Children’s yoga classes are a fun yet calming way for children to develop body awareness and a positive self-image, increasing co-ordination, self-confidence and concentration, whilst they relax, stretch and strengthen their bodies.

WHY CHILDREN’S YOGA?

As children grow, yoga strengthens and tones their bodies, improves their posture, breathing and joint mobility and stretches out muscles that can become stiff or tender from growth spurts, sitting and sports activities.

In today’s world children can be as busy and overstimulated as adults. Yoga, with its breathing and relaxation techniques, gives children time to slow down. It quietens their minds, which leads to improved concentration and helps them to learn how to relax and manage stress.

Yoga postures focus on a variety of movements, including balancing, back bending, strengthening, stretching, twisting and inverting, all of which allow children to learn about the movement of their bodies and improve their co-ordination.

Yoga also develops body awareness, teaching children to listen to their bodies and interpret feelings and sensations in relation to movements. Body awareness helps to establish a positive self-image and healthy connection with the body, building confidence, self-esteem and an understanding of self-acceptance. Being connected to one’s body is valuable at all stages of life but it’s something that is often lost in adulthood, which is why instilling it from a young age is so worthwhile.

Yoga also gives children a way to connect with their feelings and emotions, and provides a nurturing and non-competitive environment in which they can express themselves through movement.

The benefits of Children’s Yoga include:

• Develops good posture
• Helps maintain natural flexibility
• Supports growing bodies through stretching, toning, stabilising core muscles, building strength and maintaining joint mobility
• Supports the immune, respiratory and circulatory systems
• Prevents sports injury
• Reduces stress and anxiety levels and encourages calmness and relaxation
• Improves concentration levels
• Improves co-ordination and balance
• Develops body awareness and a healthy connection with the body
• Builds self-confidence and establishes a positive self-image
• Offers a way to connect with emotions and feelings and allows space for self-expression
• Offers a nurturing and non-competitive group environment where friendships can be made