1. Stress Relief- My seven year old son was complaining of his heart beat speeding up. After some discussion it came out that he was worried about doing well on a weekly math test. Teaching our children different techniques to incorparate relaxation into their life is a priceless tool that they can carry through-out their lives.
2. Stretching- Going back to my son, he is, like his mother, not a naturally flexible person. He has extremely tight hamstrings and he is only seven! Helping children start with a yoga practice can get them into a routine of stretching that will benefit them and keep them more limber.
3. Strength- There are many poses in yoga that use their own body weight. This is a great way to provide our children with an exercise that will give them a healthy way to build strength.
4. Great activity to do as a family- Children love to do activities as a family. Finding a family yoga class or practicing yoga at home together can help to give our children the quality time that we all love!
5. Helps to calm them down for bed time- Savasana is one of the most important poses in yoga. Whether you do a active yoga practice or a restorative practice once you close your eyes and start to focus on your breath, it is somewhat magical how calm you feel after-wards.
6. Engages the brain- Whether you are building strength, flexibility, or balance yoga engages the brain to use your body in different ways and requires focus in order to master the poses.
7. Confidence- The great thing about yoga is that no two bodies are alike and that each person has different strengths and weaknesses. Children will start to see that there is not one person that can do everything in yoga perfectly. Everyone just does their best and enjoys each class.
The main thing that we all look for are activities that will uplift our children and I've given you just a few reasons why I think that yoga can do that for your child.