Little Yogis: Benefits of Yoga for Children

These past 2 years have been a whirlwind. With the transition from in-person to virtual and back to in-person school, less opportunity for socialization, along with the uncertainty of what life will look like each day; it’s no surprise that we are seeing an increase in childhood stress and anxiety. So, what strategies can we provide to ease the stress our kids are facing today?

Yoga has been practiced for over 5,000 years, and the list of health benefits is extensive which includes improving flexibility, decreasing blood pressure, and improving digestion. But, yoga is also great for our mental health and can be used as a tool for your child to ease the stress and anxiety they are feeling.

Children who participate in a yoga practice have shown improvements in the areas of:

  • Stress reduction
  • Attention and concentration
  • Balance and coordination
  • Core and postural strengthening 
  • Body awareness
  • Motor planning
  • Fine motor skills
  • Self-regulation
  • Sensory integration

Improving these areas will have a positive impact on skills children need to participate in meaningful activities. Their overall regulation will be improved and they will be able to attend to their classes and assignments, navigate a playground with their peers, and independently manage their stress and anxiety. 

Looking for in-person classes? These local studios have got you covered and offer classes tailored specifically to kids of various ages! YouTube is also a great resource for fun yoga videos ranging from 2-45 minute long practices.

Questions or concerns?

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s stress and anxiety, please contact us at info@playworkschicago.com or 773-332-9439.

 

Cristina Brown, MOT, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

 

References:

Ezrin, S. (2021, December 14). 16 science-based benefits of yoga. Healthline. Retrieved January 16, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-benefits-of-yoga#TOC_TITLE_HDR_14 

Nanthakumar, C. (2018). The benefits of yoga in children. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 16(1), 14–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joim.2017.12.008 

Occupational Therapy Helping Children (2019, April 6). Yoga and occupational therapy. Occupational Therapy Helping Children. Retrieved January 16, 2022, from https://occupationaltherapy.com.au/yoga-occupational-therapy/ 

Photo Credit: Yan Krukov via pexels.com