START KIDS YOGA TODAY – A PARENTS’ GUIDE TO HEALTHY HABIT

The Importance of Kids Yoga: Reflections on Childhood Days

Abstract of the importance of Kids Yoga: 

Before going through the importance of Kids Yoga, I have to outline the abstract on this subject. In today’s world, most of the kids are suffering from stress and anxiety since they are being constantly exposed to different updated state-of-the-art technologies. In addition to this updated state-of-the-art technologies, Cell Phones and computers have become the source of knowledge enrichment, and their growing usage is decreasing the kids’ physical activities, and the resultant effect is various health issues such as physical, mental, and growing obesity among the children. Learning and teaching in schools do not completely help the kids to ensure their daily class work.

These little kids are being compelled to take the help of the web to complete their daily assignments. Moreover, the parents are constantly exerting pressure to excel in their performance in studies. When these little kids fail to fulfill their parents’ expectations, they fall prey to abuse, and their confidence level day by day deteriorates. Now, let us delve into the importance of Kids Yoga at home, in school, and in nation-building.

Introduction: 

Embracing the Importance of Kids Yoga in Childhood Development is characterized by innocence, wonder, and the openness of the mind and heart to the world’s beauty, which offers a unique phase for spiritual and personal growth. My childhood was not only filled with games and laughter but was also deeply enriched by a spiritual journey that shaped my essence. This reflection explores the critical role of integrating the importance of kids’ yoga into my spiritual development during my childhood days, highlighting the experiences and lessons that contributed to my soul’s nurturing.

Family Traditions and the Importance of Kids Yoga: 

Born into a family with strong spiritual values in a remote Indian village, my early life was immersed in the significance of family traditions, rituals, and the underlying importance of kids’ yoga. Our days started with prayers and yoga, setting a devotional and mindful tone for what was to come. These practices were not mere routines but were pivotal in fostering a deep connection to a higher consciousness. My parents and elder brother, embodying spiritual legacies, taught me the essence of prayer, compassion, humility, gratitude, and the foundational elements of yoga for kids. Their guidance illustrated that spirituality and yoga were not confined to sacred spaces but were intertwined throughout daily life.

Nature’s Temples and the Role of Kids Yoga: 

The profound connection to nature, amplified by the importance of kids’ yoga, marked a significant aspect of my spiritual childhood. Living in a village with vast natural beauty, my mornings began with yoga alongside my family, amidst the beautiful backdrop of our home’s natural surroundings. My house was surrounded by lush green trees and grass by the side of a pond. There was a small cottage with an accommodation capacity of 6 to 7 persons for Yoga Practices every morning and evening.   This routine not only deepened my spiritual connection but also my connection with the environment, teaching me the importance of harmony and balance, highlighting to both nature and yoga.

Stories Highlighting the Importance of Kids’ Yoga: 

My spiritual education extended beyond formal teachings, embracing the captivating stories of saints and sages, and incorporating lessons from kids’ yoga. My mother and grandmother used to tell different stories from the epic Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and different Holy Books, especially the Bhagwat Purana and The Gita, where Lord Krishna taught the different aspects of life to humans every night. Entire Gita consisting of 18 chapters is the teachings of Lord Krishna, and the Chandi, another Holi Book of Hindus is application of teachings of Lord Krishna in these 18 Chapters.

These stories, coupled with yoga practices, filled my nights with wonder and reverence, sowing seeds of empathy, kindness, and a profound understanding of life’s virtues. Through this blend of storytelling and yoga, I learned the significance of life’s complexities with grace and compassion.

Questions, Curiosities, and the Exploration through Kids Yoga:

As my journey began, the inherent curiosity of childhood, combined with the exploration of kids’ yoga, prompted me with profound questions about life and existence. Frequently, I was curious to know how animals and humans are born, how they grow up, and die. After their death, where do they go, and so on. Various questions were peeked into the mind. Some answers I got, and some of them are still a question now. Encouraged by my parents, this quest for understanding led me to dig into various spiritual traditions and philosophies, broadening my perspective. The practice of kids’ yoga served as a tool for self-exploration and understanding, reinforcing the universal connections among diverse beliefs.

Challenges, Growth, and the Foundation of Kids Yoga:

The challenges of juvenility, including identity and skepticism, were met with the foundational strength provided by my early exposure to spirituality and kids’ yoga. These practices offered stability and guidance, facilitating growth and resilience in the face of adversity.

Beneficial Yoga Poses for Kids:

Balasana: It is a resting pose that provides a sense of calm and stability. It is for the children to return to if they want to take a break or wish to relax. This pose is described as taking a rest in their surround.

 

Tree Pose: This pose is highly beneficial for the kids to improve their balance and concentration. This pose is helpful for the kids to imagine being strong and tall like a tree.

Adhomukhasana: Adhomukhasana helps the kids to stretch their legs and back. It also strengthens the arms and shoulders.

