It is not uncommon to hear in my kids yoga class,” I still don’t feel anything,” & see the child doing an advanced pose in perfect form that would seem to some impossible to do as an adult. The thing is, there is still hope…we can get there again by maintaining a healthy & steady yoga practice. How lucky though for our younger generation to be exposed to yoga! When we were young, our bodies & spines were much more open & flexible. Over time we can loose this, but I believe through the use of yoga we can maintain a more youthful & healthy functioning body, mind & spirit.
Although many kids come into yoga with the flexibility, over time & practice they are soon able to build more strength & are mentally able to connect with their bodies. Yoga also helps them learn to be more patient and how to experience relaxation through the use of Savasana & breathing techniques.
I like to offer a variety of approaches when teaching yoga to kids. We all have different learning styles, so I believe it is important to cater to these different needs. Sometimes I like to incorporate a story that sends a positive message & then have the kids act out the story through the use of yoga moves. Other times I will teach the 1st set of the Bikram Yoga Series. I have one student that has already mastered toe-stand & is just 8 years old! It is truly inspiring what we can learn from kids. Whether it’s interpreting a story or a pose, kids have this amazing way of making meaning out of the simplest things. I find myself learning from kids in a variety of ways and applying these lessons to my own yoga practice. Whether I am teaching or doing yoga, I try to remember the importance of having fun with it all & finding the meaning in the little things.
I feel very privileged & grateful to be able to share with kids the amazing benefits of this ancient practice & hope to continue to spread the yoga around the community. As summer approaches & schedules calm down, talk to your kids about yoga, ask if they’d be interested in giving it a try, or simply teach them a relaxation posture like 1/2 tortoise!
As Bikram would say;
“No person is too big, too small, too sick, too well, too young, too old, too weak, or too strong to start from scratch and begin again.”
Namaste,
Laura Costa
Kids Yoga Instructor BYSLO
http://www.slokidsyoga.com
