Children, just like adults do, often suffer from school-related stress, anxiety, sleep issues, and even depression. Scientific evidence suggests that children benefit from yoga practices. Yoga encompasses a variety of practices including Asanas – physical postures, Pranayama – breathing practices, discipline related to eating and sleeping, Pratyahara – meditative hypnosis, and Dhyana and Dharna – meditation mindfulness practices.
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and other control studies indicate that yoga – including postures, breathing exercises, and meditation is a positive intervention for the pediatric population. Yoga has helped with neuromuscular functions, helps children with ADHD, and other attention disorders, improves hand-eye coordination, improves memory, increases attention, etc. These factors are directly related to improvement in academic performance, sleep, and general well-being.
Yoga practice in children also appears to show positive results for those suffering from Asthma, Cardiopulmonary issues, and a decrease in levels of cortisol which is the body’s main stress hormone. The practice of Yoga has shown benefits in children suffering from Autism and speech impediments through these areas of research are in nascent stages.
Many have wondered about the age at which children could begin practicing Yoga. Many Yoga schools advertise classes for children seven years and up. However, children can join their parents during yoga practice and do whatever postures they can. Toddlers can tumble around in Utkatasana (bear pose) and learn how to maintain balance in Vrikshasana (tree pose). Children can learn Pranayama imaging breathing in sweet floral breath and practicing slow exhaling. Meditation and sitting in silence might be challenging for a child just as it is challenging for adults; however, evidence in certain pilot studies has shown that Yoga is an effective intervention, especially when replaced with negative reinforcers in the school system such as punishment and detention. “Meditation, not Detention” is a fast-growing area of research, and children are often taught Pranayama techniques as well as Dhyana to breathe out their stress, anger, and feelings of unease.
Yoga has numerous benefits and adult practitioners, such as myself and my clients. Parents and their children can attest to the benefits of practicing Yoga together. Yoga practices will establish discipline and provide a foundation for children to deal with adolescent and peer pressure issues well. So why not teach the holistic practices of Yoga to young children?
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