Benefits of Yoga in Children

We all want our children to grow up happy and healthy. It is truly frightening to discover that childhood obesity, attention deficit, hyperactivity and anxiety disorders are all on the rise in India.

However, according to Harvard Medical Journal, after we introduce naturally nutritious foods and mindful exercise like Yoga to kids during their early ages, we can start to reverse these trends.

Concerns:

Bad posture, shallow breathing and muscle tightening are not a natural state of being. Kids today spend an inordinate amount of time slouched at their computers, video games, television and on cell phones, forgetting healthy ways of moving and breathing. They also face increasing pressures in school to perform and fit in.

How to Get them started is a big question. Let's look at some simple ways:

• Make Yoga fun for kids - Become the role models and combine your passion with their interest of choice like story-telling, dance, science etc. Be little creative to get them into the routine

• Create a schedule and organise your kids calendar - This is the first and most important part of their daily routine. Set a time for yoga and with other kids if they like to involve to make it fun and interesting.

• Do the activity together- Giving instruction doesn't work with kids. They'd like to have have fun and do the same way you do.

If you do not find time for yoga then enroll your child in a yoga class- You should know beforehand what’s involved in the program, make sure that the instructor is qualified to actually teach children, not just adults. Meet with the teacher or observe a class to determine whether your child is feeling comfortable.

It’s best to do yoga on an empty stomach; two to three hours after a big meal or two hours after a light snack. Take sips of water during the session and be sure to drink a glass of water at the end.

Super solutions:

Yoga was once associated with adult fitness. However, more studies are showing that these mind-body fitness modalities can help children grow and develop into strong, healthy, and centered adults.

• Children need a good start every morning. Put aside the sugar laden, colorful cereals that will only make them hungry in an hour’s time. Instead, cook them a hot breakfast like Idli, dosa, upma or whole wheat pancakes. These are high in protein, contain more calcium, have iron, the B vitamins and Vitamin E.

• Yoga should be emphasised on a non-competitive note.

• Breathing, strength, flexibility, balance, control and poise are perfect antidotes for an overweight, stressed out adolescents.

• A fun workout for kids increases children’s coordination and awareness levels, helps to strengthen joints as well as the core, and this strengthening can aid in other physical activities. Additionally, it helps to develop focus and concentration.

• Eliminate soft drinks as young bones are still developing and soft drinks will rob them of precious calcium. They also contain an abundance of sugar.

If our children are going to have a healthy, active and long life, we as parents will want to make sure their bodies and minds are properly nourished with nutrient dense whole foods, and that they learn to breathe and move in healthy ways with exercise programs like yoga. The benefits of providing a healthy childhood will last their whole lives.

#Yogafor children #Funways to introdocuing yoga #Healthybodyand mind