If you observe an infant, you must have noticed them twisting and tumbling around the room (just so randomly that it makes you think: what’s going on in their heads?). Turn these acrobatics into a yoga session with these 6 powerful poses in yoga for kids. Direct their natural instinctive poses into something that benefits their concentration power, focus, flexibility, and more.
Did you know that a sleeping baby holds the chin mudra (touching the index and thumb) inadvertently? There’s little time for free play for kids these days and they tend to be buried in academic and peer pressure with a ton of distractions. Yoga for kids can help them deal with this environment and infuse confidence and positive energy into them.
Let’s take a look at why these 6 asanas in yoga for kids are a treasure trove of health benefits!
6 Asanas in Yoga for Kids
Dhanurasana
Another name: Bow Pose
Focus Area: Relieves fatigue and stress
Strengthens: Leg and arm muscles
Steps:
- Lie down on your tummy on a flat surface.
- Stretch your arms backward and lift your legs.
- Hold your feet with your hands.
- Lift your head.
Sarvangasana
Another name: Shoulder Stand Pose
Focus area: Improves spinal flexibility
Strengthens: Legs and arms
Steps:
- Lie flat on the ground on your back.
- Lift your legs straight up in the air.
- Support your back with your hands.
Virabhadrasana
Another name: Warrior pose
Focus area: Increasing stamina and balance
Strengthens: Leg and arms muscles
Steps:
- Stand on flat ground with your legs wide apart
- Bend your right leg and stretch your left leg
- Lift your arms and hold them horizontally to the ground
Vrikshasana
Another name: Tree pose
Focus area: Increasing concentration and height, enhances body and mind balance
Strengthens: Back muscles, tones legs, and arms
Steps:
- Stand on flat ground with your feet together
- Lift your one leg and place it on the inside thigh of your other leg
- Lift your arms above your head and join them
Surya Namaskar
Another name: Sun salutation
Focus area: Relaxes the nervous system, increases flexibility and motion, improves posture and memory
Strengthens: Back muscles
Steps:
- Pranamasana
- Hasta Uttanasana
- Hasta Padasana
- Ashwa Sanchalanasana
- Dandasana or Phalakasana
- Ashtanga Namaskar
- Bhujangasana
- Adho Mukha Svanasana
- Ashwa Sanchalanasana
- Hasta Padasana
- Hasta Uttanasana
- Tadasana
Shavasana
Another name: Corpse pose
Focus area: Releases fatigue and stress, calms the mind, improves concentration, and stimulated blood circulation
Strengthens: This is a relaxing asana.
Steps:
- Just lie down on your back on a flat ground
- Keep your palms flat on the ground beside you
- Focus on your breathing
The Bottom Line: Yoga is The Best Way to Keep Your Kids Engaged, Entertained, and Energised
Kids are natural acrobats and yoga uses this energy to help them grow stronger and smarter. Yoga is not all about strengthening muscles and being flexible, the postures also instill mindfulness in kids and improve their concentration and focus. The above-mentioned 6 poses in yoga for kids are poses that they do anyway. You just got to help them hold the poses for 30 seconds or so. Let the session progress for 30 minutes or so and remember not to tire them out.
FAQs
What is the best age to start yoga for kids?
Well, you can start whenever your kids are ready but the general opinion is to start yoga for kids at the age of 5 years. The earlier you start the better their flexibility and interest will be.
What type of yoga is best for children?
Yoga for kids is the best bonding time you could ever have. Check out these poses in yoga to help your kids be mentally and physically strong:
- Dhanurasana
- Sarvangasana
- Virabhadrasana
- Vrikshasana
- Surya Namaskar
- Shavasana
Is yoga appropriate for children?
Yoga instills mindfulness and has been shown to improve mental and physical health in young children (6 to 12-year-olds). Yoga for kids can improve their
- Balance
- Aerobic capacity
- Endurance
- Strength
How do I start my child in yoga?
The best way to start yoga for kids is to show them your routine. Here are some age-appropriate methods of drawing your kids to yoga:
- Share your practice routine with them
- Simply start with warm-ups
- Make it fun not competitive
- Teach them how to sync their breaths
How long should kids’ yoga be?
Keep it short: you don’t want to tire your kids out. Adults can go through a 90-minute session but for kids reduce the time to 20 minutes to 1 hour according to their age. Choose their time frame according to this list:
- Under 7 years old: 20 to 30 minutes
- Between 8 to 11 years old: 30 to 45 minutes
- Between 12 to 17 years old: For about an hour