If you think yoga is a frozen, static, boring pose that is difficult and uninteresting for children to hold, then you have not tried YogaKids classes. A certified teacher Anastasia Kokeeva will tell you how to introduce a child to yoga.
YOGA FOR KIDS
“Yogi are Chinese who are strong, always smiling and walking on fire. And they live in India. Ilya, 5 years old
This definition, given by one of my students, is enough to believe in the benefits and necessity of yoga for children. If we give our children strength and faith in their limitless possibilities, teach them to smile and enjoy life, in my opinion, we will already lay a good foundation for them to grow up to be happy, he althy, harmonious people.
CHILDREN'S YOGA AS A WAY TO GET TO KNOW YOURSELF AND THE WORLD FUN
Yoga is movement, fantasy, improvisation, studying your body and its capabilities, breathing techniques, music, and, of course, relaxation. In yoga classes, we study the heroes of our favorite fairy tales and geometric shapes, sing and draw, count in different languages, and even put on small performances.
WHAT YOGA GIVES YOUR CHILD:
General he alth improvement and harmonization of the body
Boost immunity and improve sleep
Increase concentration and self-control
· posture correction and improved coordination
Reduce anxiety and fears
Improving communication skills and socialization
Improve self-esteem
Developing creativity
· the ability to calm down or cheer up when needed
WHERE TO START? FIVE SIMPLE STEPS TO CHILDREN'S YOGA
1. Master yourself a few simple poses. It can be a pose of a tree, a cat or a turtle. Let the child see you on the mat. Leading by example is our everything. Be a child. Swing branches, meow. The main task is to arouse interest in the child, and not to force him to engage. Children love to imitate animals. You can build countless activities on your favorite representatives of the fauna. View pictures, photos, videos. How does a turtle hide its head in its shell? How does a cat arch its back? This is how yoga arose: from observing natural phenomena.
2. Teach your child to calm down. In our rhythm of life, we often do not notice how often we push children: “Come on, finish your meal!” "Well, what are you procrastinating, it's time to go!" “Come quickly, brush your teeth and sleep!” Do we tell our children “Sit down for a couple of minutes, take your time”, “Lie down, restore strength, then finish it”, “Stop. Breathe"? Yoga is not a set of exercises. It's a lifestyle. And the choice: run along it without looking back or enjoy every day. Start with a simple question: “Do you know where your heart is? Let's put our hand here, close our eyes and listen to how it knocks.”
3. Don't aim for perfect results. A pose, like Iyengar, a child should not and cannot succeed immediately. The process is important. The child moves, studies himself, expresses himself through movement, learns a lot of new things - lead, accompany him, cheer him up and in no case evaluate or compare. In yoga there is no place for competitions and records. Catch the child's need in the present moment. If he needs to move, give him more activity, standing or dynamic poses. If the child needs to "ground", suggest exercises on the mat - sitting or lying down. By the way, a cat-cow can be performed not only standing on four legs, but also sitting cross-legged - the principle is the same.
4. To make the child believe that he will succeed, give the “most difficult” pose right away. Mountain pose. Show pictures or photos. Invite the child to stand in front of you, legs together, back straight, shoulders back and down, weight evenly distributed on both legs and across the foot, toes straightened, heels pressed to the floor, crown reaching for the ceiling. "It's easy!" most kids will say. Excellent. Let them try to stand for at least a couple of minutes. Just remember to breathe).
5. By the way, about breathing. It is an essential part of any yoga practice. And life in general. We live while we breathe. We breathe while we live. Teach your child to observe the breath, to remember it. Breathe together: sit the child with his back to you, snuggle up and try to synchronize your breathing. Babies breathe faster than adults at rest. In your slow, calm, even breathing, they will feel safe. Count: inhale - one, two, three, four, five. Exhale: one, two, three, four, five. Lightness?
Try it! and don't forget to smile).
Namaste
This is the magic word that yogis say. It roughly means: the light inside of me sees the light inside of you.