Resources:
Yoga Journal
Practice yoga together and create a deeper bond with your family.

Photo: Jean Tessier

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