If you’ve been looking for ways to help your little ones find their inner balance and embrace joyfulness, we’re happy to share that there is an easy, fun and mostly cost-free activity you can do right in the comfort of your own home – yoga!
We recently checked in with renowned yoga teacher Mareth Spamer from I am Yoga to, who shares her expertise on the numerous benefits of yoga and how to embrace the principles at home with your kids.
Learn more about using this age-old system of movement and personal growth at home with our youngsters:
“In an era of screens and sedentary lifestyles, it’s essential to keep our kids active. Yoga is a fantastic way to get those bodies moving! It promotes flexibility, strength, and coordination in a safe and gentle manner. Plus, you don’t need fancy equipment or expensive memberships. Yoga can be done in the comfort of your own home. All you need is a little open space and a willingness to explore,” says Mareth.
The amazing benefits of yoga for kids & parents
Here are a few amazing benefits you and your children can enjoy if you make yoga a part of your regular routine, or even just engage in it a few times a week:
Improved flexibility. Yoga poses gently stretch and lengthen muscles, promoting overall flexibility and range of motion.
Boosted strength. Many yoga poses require engaging and holding specific muscle groups, leading to improved strength and stability.
Positive body awareness. Yoga helps children develop a greater understanding of their bodies and encourages them to listen to their physical sensations and how to connect with their bodies and its sensations.
Concentration and focus. Practicing yoga poses enhances concentration and focus and being in the present moment, which can benefit children academically and in other activities.
Stress relief. Yoga provides a space for children to release stress, relax, and cultivate a sense of calmness and mindfulness.
Connection. Engaging in yoga poses with your children can be a wonderful way to bond and spend time together in a mood-boosting way.
Five easy yoga poses to try with your kids
Here are five easy yoga poses that parents can help their children do, along with the benefits they offer for the body:
Child’s Pose
Child’s Pose is a resting pose that promotes relaxation and releases tension in the back and shoulders. Have your child kneel on the floor and sit back on their heels. With your guidance, ask them to bend forward, lowering their chest towards their thighs and resting their forehead on the mat.
Their arms can be extended in front of them or relaxed alongside their body. Child’s Pose offers a gentle stretch for the back, hips, and thighs while promoting a sense of calm and tranquillity.
Tree Pose
The Tree Pose is a standing posture that improves balance and concentration. To perform this pose, have your child stand tall with their feet together. With your assistance, guide them in lifting one foot and placing it on the inner thigh or calf of the opposite leg.
Encourage them to find a focal point and bring their hands together at their chest. The Tree Pose strengthens the legs, improves posture, and enhances focus and stability.
Cat-Cow Pose
The Cat-Cow Pose is a gentle, flowing movement that stretches and strengthens the spine while promoting flexibility. Start by having your child come onto their hands and knees. Inhale as they drop their belly towards the floor, arching their back and looking up (Cow Pose). Then, as they exhale, round their spine upward, tucking the chin to the chest (Cat Pose). Repeat this fluid movement several times to improve spinal mobility and release tension.
Butterfly Pose
The Butterfly Pose opens the hips and stretches the inner thighs. Have your child sit on the floor and bring the soles of their feet together, allowing their knees to fall out to the sides. Assist them in gently pressing their knees towards the floor while keeping their spine straight. Encourage relaxed breathing as they hold the pose. Butterfly Pose helps to improve flexibility in the hips and groin area.
Downward-Facing Dog Pose
Downward-Facing Dog is a rejuvenating pose that strengthens the entire body while stretching the back, shoulders, and hamstrings. Start with your child in a push-up position. Then, guide them to lift their hips up and back, forming an inverted V shape with their body. Encourage them to press their hands into the floor, extend their spine, and lengthen their legs. This pose improves posture, increases strength in the arms and legs, and provides a mild inversion for increased blood flow to the brain.
“Remember to create a safe and supportive environment for your children during their yoga practice. Encourage them to listen to their bodies, breathe deeply, and have fun while exploring these beneficial yoga poses together,” advises Mareth.
These are just a few of the benefits you’ll enjoy when adding yoga to your family’s routine. Start with one or two poses for five minutes a day and see where it goes. The key lies in having fun with it and seeing it as an opportunity for connection with your child, and yourself.
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