Yoga Kids Are Flexible and Strong

More than 15 million Americans participate in yoga. Most of them are over 18-years old, but the benefits of yoga for kids are the same ones enjoyed by adults. These yoga kids can participate in this non-competitive activity and improve their muscle strength, flexibility and balance. Kids, who studies show are experiencing more and more stress, will be able to relieve stress through yoga, too. Studies have shown that yoga can reduce anxiety and depression, which is great for kids who fret about tests and other problems.

Kids who do yoga will not only improve their strength and flexibility, but their young minds learn to concentrate better, too. There are also reports that they build self-confidence and self-control.

In a study of inner-city "yoga kids" in kindergarten through eighth grade, researchers found a 20 percent increase in students who felt good about themselves and a six percent increase in classroom discipline scores. There was also a statistically significant link between yoga participation and better grades.

With these benefits and the rising trend toward teenage obesity, why haven't you enrolled your son or daughter in a yoga class yet?


More Yoga Terms Defined from That's Fit:
Ashtanga Yoga
Flow Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Power Yoga
Prenatal Yoga
Strengthen With Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga
Yoga Benefits
Yoga Journal
Yoga for Weight Loss

One challenge in teaching yoga kids is holding their attention. Role play and imagination exercises can be incorporated into the yoga postures or "asanas" to keep kids focused. By adding a meow to the cat stretch, a bark to the downward dog pose, or a familiar rhyme like the A-B-Cs to a held asana, yoga time can become play time for kids.