Yoga has many benefits by helping kids (and adults!) develop better body awareness, self-control, strength, coordination and flexibility. Breathing exercises are also a part of yoga, and helps a child keep calm when they are experiencing difficult situations. Yoga can help them become more self-confident and self-aware, as well as more physically fit and confident, similar in some ways to martial arts.

Some children have difficulty sleeping, and others can’t get enough. To help them sleep, try doing some active yoga exercises, followed by visualization, which can help them focus and relax until ultimately they relax enough to fall asleep.

If you are doing yoga at home with your kids, you may wonder how long the practice should be. With preschoolers, for example, 15 minutes would be sufficient to start, adding more time as they get used to it, and can stay focused. For elementary school children, you could start at twenty minutes. Be sure that you make it fun for your kids, so they will continue. Challenge and encourage them enough so that they will continue to grow and continue to have yoga as part of their routines.

Since young children often emulate their parents, it might be a good idea for the whole family to participate, enticing the children to continue throughout their lives. The routine should not be rigid, but flowing, fun, and changeable. You may decide at some time that you would like your child to have a teacher, for both you and⁄or your child. There are numerous yoga centers that are beginning to provide classes for children.

Many people use yoga as a complement to a sport and⁄or an aerobic activity. Indeed, stretches can be done after your warm-up but before your exercise, as well as at the end of your workout. Another benefit of yoga is that it can be tailored to people of all ages and fitness levels.

For more information, call Health Promotion coordinator, Lisa Vice at (703) 784-2339.