Blog: 6 Benefits of Yoga for Children
Many adults practice yoga on a regular basis, but have never considered introducing their kids to the practice as well. As yoga grows in popularity among adults, very few places offer the same kinds of classes for children. Parents aren’t aware of the benefits that yogic practice can have for their little ones. There are many benefits of introducing your child to yoga at an early age that can encourage their health, growth, and spirituality!
- Healthy lifestyle
Of course, encouraging your child to participate in any kind of physical activity will encourage them to be healthy, but there are some children who don’t gravitate naturally to rougher sports or forms of exercise, like running or basketball. Yoga is a perfect choice for them to gently keep themselves in shape and encourage healthy habits like stretching and deep-breathing exercises.
- Improved flexibility
If your child has difficulties focusing when it’s time to do homework or when they’re in class, yoga may help with that. By introducing your child to a practice that requires them to be still and focus on the present, they will develop the skills necessary to focus for longer periods of time in other areas of their lives.
- Confidence
Yoga for children helps them improve their confidence in a safe, supportive environment. Some children thrive on competitive sports, but others shy away from the competition. These are the children who usually shine in environments like yoga classes, as they are allowed to succeed without being compared with others and learn that hard work has payoffs without having to lose at anything.
- Acceptance and Empathy
When practiced in an appropriate environment, yoga can help your child understand and accept not only themselves but others. They will be more aware of things like their bodies, their breathing, and their mental and emotional states through the act of yoga, and be able to recognize those things in others as well. This will help them be more empathetic and patient with others, and be more in tune with themselves as a result.
- Relaxation and Stress Management
Kids live in a world that can be challenging and sometimes upsetting to them. Bringing them to a yoga class gives them a space to decompress and shed the stress of the outside world, and allows them to have the time to relax and focus on something that brings them joy! When paired with meditation practice, the relaxation benefits of yoga improve exponentially!
- Community
Giving your child access to a yoga class will help them build their own community, as well as connect with the community at large. Your child will form friendships with others in their class through shared experiences and interests, and a yogic community will always be a support system for them.
Now that you know the wonderful benefits that yoga can have for your children, why not try taking them to a class or two? Our Children’s Yoga classes are a safe, positive environment that gently introduces your child to yogic practice while letting their inner light shine! Our classes are held from 2-3pm on Saturdays at RYK Yoga Center at 2280 S Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada.
