Would like some new quick and easy tools for calming your kids? Perhaps you see the impact of stress and anxiety on your children and want to help ? Or maybe you do yoga and would love to share the benefits with your family.
Welcome to the world of teaching yoga to your kids and to the community of thousands of parents all over the world who are not only doing something fun together, but also taking care of the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of their children at the same time.
Take just 10 minutes at the beginning your day, to get those little bodies moving, energise them in a calm way, and clear the brain for a focussed, calm and happy day.
Do this together and you will both enjoy the benefits of increased health and greater connection.
Here are my top tips for getting started.
Top Tips For Yoga With Your Children
1. Get Moving.
The fastest way into children’s minds, emotions, energy and physical health, is through movement, but not any movement. Use fast, repetitive yoga movements that synchronise the breath to channel energy and calm the mind and emotions.
2. Breathe
The breath is the key that distinguishes yoga from all other forms of movement. The inhale and exhale play a significant role on having a specific effect on the body and mind. Watch your child calm down quickly when you include the breath.
3. Have Fun
Yoga for children is not the same as adult classes and unless children are engaged and having fun they will soon lose interest. This doesn’t mean that yoga has to be silly and all play with no physical substance. Bring the play to the asana rather than the asana to the play.
4. Make it Special
Yoga with your child will be one of the best memories you have together. It will be a time each day that you cherish, where you connect and that they remember for the rest of their lives. Always start and end your practice together with a special ritual to connect you to the practice and each other.
Yoga for Building Strong Backs:
1. Back Release
Lying on back. Knees bent. Hands behind head.
Squeeze knees. Exhale, drop knees to side. Inhale, back to centre. x 10
2. Froggy Legs
Lie on back. Hands behind head. Soles of the feet together in a ‘froggy’ legs position Exhale, Lift hips. Inhale, back down. x 10
3. Cat/Cow
Come onto hands and knees.
Inhale arch back up to ceiling, suck belly up and round the spine
Exhale, drop belly down, lifting chin and looking up to ceiling
4. Swimming
On belly. Forehead down. Arms and legs out wide into a starfish. Exhale, Lift Right arm and Left leg up. Inhale, down. Exhale, Lift Left arm and Right leg up. Inhale, down. x 6
5. Cobra with knee bent
On belly. Hands near your shoulders. Elbows in close to your ribs.
Bend one knee out to the side. Place foot of bent leg next to the knee of the opposite leg. Exhale, straighten arms, lift chest off the mat. Face looking up. Inhale, lower down. x 10
6. Belly Swings
On belly. Hands interlaced behind head. Feet wide apart and toes dug into floor.
Exhale, lift chest off the floor. Inhale.
Exhale, twist to your right and look at your right foot.
Inhale, back to centre. Exhale, twist to the left and look at your left foot. Inhale, centre.
x10
Have fun doing these sequences with your kids and at the same time you’ll be strengthening your own back.
Enjoy the magic of seeing your children grow in confidence as their sense of self builds.
If you see the immediate benefit and impact on your children and want to learn more, then come join our kids yoga online training course. It can be one of the most rewarding things you do.
Learn More Here
For extra tips about practicing yoga at home, Click Here
