Yoga for Children - A Need in Today’s Digital Age
How often have you found your child glued to multiple digital screens and felt helpless about it? Are you concerned about your child’s health, mind and future? After all, temper tantrums, reduced attention span, lethargy, poor memory, decreased immunity, obesity and junk food cravings are all on the rise these days.If children continue to be unhappy despite getting everything delivered at lightning speed, it will affect their patience (mind) and blood circulation (blood pressure). A non-content attitude will deviate their focus on unimportant things, making them uncompetitive, physically slower and argumentative, with less appreciation for the environment. So, let us combat this threat together before it spoils our future generations. It is important to decode the principles of our ancestral science of movement and calmness, Yoga, on the human body and mind. Acknowledging the environment, our children should be able to harness the power of the Sun and accept the calmness of the moon by performing Suryanamaskars on waking up and Chandranamaskars at dusk.
Both the salutations are a comprehensive and fun workout for children, comprising of eight powerful postures incorporating breath control, postural movements and meditation. Though elementary, they are an effective form of Yoga for children and can be modified through different intensity levels to get the desired rewards. Children of eight years and above should do the Namaskar series once a day; first slow with about 3-5 repetitions to improve mental skills, and then fast around 10-15 repetitions to improve cardio fitness. The benefits of Namaskars for children are many, among them are a digital detox, reducing digital obsession, improving imagination and creativity. Secondly, they calm the nervous system and increase patience, self-awareness, confidence and help overcome stage fright. Done regularly, they also imbibe qualities of humility and respect, at a very young age. They also optimise the metabolism and improve immunity and strength. Last but not least, yoga teaches children to love and embrace themselves, fostering their self-esteem.
Benefits of children practising yoga: Improves Memory and Attention SpanPractising yoga encourages children to have a clearer mind and focus on their academic performance and extra-curricular activities. Yoga is also beneficial for children suffering from special disorders like ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) by reducing some of its core symptoms like hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattentiveness.
Healthy eating habit is developed in kidsYoga helps in developing healthy eating habits in children which helps in maintaining calm and focused mind-set.
Yoga teaches self- acceptance and builds confidenceYoga allows children to learn and move at their own pace in mastering new poses which helps in building confidence by creating a flow between their body and mind. An added advantage by learning yoga at a young age is incredibly valuable lessons helping to a fight the increasing feelings of self- doubt that a child faces during their teenage and beyond.
Improves balanceSystemic breathing and exercise are an integral part of yoga and balancing both are very essential to achieve its benefits. By practising this from a young age child becomes more aware of the human system and its functions and also the significance of balancing life through yoga.
Yoga enhances immunityChildren often fall sick due to the lack of immunity in their body. Yoga helps in overcoming it by stimulating the nerves, endocrine, digestive and circulatory systems which enhances their functioning. Some asanas and deep breathing techniques assist in safeguarding one from falling prey to germs causing diseases. In today’s world, we hear so much about being the best and accomplishing the most. Yoga teaches children that their bodies are different; different bodies do different things and that all of them are perfect. As Swami SatyanandaSaraswati says: “The destiny of the whole world depends on little children. If you want to see the silver lining on the horizon it is not you and me, but children who have to be spiritualised.”