Childrens Yoga
Returning home from a yoga class, a young mother is greeted by her seven-year-old son.
He asks her what poses she did in class, to which she responds, “Warrior pose. Do you
know what that is?” The boy replies, “Warrior I, II or III?”
As yoga becomes more popular around the world, perhaps the fastest-growing group of yogis are children. Thanks to the yoga community, as well as parents, teachers, child care providers, health care professionals, and youth program leaders, many children are learning skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Yoga develops a healthy mind and body, promoting the use of all the senses, fuels the body with energy, and releases tension so that children feel good. Improvements in strength, confidence, self-awareness, concentration, balance, creativity, respect, selfcontrol and relaxation may all be attributed to the regular practice of yoga.
A 2003 California State University study showed a link between yoga and better learning,
improved behaviors and higher self-esteem. Since then, dozens of additional studies
have shown that children who practice yoga and mindfulness are better able to regulate their emotions, manage stress and calm themselves. They may
also choose better foods to eat and engage in more physical activity than children who do not practice yoga. The studies also illustrate that centered,
calm and focused children learn more easily, have better social skills and, in general, are much happier kids.
Of course, children’s yoga looks a little different than adult yoga. To keep children engaged, the presentation of yoga is made playful, fun and ageappropriate, often including music and song combined with movement, as well as an imitation of nature, animals and objects familiar to them. Because children are naturally playful and imaginative, yoga comes easy, and is a lot of fun!
ChildLight Yoga is a nationwide children’s yoga program that started right here in Southern Maine. After seeing her own kids’ interest in their mom’s yoga practice, founder Lisa Flynn learned all she could about children’s yoga, and began offering the area’s first yoga instruction for kids.
As studio classes took off, Flynn expanded her program, developing the ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training, now offered nationwide to anyone with a passion for yoga and a love of kids.
“Our company’s goal has always been to spread the gift of yoga with as many children as possible,” said Flynn.
ChildLight Yoga’s Yoga4Classrooms™ and mobile enrichment programs were both designed with this goal in mind. Many support and understand the benefits of yoga for a child, but it is not always easy for parents to take advantage of studio class offerings, and some children don’t feel comfortable in a group setting away from familiar faces. While mobile enrichment offers on-site yoga classes for pre-schools, child care and activity centers, Yoga4Classrooms™ is a low-cost, fun and effective tool for teachers to use with their students for a peaceful and productive classroom.
More and more schools are recognizing the effectiveness of taking a few minutes here and there throughout the day for yoga breaks — right in the classroom. A few deep breaths, physical movement or stretching to reconnect the body and mind, and moments for quiet introspection, are often a quick and easy way to ‘reset’ the nervous system to calm and focus. Children are brought into the present moment, a place where they can pause, truly hear and feel, reflect and learn.
Though many teachers recognize yoga’s potential benefits in the classroom, many are not practicing yogis and therefore may initially feel uncomfortable
leading yoga breaks. That is where a trained yoga instructor with a child focused skill-set can become quite valuable. As children’s yoga
programs become increasingly popular in schools and throughout communities nationwide, the marketplace is filled with programs, products
and publications, created by knowledgeable and passionate people who share a love of yoga and children. Kids are the ultimate beneficiaries of
the networking and support which has connected many of these businesses and individuals, as each program offers something unique to share
with the community. “The connection is inspiring,” says Flynn. “It’s what yoga is all about.”
If you’d like to learn more about ChildLight Yoga’s classes or teacher trainings, or to speak to someone about bringing yoga to your school or center, please call 603-781-3323, or visit www.childlightyoga.com. Additional inspiration and information may be found on www.thekidsyogaresource.com.
Amy Bevan is a freelance writer specializing in wellness topics, particularly those related to yoga, children and parenting, as well as customer relations, marketing, and current events. Her current role as a correspondent covering local people, politics and events for the region's largest daily newspaper, The Portsmouth Herald, provides her community with timely and informative articles both in print and online. Amy resides in South Berwick, ME with her husband and two young children.
Have a Healthy Heart
Helping Children Develop Healthy Habits
How do I get my kids to eat healthy is a frequently asked questions by many parents. Although it may be difficult at first, you can change your families eating habits and get the whole family active all at the same time.
Many experts suggest that meals are essential for spending quality time with the family, but it is also the ideal time to make sure they are eating the right foods.
Taking it one step further, engaging children and teens in the preparation of meals is a great way to teach them how to make healthy choices. Assisting in grocery shopping and meal planning is another. Everyone can develop healthier eating habits together and adding in the quality time with the family is an added bonus. However being a positive role model by practicing what you preach goes a long way.
Dessert every night!
Limit the type of snacks and desserts not the desserts. Make the desserts healthy and have them every day! Here’s a great alternative to ice cream.
Fruit Smoothies
In the blender, add:
1 banana
1 cup fat free milk, soy milk or lactose free milk
1 cup frozen strawberries (or other favorite frozen fruit)
1 tablespoon agave or honey
Makes two servings
Decorate with 1 tablespoon of fat-free whipped topping and a mint leaf or berry!
This month our helpful hints for healthy living for kids is provided by Let’s Go Maine at www.letsgo.org
Important Elements: Smell, Texture, and Color
Kids are turned off to trying new foods if the smell, flavor or color is not appealing to them. It may be for appealing to a child if the fruits or vegetables are served raw.
Try feeding different textures of fruits and vegetables to your child. Some children prefer smooth food, where as others like lumpy and some children like crisp foods, but others like soft.
Offer new fruits and vegetables in combination with old favorites to show your child a variety of smells, textures and colors. Various vegetables can be added to any whole grain pasta dish or pizza, and fruit is a great tipping for low fat or fat-free yogurt.
The CDC recommends in addition to fruits and vegetables, a healthy diet also includes whole grains, fat-free or low fat milk products, lean meats, fish, beans, eggs and nuts and is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugars. A healthy diet also means staying within your daily calorie needs.
- Keep a bowl of fresh fronts on the counter. Refrigerate cut up fruits and vegetables in small bags for easy snacks on the run.
- Serve fruits and vegetables at every meal. Add grated or cut vegetables into entrees, side dishes and soups. Top off cereal with fruits or add frozen fruits to smoothies.
- Set a good example. Snack on fruit and order low-sodium, low fat salads, soups or vegetable sides when at restaurants.
- Pack the refrigerator, freezer and cupboard with pre-cut frozen or canned vegetables so that it is easier for you to prepare meals and snack that includes vegetables.
- Challenge family members to reach their daily fruits and vegetables goal. Reward the winner with a prize of his or her choice.
- Ask that fruits and vegetables be offered at school functions, after school programs and in vending machines.
- Let children choose which fruits and vegetables to serve and how to incorporate them into their favorite meals.
- Make fruits and vegetables fun. Try dressing up sandwiches with faces and smiles made from fruits and vegetables.
- Keep trying. For some foods, it may take multiple times before a child acquires a taste for it.
- Encourage friends and relatives to offer vegetables and fruits to your children.
