Kids doing yoga

Yoga and its postures are now known and recognized around the world. For their benefits, of course, but also for the way it immerses a practitioner in a particular spirit while doing sports. What if physical activity could be enjoyable? This is what the practice of yoga tries to show us!

Moreover, if the total volume of physical activity decreases in children aged 7 and over (according to the British Journal of Sports Medicine), the fact remains that yoga can be a great alternative to improve flexibility and body awareness, while benefiting from relaxation and breathing exercises.

But what is the practice of yoga for younger people? Are yoga postures for children different from exercises for adults? Does yoga for all exist? A short overview of a complete sport AND spiritual practice!

 

How do you introduce your child to yoga?

Many questions can arise when one wants to have one's offspring do yoga. Questions that sometimes even cause anxiety, but don't panic, we are here to answer them!

In the absolute, we think that there is no real age to start yoga. While prenatal yoga is a great introduction to baby's life, generally, kids yoga classes start at the age of 3, so that they can discover the practice and relax at the same time.

Each yoga teacher adapts to his or her young audience, and offers classes designed for the age group for which he or she is in charge. Introducing your child to yoga also means subjecting him or her to a typical session, which most of the time consists of the following elements:

• Introduction to yoga through fun games,
• The practice of different postures, different breathing exercises,
• The installation of a calm time of mindfulness, relaxation, or even, depending on the child, meditation, to end the session.

Among the postures best suited to young audiences are candle, tree, belly dance, and cat. At the end of the session, all of these allow you to experience relaxation.

Each session will be an opportunity for the child to become aware of his body and his breathing, in order to calm him down through regular practice. This is enough to make you want to buy a yoga mat in a second!

 

 

 

How does a kids yoga class work?

We have just mentioned it briefly, but one can sometimes wonder how a yoga class for kids is run, and therefore be a little fuzzy as to its effectiveness.

In reality, it is more or less the same as a class for adults, except for a few adjustments. It is indeed these same small adjustments that will interest us today!

First of all, the yoga teacher prepares the ground with small games, a small discussion, in order to set up an atmosphere, and to take the pulse of the group. Because not all yoga workshops are the same according to the learners, of course!

Then comes the warm-up, where flexibility, stretching, mindfulness, or overall fitness will be worked on. All of this is always under the supervision of a teacher, and with a playful mind as much as possible. Because the challenge is also and above all to have fun!

Then, the yoga postures make their appearance, since the body and mind are relatively well warmed up, and the child is plunged into the yogic bath!

 

Some of the most common yoga postures practiced in a kids yoga class include :

• The dog's posture, hips up, head down. This posture has the advantage of being relatively simple to perform, and above all, very playful,
• The posture of the butterfly, sitting with the soles of the feet together, to focus on flexibility,
• The posture of the mountain, to emphasize the inner calm,
• The posture of the tree, standing with one foot up, hands in the air, to work on concentration and balance,
• The posture of the boat, or even of the boat with two people, which consists in making your feet and hands touch with your partner (why not a parent!),
• The posture of the turtle, seated, legs stretched out, hands joining the feet, in order to work on flexibility,

The energy of the group will also determine which postures are most suitable, as will the age of the kids in the yoga studio.

At the end of the class, a quiet time will close the session, which differs in its content depending on the teachers. In the dark or in full light, we take time for ourselves, to reconnect with our mind, eyes closed, so that we can continue the day on the right foot.

This calls upon the child's full consciousness, which, through visualization exercises, aims to develop his imagination. It is also possible that meditation comes into play, through breathing exercises, for example! Without forgetting, as in any good sport, stretching, to fight against aches and pains! So, isn't yoga for kids pretty cool?

 

 

 

How much does a kids yoga class cost?

It's all well and good, but one wonders how much a kids yoga class costs! Because if certain structures do not hesitate to make the prices soar, even if they are as expensive as the adult classes, it does not remain about it less than an average can be released.

Before stating any price range, it is important to remember that there are different ways to take yoga classes for everyone, but especially when you are a child. Some of these methods include :

• The classic class, in group classes, within yoga workshops,
• Private lessons, at the teacher's home or at home,
• The online course, via Superprof, for example.

Among all these ways to start practicing yoga, there is a price range between 15$ and 25$ per class. The course is often divided into two age groups, each corresponding to a very distinct level: 4-6 years old and 7-10 years old.

But there are also family yoga classes for parents who are more sensitive to the cold. These types of lessons are a good alternative to solo yoga for a junior, and allow for more complicity between parents and kids, since they are duo classes. For this type of service, count about thirty euros for a class for two. You never know!

Depending on the location, the subscription or year-round card, these rates can quickly be reduced depending on the teacher or the school. Find out more in your area!

 

What are the benefits of yoga for kids?

Because yes, our little ones also suffer from the daily stress of life, sometimes urban, sometimes monotonous. They need a dose of well-being, which yoga for kids often embodies very well! And indeed, the benefits of yoga for kids are such that they can also benefit from it!

Among the many advantages that the discipline has for juniors, we could mention :

• A better knowledge of one's body, thanks to different movements, breathing exercises and other flexibility postures,
• Improved self-confidence, understanding one's strength, range of motion, physical abilities, etc,
• Learn how to channel yourself, especially your energy. Yoga is also a discipline of inner calm, where well-being comes through gentleness and Zen,
• To discover the yogic values, which allow to link body and mind, but also the mind. A winning trio that is sure to benefit the child,
• Set barriers, because yoga is also a sport, where certain constraints persist: the authority figure of the teacher, the adapted clothing, the yoga mat, etc,
• Having fun, because a yoga class for kids is also and above all fun, playful postures, and new friends!

So, through breathing, stretching or physical postures, practicing yoga has never been easier for a child than it is today! Come on, palms forward, arms towards the sky, we breathe, namaste!