Yoga and Communication Skills

Believe it or not, yoga can be practiced with newborn babies! From birth to 6 months, parents can bond with their babies by posing them in a preparatory movement sequence. An inductive movement sequence is the beginning of initiating asanas and  can be done with a child from 6 months until the child is a year old. From the time a child is a year until he is two years old, an interactive sequence of yoga poses can be done with parental help. A child between the ages of 2 and 3 can imitate movement sequences and yoga poses. By the time a child is 3 years old, he is ready to attend a yoga class with others his own age!

No matter what age a child begins a yoga practice, yoga can help with communication skills. Children are stimulated to speak by the conversations they have with their parents and other children. Their speech is further developed by teachers and by learning from the world around them. As a child practices yoga poses, their speech can develop as yoga teaches names of animals, parts of the body, and objects. Chanting or singing aslo help develop communication skills.

Yoga naturally facilitates communication skills of gestures, and vocal and verbal production. Pre-verbal children are presented with the opportunity to imitate yoga postures, hand gestures, and vocal productions. Through simple chants or mantras, vowel-consonant and consonant-vowel productions are practiced. 

Movement sequences are conducted with both visual demonstration and clear verbal instruction. Each move is guided with appropriate inhalation and exhalation cycles. Attributes of quality, directionality and number are used during explanations. One-. two-, and three-step directions are normal in the yoga sequence at a level that is appropriate for the skill of the child. 

A precedence of respect is set during each yoga class. The teacher and children bow to one another with the spoken word, as well as the hand posture, for namaste. Namatse means "I honor the light in you", is the most important aspect of communication dynamics in the yoga class. Respect for one another is lovingly presented and maintained throughout and after the yoga session. 

Yoga games support the opportunity to engage in social/communicative interactions. Activities such as "Yogi Says", "Yo  Jenga", and "Yo Spy" are popular with the children and enable them to practice careful listening, as well as develop leadership skills by taking turns at teaching their peer group. Encouragement, praise and respect abound in a yoga class.