Yoga is a daily activity at Dreams, occuring after lunch and before rest or quiet time. Feel free to have a look at the video below to see our yoga in practice:
What is Yoga?
Yoga is one form of practice which includes breath control and specific body postures (asanas), that provides a range of physical, spiritual and mental relaxation. It teaches children to be calm, while gaining awareness of their bodies, self control and discipline.
Benefits Of Yoga for Children
When children practice yoga it increases their confidence, builds concentration and strengthens growing bodies. For children with behavioural issues, yoga can support their impulses in a positive direction and provides them with an outlet as a way to manage their behaviour.
Physical Benefits Of Yoga
Develops the right balance of muscle tone and strength throughout the body to support the joints.
Builds core strength for good posture and overall physical fitness.
Encourages the retention of calcium to help build strong bones through weight-bearing postures.
Supports and strengthens the immune system by reducing stress and stimulating the lymph system (the body’s highway of white blood cells which fight viruses and infections).
Improves balance, alignment and coordination with practice of postures.
Develops a positive image of their body and an awareness of how to look after it.
Balances energy levels and calms the nervous system with twists that stimulate the spinal cord and regular practice of relaxation
Develops sensory awareness – children learn to notice what’s going on in their body and mind while they’re in postures.
Yoga can accommodate all body shapes and sizes and is not competitive, so it’s a good form of exercise for non-sporty children too.
Keeps the heart and respiratory system fit and strong, encouraging better circulation by getting the heart pumping and using more of the space in the lungs with deeper breathing.
Improves the digestive system with yoga asanas that get things moving in the gut and by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system during relaxation, triggering important acids in the stomach to be released for breaking down food.
Reduces risk of injury in sports and games with better overall fitness and coordination gained through yoga practice and better flexibility in the joints.
Social, Emotional and Cognitive Benefits
Increases attention span and improves concentration
More oxygen circulates in the body and brain during yoga practice and breathing exercises, improving memory retention and learning ability.
Supports feelings of anxiety and stress, incorporating relaxation and breathing techniques into daily life.
Improves relationships and social awareness through group and partner work.
Encourages healthy sleep patterns with the practice of relaxing the body and lengthening the breath.
Increases confidence when interacting with peers.
It is fun!
Yoga teaches how the body and mind are inter-connected. When children are engaged, focused, having fun, while practicing yoga, they are in the present moment. This self-awareness of both body and mind supports their involvement in day-to-day situations.
It also teaches children that we are all the same inside, despite our outward appearance, culture, and religion. We all have bodies that function, hearts that love, and feelings that feel. Yoga inspires children to be kind, patient, accepting, and emphatic with themselves and their peers.