Yoga & Children
So what is Yoga? That is a tough question to answer as yoga can accomplish different goals for each individual. A basic definintion of yoga might be, a system of developing the mind and body using natural methods. Using these natural methods Yoga helps to improve the person's confidence, discipline, and fitness, which will leave them as a more contented individual. There are literaly thousands of different asanas, (positons or techniques) and the proper ones for each person must be determined on an individual basis with the help of a trained instructor. You will find there are yoga positions for beginners, to more advanced techniques for the masters of yoga. Retreats dedicated soley to yoga can be found just about anywhere in the world. As you do your research into yoga you will find information about clothes for yoga, yoga books, yoga mats, yoga videos, and the list goes on. Yoga & Children We often forget that many of today’s children are under a considerable amount of stress just as we adults are. There are lots of pressures on them, and pressure to compete with their peers, their after school activities and ever increasing amounts of homework are just some of the factors causing this. It's been found that more and more children are turning to yoga to help manage their stress levels, because by teaching children yoga, they can develop body awareness, flexibility, coordination and self control. These skills are also often displayed beyond their daily routines. Yoga has also been proven to help the attention-deficit and hyperactive child. This is because children such as these crave a movement and sensory/motor stimulus. Yoga can assist a child channel impulses such as these in a positive way. The warrior pose and the tree pose practised through yoga tend to work especially well. They can help the child create a calm, confidence and balance. The most difficult part of yoga is getting beyond the idea of simply doing the posture. The child should aim to think about what this posture means and how to become strong and warrior like just like these postures. A child’s trust can be developed through the partner pose. Team skills and bonding can be developed through working with each other. Many children have difficulties with relaxation and sleeping where as other children feel like they can never get enough. Visualization is one technique that can encourage relaxation. Some yoga teachers firstly focus on belly breathing whilst listening to relaxing music or imagine that they are somewhere peaceful or are doing their favourite activity. Children should be encouraged to share their experiences with their yoga peers. Another approach may be to make up a visualisation or story with a theme that is calming for the child. The child may be asked to imaging that they are walking some very peaceful like a quiet beach or peaceful forest. They will be prompted to visualise the beautiful plants and trees along with the birds and butterflies flying around them. A sense of peace and tranquillity will be instilled into them by asking them to smell the fresh, scented air around them and listen to the birds and wildlife around them. This also encourages the child to form a strong relationship with nature. The children should be encouraged to contribute their own ideas and questions whilst teaching them the meaning of union of mind, body and spirit. Yoga is not without it's Christian criticsMany in the Christian circles are dead set against the practice of yoga, citing the Hindu background of yoga and claiming that the practices of yoga are designed to have the practioner become one with other gods. It is considered to be another facet of the new age movement by many Christians. Christians hold to one God in three "persons" (The Trinity) Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to give recognition to another so called god is considered to be blasphemy. There have been attempts to create what is being called "Christian Yoga" but even this is being opposed in many circles. Better Your Health will be doing further research into this matter, and by signing up for our newsletter, you will be notified as soon as the material is availiable.
We at Better Your Health hope you have found this article to be very helpful in your research into Yoga. Please feel free to check out the many other articles we have on this site about Yoga. Click here to add this page to your favorites. Be sure to check out Better Your Health for more Health Related Topics. |
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