Yoga for Preschoolers

The popularity of yoga has increased dramatically over the last decade, but its origins go back for centuries. Why has it persisted through time? The health advantages of yoga have been widely accepted for both physical and emotional well-being. The practice is commonly directed toward adults, but more than ever child and preschool yoga programs are cropping up. Find out more about why making yoga  a part of your preschooler's physical activities can make a great impact on their life!

Why yoga?

One of the definitions of yoga, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is "a system of exercises for attaining bodily or mental control and well-being." This “system of exercises” consists of slow body movements and intentional, deep breathing that help stretch and strengthen muscles and focus the mind. Preschoolers are prime candidates for fully taking in the advantages of yoga, especially considering that their young minds are ripe for implementing habits that can carry through for a lifetime.

Advantages of yoga for preschoolers

Yoga is an exercise system that addresses not only physical health benefits, but also focuses and calms the mind. Much of yoga is centered on focused breathing, a concept that most people never are introduced to, but one that is simple and extremely beneficial! Shallow breathing is such a common occurrence most people don't realize they're doing it and it can be easily remedied with awareness and activities like yoga. Consistently allowing more air into the body, physiologically, is good for you! It expands the airways and allows more oxygen into your body,its organs, and cells, and, consequently, allows your preschooler to move better, relax more, and even sleep better. Yoga also fosters a more positive body image and strengthens the immune system.
 
Additionally, yoga is definitely exercise for the body! It works the muscles and stretches your limbs and unlike other physical activities that require rough and tumble interaction, yoga is relatively safe. Risk of injury is then reduced.

It’s a great bonding experience for parents and preschoolers, too.

Tips for preschooler yoga:

1. Because the natural attention span of preschoolers is shorter, ten to fifteen minutes of yoga per day is good practice. As they get older, increasing this time and introducing other concepts of yoga is a possibility.

2. You can find yoga exercises appropriate for preschoolers on video, in books, or in a class. There are a lot of yoga classes for adults that offer programs for youngsters too. You can decide whether to do these exercises together at home or in a more formalized setting.

3. Ask your preschooler teachers about introducing some yoga concepts into the curriculum. They might like the idea too and doing some yoga with preschool pals is always fun and motivating.

4. Buy your preschooler clothes just for yoga exercises. Clothing that is loose, comfortable and stretchy are good to practice yoga in. You can even get matching outfits to make things more fun.

5. Don’t put too much pressure on your preschooler, especially when starting a yoga program. The idea is to have fun, focusing on the experience at hand and implementing the yoga exercises in the atmosphere that yoga advocates– relaxing and stress free!

By: Pia Chaparro