Yoga has a lot of benefits, especially when it is introduced at a younger age. When we’re talking about the importance of yoga for children, it poses benefits in various different mental as well as physical ways. There are many postures in yoga by which anxiety, mental health and depression can be solve.
Yoga poses for kids are a lot like yoga for adults, but basically more fun. When starting out, the goal is to introduce them to movement and focus on creativity rather than mastering perfectly aligned positions. Once you’ve got them hooked on some poses, you can then begin to add in breathing and meditation exercises along the way. To get started, here are some simple, kid-friendly yoga poses to try with your little one.
10 easy yoga asanas for kids
1. Padmasana (Lotus pose)
While starting off any yoga practise, start with your kid in a comfortable seated position, preferably with legs crossed and arms on the lap, with their palms facing upwards. Practice some deep breathing with eyes closed for a few minutes.
2. Navasana (Boat pose)
For this yoga pose, make your child sit down with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Now, they need to slowly lift their feet off the ground and position it in such a way that it’s parallel to the floor. This is the half-boat yoga pose for kids.
3. Adho Muka Svadhasana (Downward-Facing Dog pose)
Start with your kid going down on all fours, with palms under the shoulders and knees under the hips. Then, ask your child to lift up their knees of the floor, taking their hips to the ceiling slowly. They may need to bring their feet closer inside to do this. Slowly lift the leg to a 45-degree angle with arms stretched out.
4. Banarasana (Lunge pose)
Your child needs to take their right leg and put it on the outside of the right palm. Then, they must flatten their back keep their left leg straight and look up in front of them. Repeat the same pose with the left leg after returning to the downward-facing dog between the two poses.
5. Vrikshana (Tree pose)
Stand tall and mighty like a tree! In this yoga pose, your child stands upright with hands on the side, by taking in a deep breath. Then slowly exhale while bending the right knee and placing the foot on the side of the left leg. Then, while inhaling they need to place their hands together (in the form of namaste) near their heart. Next, slowly exhale while extending their hands above their head.
6. Bitilasana (Cat-Cow Pose)
The child has to come back to all fours, with palms under the shoulders and knees under the hips. For the cat pose, they will have to arch their back inwards and look straight ahead of them while taking a deep breath in. For the cow pose, they will have to round their back, do a deep exhale and turn their head inwards, facing their thighs.
7. Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
For this pose, your child will have to lie flat on their stomach and keep their palms facing down near their shoulders, with their toes curled outwards. They then have to push down on their palms and lift their head, shoulders and some of their chest up until their elbows are either slightly bent or straight, depending on their comfort level. They should look straight and focus on their breathing.
8. Patangasana (Butterfly pose)
For this yoga posture, your child must sit up straight and bring the soles of their feet together. They can either hold the soles with their hands, or they can keep their palms touching at heart centre. They can then focus on their breathing.
9. Ananda Balasana (Happy child pose)
For this pose, the child must lie on their back and hug their knees to their chest. They can then let their knees become a little wider as they reach for the soles of their feet and hold them with their hands.
10. Dhanurasana (Bow pose)
Your child needs to lie down on their stomach with hands on the sides, palms facing upwards. Slowly, they need to bend their knees, lift their chest and hold the ankles with their hands.
Benefits of Yoga for Kids
- Refines balance and coordination
- Develops focus and concentration
- Boosts self-esteem and confidence
- Strengthens the mind-body connection
- Enhances physical flexibility
These asanas are not only easy to perform but also quite enjoyable for your kids. If practised with consistency, it will improve your child’s wellness and help them in achieving physical, mental, and spiritual stability. Introduce them to yoga which can help them shoo away such troubles.
