Yoga and Mindfulness for Children
Benefits of Children’s Yoga
With both yoga and mindfulness shown to improve children’s physical and mental health there is no greater time to begin your child’s yoga and mindfulness journey than now. Yoga can improve children’s strength, balance, flexibility and endurance. But along with the physical benefits there are also extensive psychological benefits including: focus, concentration, memory, improved self-esteem, and reduced anxiety and stress. Teaching children to experience life in the present moment enables them to thrive in their busy lives. Compassion, empathy and kindness are also emphasized in children’s yoga and mindfulness classes, and these attributes benefit not just the child, but all those that surround them.
But let’s not forget that children’s yoga is also a lot of fun! As adults we can understand the benefits of practicing yoga and mindfulness, we can read about the neurological, physiological, psychological and even academic benefits and see value in offering these important classes, but for children it is important to keep classes fun, engaging and filled with joy. Children’s yoga and mindfulness classes can include games, activities, stories, songs and crafts. Poses, flows and balances are explored through story. Nature, animals, travel and space are just a few of the fun themes children enjoy in children’s yoga.
I invite you to read through the website and learn about the services Willow Mindful Yoga offers to children within schools and communities throughout the Wirral Peninsula. And, please be in touch if I can answer any questions.
Physical exercise
Yoga is a full body non-competitive physical exercise that students of all physical abilities can enjoy.
Responsibility
Classes include themes and stories that teach children their responsibility to self, community and the world around them.
Body awareness
Awareness comes from learning how the body benefits from each stretch and strength building pose and flow.
Confidence
Children’s confidence grows as they celebrate individual successes and improvements from class to class.
Balance
Balancing poses can range from simply standing still to more challenging strength building poses.
Concentration
Through mindfulness and the practice of yoga children gain focus and concentration - on and off the mat.
Relaxation
Through breathwork, mindfulness and connecting breath to movement, children learn the art of relaxation.
Teamwork
Partnership poses, team balancing, games and activities provide opportunities to work collaboratively.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between adult and children’s yoga?
Whilst many of the same components of an adult’s yoga class are taught in a children’s yoga class - including stretches, poses, flows, breathing exercises and relaxation, the delivery is very different. Classes move at the pace of the children on the day of the class, therefore some classes may have the children quickly moving from pose to pose and activity to activity, whilst other days the class may be more relaxed and slower paced. The goal is always to meet the children where they are - and move at their pace. Children’s classes are also more ‘playful’ than most adult classes; games, songs, rhymes and stories are often included in children’s yoga classes.
What should my child wear to yoga class?
There is no specific outfit needed for yoga, children should wear clothes that they can comfortably move around in. Sports or PE kit are perfect, but equally school uniforms can be worn in yoga class. I would recommend that students wearing skirts or dresses should wear leggings or shorts underneath.
What is mindfulness and how is it taught in children’s yoga?
Mindfulness is directing your attention to the present moment. This concept and practice is hard for many adults, let alone children, therefore it is taught in fun, easy and bitesize ways. The first step in mindfulness is teaching children to pay attention to their breath; this practice is included in every children’s yoga class. Other mindfulness techniques are also explored, including: focused attention, awareness of senses, mindful activities and short, fun guided meditations.
My child can’t sit still, can they participate in yoga?
Yes! Yoga is all about movement - we move in our yoga flows and poses, we play active games that have the children moving around the whole space and we challenge ourselves to feel tiny movements within our bodies as we balance in partners and teams. Having said that - of course we will also include still and even silent moments in class. However, children who are the most seemingly incapable of ‘sitting still’ in their daily lives often relish this quiet time, and perhaps can benefit most from the relaxation aspects of yoga class.
Does my child need experience in yoga to participate?
No, there is no experience or knowledge required to join a children’s yoga class. In every class I explain each pose, flow, game and activity so every student understands and is comfortable with every aspect of class.