Birbhadrasana (Warrior Pose): This pose also helps to gain confidence and strength, and improves balance and concentration.

Butterfly Pose: This pose helps the kids to open the hips and thighs, which is also beneficial for those kids who spend a lot of time sitting.

Benefits and Disasters of Kids Yoga:

The potential Benefits and Disasters of kids’ yoga have profound effects on Children’s physical, mental, emotional, and psychological development. Here are some Benefits and Disasters to be looked into.

Benefits:

1. Improvement in Physical health
2. It enhances concentration and memory
3. It reduces stress
4. It boosts self-esteem and confidence
5. It promotes a healthy lifestyle
6. It enhances emotional regulation
7. It supports creativity and expression
8. It improves sleep
9. It improves social interaction
10. It creates inclusivity

 Disasters:

1. It creates the risk of physical injury
2. It creates a problem for health conditions
3. It creates a problem due to overemphasis on performance
4. It creates neglect of other physical activities
5. It creates cultural misappropriation
6. It creates a problem with an unqualified Yoga Teacher
7. It creates a problem due to peer pressure
8. It usually creates an imbalanced lifestyle
9. It may create social exclusion due to financial exclusion
10. It also creates problems due to the misinterpretation of Yoga principle

Role of Kids Yoga in Nation Building:

Yoga is not only meant for adults, but it is also applicable to kids. When kids do yoga, it helps them in many ways that are good for the whole country. Yoga makes children calm, strong, and kind. This is important for making a country that is peaceful and works well together.

Doing yoga teaches children to be mindful. This means they think more about how they act and treat others. When lots of children grow up being mindful, the country becomes a nice place to live. They learn to solve problems without fighting, which is very good for any country.

Kids Yoga also helps children to be healthy. Healthy children grow into healthy adults who can work hard and help the country do well. They can think better and come up with new ideas to make the country better.

Lastly, yoga teaches kids to respect all people and things. This helps the country because everyone feels important and works together better. When children learn yoga, they learn to be part of a team. This teamwork can make the country strong and united.

In short, teaching yoga to children is a great way to help build a better future for any country. It makes them better people who can make the country prosperous through innovating newer ideas, new inventions, and harmonious relations among the nations to make a country strong and developed.

Conclusion: The Lasting Impact of Kids Yoga on My Spiritual Childhood. Reflecting on the profound influence of my spiritual childhood, I am filled with gratitude for the integration of kids’ yoga into my upbringing. The rituals, connection with nature, inspiring stories, and the encouragement to question and explore, all under the umbrella of kids yoga, have laid a spiritual foundation that continues to guide me. Childhood, with its inherent receptivity, represents an important time for sowing the seeds of spirituality and yoga, fostering a life of purpose, compassion, and a deep connection to spirituality and health development. Apart from spiritual development, I have been blessed with a vast source of energy to fight psychological and emotional issues. I learned how to face obstacles with a smiling face, which is still playing a pivotal role in my life.

Therefore, based on my experience, I can earnestly request all the parents to start yoga at the early stages of life of their children, not only at home but also at the school level, and see their magnificent development of health, mind, and soul. Since yoga is secular and can be practiced by anyone irrespective of the nation, caste, and creed, schools should start kids yoga for the overall development of students by appointing a Yoga Teacher or by sending their existing physical education teacher for yoga training.

 

 FAQ:

1. Is Yoga good for Kids?

It is utmost important for every parent to inspire their Kids to practice Yoga, and being a parent, you should guide the kids on what type of Yoga Poses will be beneficial to them, of course, with consultation with a Yoga Teacher. It is also a good idea for parents to consult with a healthcare provider before starting a new exercise, especially if the child has any existing health issues.

2. What Yoga poses are beneficial to Kids?

The beneficial Yoga poses for kids are as follows:

• Balasana:
• Tree Pose:
• Adhomukhasana: 
• Birbhadrasana (Warrior Pose):
• Butterfly Pose:

3. When should kids start Yoga?

Kids can start Yoga at a very early stage, even as toddlers. The approach and type of Yoga should be designed for the Kids’ developmental stage and individual needs. Starting Yoga at a young age helps kids manage stress, understand their bodies, and promote physical fitness.  It’s important, however, to ensure that the practice is age-appropriate, safe, and enjoyable for them.

4. What is Kids Yoga?

Kids Yoga is a type of yoga specifically designed for children. It includes fun, creative methods to stimulate children’s imagination, maintain their interest, and promote physical activity. Unlike traditional adult yoga, it often focuses on discipline, stillness, and mastering specific poses. Kids Yoga is more flexible and playful, with an emphasis on making the practice enjoyable.

5. Can Kids Practice Yoga?

Yes, kids can definitely practice yoga! Yoga is a wonderful activity for children, extending numerous benefits for both their physical and mental well-being. It can help to improve flexibility, strength, coordination, and balance. On the mental health side, yoga can assist in developing focus, concentration, self-esteem, and mindfulness, also help the kids to manage stress.