Frequently Asked Questions for Kids Yoga
As a teacher, I hear a number of frequently asked questions about kids yoga from educators and parents. I’m not surprised. According to a 2016 Yoga in America study by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance, more than 36 million people practice yoga. The study also mentions that “37% of Practitioners have children under the age of 18 who have practiced yoga”! Whoa, That’s a lot of children and families practicing yoga. The number of people –adults and children-interested in yoga is growing. With this interest, comes many frequently asked questions (FAQs) about yoga, specifically kids yoga. With so much information on the internet about yoga, the information can be overwhelming. To help you out, I want to answer some key questions asked by many of my parents and people new to kids’ yoga. Here are my answers to top Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about kids yoga.
FAQ #1 What is yoga?
Yoga is the practice of controlled breathing, meditation and a series of poses with the body. Yoga not only assists with strengthening the body but also quieting the mind. By quieting and calming the mind, a person can better focus, self-manage emotions or find a chance to relax. Depending on the series of poses performed, yoga can also provide a physical challenge. Different yoga sequences can be created to increase in difficulty as you master certain poses.
FAQ #2 What are the benefits of kids yoga?
Yoga is extremely beneficial for kids because it not only promotes being active but also provides a platform to deal with complex emotions. Yoga is very personal, and it emphasizes self-reflection through practice. As you practice more and more you start to see results and begin to focus on them as opposed to the self-doubt that we all have in the back of our minds.
As children grow up, it is our responsibility to teach them how to deal with their emotions and overcome diversity. Yoga is inclusive and provides an excellent platform for this whether it is the more meditative part or the physical part.
FAQ #3 What are some benefits of yoga in schools?
I can talk about this frequently asked questions about kids yoga for days. Schools can benefit very much from yoga. Not only does it provide some variety in how kids get their exercise, but it also teaches children how to focus their mind and pay more attention in class. By using their ability to focus on breath and posture, children can fine-tune their attention span and put it towards their studies.
FAQ #4 What is mindfulness and why should my child try it?
Mindfulness is being aware of one’s thoughts and thought processes. By paying attention to your own thought process, you can understand why something makes you feel a certain way. This practice is great to start early in life, especially in adolescence since many emotions can be new and overwhelming. Mindfulness is good in times of sadness, anger, stress or even happiness. Mindfulness can also help your child to consider how do their actions affect others.
FAQ #5 What is meditation and why should my child try it?
Meditation is the practice of controlled breathing and clearing the mind. It can be done sitting, laying down or through yoga. Our breath is our life source and reconnecting with that can be extremely beneficial for our soul. The act of clearing the clutter in our mind is a way to control stress. We live in a world today that runs a million miles a second. It is very easy to get swept up in the chaos and we forget to slow down and enjoy the little moments of life.
FAQ #5 I see my child practicing breathing different ways, how does special breathing help my child?
Breath can flow in many ways through the body. Special breathing techniques are beneficial because they teach children to channel their breath to work for them in situations of stress or relaxation. Breath can be moved, slowed down, quickened or deepened depending on what you are trying to achieve. A common example is quick short breaths during childbirth to allow a rush of oxygen and energy to the mother and child.
FAQ # 6 Is yoga a religion or religious practice? Does yoga interfere with my family’s religious beliefs?
Another important frequently asked question. Yoga is not a religion. Yoga in schools is about practicing controlled breathing to create a sense of focus and calmness and stretching. I make it a point to use kid-friendly terminology when leading my students through practice. For inclusive purposes, we do not use religious words to describe group activities.
FAQ #7 How can families benefit from yoga or their kids doing yoga?
Families benefit greatly from their children practicing yoga. We are in a technological age that makes distraction very easy, especially to young minds. By practicing yoga, your child will be encouraged to be active, focus more in school and hopefully more inclined to better communicate feelings with family members. The beauty of yoga is that every time you practice, you learn something about yourself and it challenges you to do better in your life.
FAQ #8 My child has certain learning and/or physical needs can he/she do yoga?
Another great thing about yoga is that it has many modifications for poses and props (yoga block, straps, folded blanket/towel, etc.) that act as support for any physical demands. As far as learning needs are concerned, everyone learns differently and at their own pace. Yoga is not a competition, it is a self-practice so as long as you give it your all, progress can be made.
FAQ #8 Who am I?
My name is Jodi and I’ve been teaching yoga to children over two years. I’ve taught more than 1500 classes to children and completed more than 600 hours of yoga training including training towards my children’s yoga certification. To learn more about me, visit my posts, “Hi my name is Jodi – Part 1” and “Why Mosaic Kids Yoga –Part 2”
I hope these answers to common questions help you in your decision to try yoga or introduce yoga to your child. What other questions do you have? Let me know by dropping me a message. I would love to update this post and help you on your yoga journey any way that I can.
Peace!
