yoga for children
PERFECT 10
1
Develops coordination
and balance
And maintains flexibility and builds
strength. The varying postures (twists,
backbends, forward bends, side stretches)
have a massaging effect on the body and
tone the internal organs. The digestive
system works more efficiently, the nervous
system is maintained, the spine is kept mobile
and the joints and muscles work together to
keep the body strong as the child develops
and changes.2
Enhances concentration
Balancing poses are excellent for
building concentration and focus.
They also strengthen the legs.3
Increases confidence
and self-esteem
Yoga is non competitive. In this
increasingly competitive world it
encourages us that we are all different and
we are all good at different things.4
Improves creativity
Particularly in younger children, with
its fun animal sounds and themed
classes such as ‘Jungle Adventure’
and ‘Seaside Trip’.10 yoga benefits for children.
By Susannah Hoffman5
Encourages exploration
Visualisations help older children
to explore their intuitive nature and
listen to their inner feelings.6
Calms the mind
Breathing techniques such as
brahmari (bee breath) help to
lengthen the breath and calm the
mind. It’s also important to remember that
as concentration is linked to breath length,
it is physically impossible for children under
7–8 to concentrate for any length of time as
their lungs don’t fully develop until around
8-years-old.7
Enhances spatial awareness
and co-ordination
Movements such as reversed triangle,
or any opposite hand-to-foot
movements, can improve brain function
by synchronising the left and right brain
and increase the pathways in the brain.
This also enhances spatial awareness
and co-ordination.8
Improves confidence
Chanting helps children find their
voice and express their emotions.
A lot of children feel self-consciousabout their voice, so chanting simple things
like ‘om’ o r ‘om shanti’ in a group encourages
them to express themselves. They also feel
the calming effect from it.9
Offers tools for stress
management
Yoga provides techniques for dealing
with academic pressures and peer
pressure. It helps produce endorphins that
make us feel happy, while the breathing
techniques help slow down the heart rate,
and the relaxations calm the mind as well
as the body. Relaxation also aids sleep.
Children learn better if they get a good
night’s sleep, eat well, drink plenty of water
and do regular exercise.10
Self-acceptance and
compassion
Encourages self-acceptance and
compassion for others by being
kind, patient and accepting with themselves
and others and understanding we are all
unique and good at different things.Susannah Hoffman is a British Wheel of Yoga
teacher and runs kids yoga teacher training
at London’s triyoga (triyoga.co.uk)