Strength and Flexibility of Body and Mind

With more and more children spending more time in sedentary activities, such as watching TV, playing on the computer, or playing video games, the importance of regular exercise can not be overlooked. Research shows that the long-term effects of a sedentary lifestyle are linked to high blood pressure, obesity, ulcers, and poor functioning of the heart and lungs. Yoga is a wonderful movement discipline that can give children regular exercise! It can also help keep kids toned and supple, with joints that work to their full range of motion!

Yoga poses strengthen and stretch the body. They also strengthen children's growing spines, keeping their muscles supple, and encouraging good joint movement. The action of the poses creates a more elaborate range of muscle motor skills that fine-tune coordination and increase the overall range of motion. Yoga not only teaches flexibility of the body, but flexibility of the mind. Staying flexible mentally by opening the mind fosters positive thinking and motivation to learn new things. Balance poses enhance concentration skills, which require focus and clarity of the mind.

Motor planning skills are practiced as a child follows the directions in a yoga sequence. Motor planning is the ability to successfully execute a sequence of small, coordinated steps to complete a required task. Yoga provides multiple opportunities to stimulate and encourage both gross and fine motor planning skills.

Yoga poses develop the strength, flexibility, and coordination skills that help prevent injury during sports or other physical activities. Yoga helps flexible children to become stronger and build endurance. It also helps less supple children to gain greater flexibility.