Here are the Top 5 Benefits of Kids Yoga

Have you ever sat back and wondered how your little energizer bunny could possibly enjoy, and perhaps, even benefit from yoga? You’re not alone.

Especially during the preschool years, little learners have hours of energy, the need for speed, a general aversion to stillness, and oodles of giggles. So, with that in mind, how does that jive with the “OM” of yoga?

It doesn't. And it doesn't have to.

Yoga for kids is drastically different than what you are likely envisioning for adult yoga. A kids yoga class is, and should be, tailored to this younger audience by feeding the need for energy through activities, stories, songs, and movement, while interweaving yoga fundamentals into every aspect of the lesson plan. The main reason being that even though, on the surface, kids yoga is a fun and playful experience, it should cultivate invaluable benefits that can equip kids for a lifetime of success. So, what are these yoga benefits for kids and why should they matter to you, as their parents?

Here are the top 5 benefits of kids yoga:

1. Yoga is a pathway towards resiliency.

   Yoga, through intentional lesson planning, cultivates kids’ inner resources that maximize resiliency in every child and support healthy navigation of challenges. Think of all the possible challenges that could strike in your child’s life. Anxiety. Depression. Bullying. Trauma. Disabilities. Behavioral problems. Peer pressures. Stress. And the list goes on. As a parent, it may be your worst fear to see your child struggle. But, it is also your greatest responsibility to help your child learn how to thrive amist difficult circumstances. Through breath, movement, mindfulness, and community, yoga is a pathway towards resiliency as it feeds each child’s ability to achieve a mindset of equanimity. Think of it as equipping your child to be their own anchor during life’s greatest storms.

2. Yoga improves self regulation.

   Closely related to resiliency, self regulations refers to your child's ability to emotionally respond to their situation. This includes calming themselves down when they are upset, easing their nerves when they are scared, and soothing their anger when they are frustrated. With all of the challenging experiences children navigate, the ability to trust in their own agency rather than being swayed by their circumstances is a critical life skill that will serve them for their entire lives. The earlier you start, the better.

3. Yoga supports executive functioning.

   Executive functioning refers to processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember, and juggle multiple tasks. The prefrontal cortex is a part of the brain that is the seat of major capabilities, such as executive function, delayed gratification, planning, and decision making. In children, the prefrontal cortex is underdeveloped. It’s there structurally, but it’s not necessarily lit up and accessible for them to tap into. In fact, it won’t be until their early twenties. Woah. No wonder why children tend to be more reactive rather than responsive! By presenting intentional opportunities to focus, funnel thoughts, and confront challenges in a positive, safe environment, yoga supports children’s executive functioning capabilities and their ability to think in a goal-oriented, purposeful way. Yoga is strength training for your child’s brain.

4. Yoga improves motor skills and physical development.

   The physical aspect of yoga involves movement of the body in unique and often challenging, new ways. It delivers an opportunity for children to use their body and muscles in a variety of ways that increase their core strength as they navigate postures, hold them correctly, and determine their comfort boundaries with asanas. Moreover, yoga allows children to learn mindfulness and awareness, so while their bodies learn new skills, so do their minds. As a result, kids in other sports or activities, such as dance or soccer, see drastic improvements in performance because of the work done in the yoga studio.

5. Yoga supports academic performance.

   Because yoga helps children turn inwards towards their internal processes and dialogues, it allows children to become aware of disruptions and distractions, thereby creating more space for focus and engagement. Along those lines, yoga for kids incorporates focus activities that foster a child’s ability to be content in quiet and remain goal-oriented, which has been scientifically proven to improve academic performance through the practiced skill of concentration.

Final thoughts on proven benefits for kids yoga:

Your child’s social, emotional, and physical development all benefit from the practice of yoga. As parents, if we can remember that our child’s brain, body, and nervous system are all working together to help them figure out the world, we can help orient them instead of losing our minds over the behavior.

Our lens, therefore, becomes curious and kind instead of escalating.

Yoga is a light and playful way to gain lifelong, invaluable skills that are the ingredients to a healthy and happy life. Start today with your child and begin to see their light radiate as they set their own course for their lives. Reach out anytime at hello@emergebydesign.com.