So Why Children’s Yoga?
My own experience has shown me the huge benefits of yoga on both physical and mental health but my time in primary schools, working with hundreds of pupils, highlighted to me, repeatedly, that something was missing. Physical Education has a large focus on invasion games, which certainly have their place, but I feel there is a large gap in the curriculum where individual exercise is missed. In adult life not many of us continue our team sports yet we do still enjoy exercise in a different way. I also believe there is a gap in how we teach self regulation, emotions, resilience and how to cope when things are hard. Whilst many teachers do this there is still a lack of good resources and time allocation for this emotional development. Yet, if our goal as educators is to raise happy, fulfilled members of society surely resilience and emotional awareness are so important. I believe yoga is the answer - it combines the two. Research has shown time and again that introducing yoga into schools has so many benefits, from better academic performance, improved focus, better physical health, fewer cases of bullying and exclusions and happier pupils.
More research still has shown that children’s mental health referrals have increased by 90% over the past three years due to the pandemic and the stress it’s caused. I wish that yoga could solve everyone’s problems but sadly it can’t. However, I passionately believe it can help. You just don’t unlearn the skills you learn from yoga. You never unlearn how you can regulate your breath or how journaling and meditation make you feel. Therefore, once you’ve been shown these skills they are with you for life - your own little toolkit to help you when things feel hard. In the same why, once you know how to safely stretch, strengthen and balance you’re body, you’ll never forget these either. Yoga can be continued throughout your entire life, something very few sports can promise.
Children’s yoga is so much fun and is very playful. One of the common questions I am asked by parents is whether their children will be expected to sit quietly an just follow instructions from me as the teacher. This is not at all the case. We practice in circles and play lots of games and stories, there is always a theme of mindfulness but kids yoga is often noisy, active and full of fun!
Research shows that yoga can reduce stress in children and improve their sleep. Most of these benefits are more clearly seen when a child practices regularly. Yoga also teaches children strategies to manage their emotions and stresses which they can draw upon throughout their lives.
There are also, of course, so many physical benefits of yoga practice. It helps children build their balance, strength and coordination as well as flexibility. When safe poses are shared with children in an age appropriate way (see all the resources in my resource bank if you need help with this).
Connectedness is really important for children and feeds heavily into their self-confidence. In children’s yoga we enjoy partner and group poses and also various journaling activities which help us to feel connected. Being part of a team is important and although a huge benefit of yoga is that we can practice along, it is also great to enjoy yoga in group - especially for children.
So that’s why yoga - that why, for me, yoga is the key to helping new generations find their balance, both physically and mentally. If you’re feeling inspired to share you with your children or class I have an extensive resource bank full or resources to help you do just that in a safe and age appropriate way. Find all the details here.