Yoga Journal Singapore — April-May 2017

Frame it Right

The best way to get boys interested in yoga is to frame it according to their

mindset. For my son to be remotely interested in practicing yoga with me,

I initially added the word ‘warrior’ to it. He loved the fact that yoga was

related to something a strong individual could do.

To maintain the excitement, I changed the theme each week—from

planets to travel adventures to dinosaur names—based on the book he was

reading or the circumstances he was in.

Getting his friends involved, an

strong pull, and he soon started help

great enthusiasm.

When a group of boys who know each other

yoga, there is bound to be copious amounts of ener

them down, connect with themselves and have an enjoyable experience, we started wi

simple visualisation techniques. Then we stood up and did some stretches and helicopte

We talked about the origins of yoga, how old it was and why people did it. They thou

practiced by athletes and trainers who did it to increase strength and balance. Hearing th

them more interested in learning and trying the poses. It made them think of it as a cha

Don’t Fret over Flexing

With boys, it is advisable not to fret over the extent of flexibility in their poses. Challenge

hold the poses—but this has to be done without putting too much pressure on them, a

more enjoyable and non-competitive.

Combine Action with Breathing

Young boys I teach love the warrior and tiger breath exercises, and enjoy doing the sim

wood chopper action with their breathing. I notice they need some action with their bre

movements, unlike girls who are able to sit quietly and do deep breathing.

nd making an event out ofit, was another

ping me preparefor these sessions with

well are in a space together to do

rgy bouncingaround. So, to calm

th some deep balloon breathing and

er twists to warm ourselves up.

ught it was “so cool” that yogawas

hat strongathletes do yoga made

llengingthingto do.

ethem in a serious way to try and

as it makes the session

ultaneous

eath

Bringing out the

POSITIVE WARRIOR IN BOYS

68

april / may 2017

yogajournal.com.sg

A few months ago, I signed up for a ‘Yoga for Kids’ teacher training course at Pure Yoga Singapore. I was very keen to infuse these

learnings into my seven-year-old son’s active and sometimes overscheduled life.

I do believe we should infuse yoga into the minds of young, energetic boys, so that they can be more self-aware of their

thoughts and feelings, calm the over-stimulation and noise in their heads, and gain strength from the practice.

Some of the techniques I use are unconventional, but the overall vision of yoga to create a link

between our bodies, minds and lives is still very much at the core of it.

Prepare Well

With boys, you really never know what might work, especially when they are in a group.

You might have a certain exercise or game prepared, but it could fall through the cracks if

they are not in the right frame of mind. For example, once I was going to give them pipe

cleaners to make a yoga man—something my son normally loves doing—but I knew

I was losing them, and so decided to play yoga whispers. To my pleasant surprise, the

affirmation message came out succinct and clear, without much effort.

“I am a strong and positive warrior,” said my son out aloud, confidently.

By Puja Disha Bharwani