Benefits of yoga for children

| Its origin dates back to 5,000 years in India and means "union" in Sanskrit. Mind, body and spirit regain their essential unity in the divine. It was developed as a tool to preserve physical health and thus achieve mental and spiritual balance.

Perhaps the most mundane way to define the Yoga or, the practice of other relaxation or meditation techniques, is to achieve balance. Balancing the body indirectly benefits the mind and our emotional state.

A relaxed child, aware of his body and with a feeling of well-being, will be able to relate better with others. Probably, the practice of a discipline such as yoga will develop many physical and emotional skills in children, giving way to healthier and more balanced adults.

When to start

In many centers yoga courses are offered for mothers and babies. Children can go alone from the age of 4. In the early stages of childhood, yoga is taught in a playful way through stories, through which the little ones perform the asanas or positions. Classes are usually shorter than in adults, lasting about 45 minutes.

They should wear loose, light or comfortable clothing, to perform the movements with total freedom. They usually go barefoot or with socks and it is practiced directly on the ground or on very thin mats.

What is achieved

• Harmonious development of the muscles.
• Increased elasticity and joint mobility.
• It promotes self-awareness of the body and of breathing, in a way that helps to breathe correctly and deeply, using the abdomen and chest.
• Improve balance.
• Strengthening of the spine preventing bad posture and deviations of the spine
• Stimulates blood circulation.
• Provides greater capacity for self-control and concentration. It is therefore a highly recommended discipline for hyperactive children.
• Improvement of the immune system.
• It increases lung capacity, so it can be very beneficial for children and adolescents with bronchial asthma.
• Reduces child or youth stress.
• It enhances sleep quality.
• Improve communication with others and raise self-esteem.

• Yoga is a technique that can be practiced at any age, and children can benefit greatly on a physical and mental level.
• It can develop many physical and emotional skills in the little ones, making way for healthier and more balanced adults.
• Elasticity, concentration, breathing control, sleep improvement, stress reduction ... are some of the benefits it can bring you.

Dra. Esther Martínez GarcíaPediatric Specialist