Over recent years there has been a huge shift in the number of nurseries and schools offering yoga to their students both as part of the curriculum and as an after-school activity. Here at Keren’s Nursery, we are proud to offer Yoga to all children. Yoga has been seen to improve both physical and mental well-being in adults and children which is what has attracted many people to take up the practice on a regular basis. Despite it not being the most physical activity, yoga has numerous benefits such as flexibility, strength and mindfulness. Introducing your children to yoga could therefore improve both their physical and mental state while being relatively easy to access. Learn about the advantages of yoga here and why Keren’s Nursery provides it.
Benefits Of Children’s Yoga
In the past, we would only really associate yoga as an exercise and practice for adults. However, there is nothing to stop children also participating in yoga as it is not a strenuous or harmful exercise. Plus there is a range of important benefits which can significantly help a child’s development. Yoga should, therefore, not be dismissed as an essential practice for children and adults alike.
Encourage Mindfulness
One of the most prominent benefits of yoga is that it encourages mindfulness for all participants. Mindfulness can help children develop healthy mechanisms to face the world around them. They will be able to use yoga techniques such as breathing exercises to calm themselves and refocus their energy during their day-to-day lives. Mindfulness has also been shown to develop socio-emotional awareness which is imperative to a child’s development and therefore reflects the key benefit of mindfulness.
Improves A Range Of Physical Skills
What’s more, yoga is beneficial for the physical body as well as the mind. For example, yoga can improve our posture, coordination, strength, flexibility and balance, all of which can hugely benefit a developing child. These skills will also reduce a child’s chance of injury in their day-to-day activities which can certainly help to put a parent’s mind at ease.
Enhances Concentration
Yoga has also been proven to enhance children’s concentration and memory. In order for children to properly do the yoga moves they will be required to focus and memorise skills, paying close attention to the instructor much like how they would be required to act in the classroom towards a teacher. The skills gained from yoga can consequently help a child in their life outside the practice, setting them up for success later in life.
Develops Emotional Regulation
Another benefit of the yoga practice for children is that it can help them be present in their emotions. Very often, if children are not taught how to deal with their emotions, they will struggle to interact with peers and appropriately engage with their feelings which can cause real issues in their lives. With yoga, children can learn to adopt a present and peaceful state of mind, ultimately improving their emotional regulation.
Reduces Impulsivity
Leading on from the emotional regulation benefit, yoga can equally help to reduce impulsivity. Much like other sports and practices, yoga can provide a physical outlet for children to be able to express themselves. It is crucial children feel they have a place to deal with their emotions, so by implementing yoga practice into your child’s life you can largely help them reduce impulsivity and adopt healthier coping mechanisms during life’s challenges. Yoga, therefore, has a varied number of benefits for children and can be easily accessed via YouTube videos or in-person classes, making it a great way to connect with your kids and promote healthy living.
