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Like us, youngsters also need to meet their daily physical activity requirements, and yoga is a fun and easy workout for kids of all ages. So, if you are looking for easy yoga poses for kids to encourage your little one to build strength, you are in the right place. This article will take you through the 18 best yoga asanas for kids to try this summer and help them improve their self-confidence, and teach them mindfulness.
With so many diversions, temptations, excitement, overstimulation, and peer pressure, being a kid today is difficult. However, yoga is an effective technique that can relax and benefit them in numerous ways. Yoga poses for kids provide life skills like focus, relaxation and self-awareness to help them succeed.
Most importantly, yoga is naturally meditative and exudes a peaceful, soothing quality regardless of whether a child holds a balanced stance, sits in meditation, or moves through poses. Hence, through easy yoga poses for kids, your little one will learn to recognise their strength and be able to carry it out into the world.
Yoga was once thought to be a spiritual practice aimed at bringing mental and physical tranquillity, but in today's fast-paced world, it is considered an art and science of living a healthy lifestyle.
In simple words, yogasan for kids is a type of exercise in which children move their bodies into various poses to become more fit or flexible, improve their breathing, raise their attention span, and develop a connection between their body and their soul.
Furthermore, yoga is a set of physical postures called asanas that has its roots in Hindu philosophy from India. Moreover, from the Sanskrit term "Yuj", yoga refers to the "union" of the soul with God. Kids yoga poses incorporate physical exercises, mental meditation, and breathing techniques to improve muscles and ease tension in children.
Moreover, yoga poses for kids aim to improve strength, flexibility, and coordination. Most importantly, children's yoga poses are not meant to be like typical "working out" but should be fun and thought of as "exercise play" instead.
If you want to get your little one interested in yoga, you may indulge your little one in animal yoga poses. There is a range of animal yogasan for kids that they may do on their own but here are the 7 easiest and most beneficial ones for your kiddo:
The Cat Pose has to rank #1 when talking about easy yoga asanas for kids. This gentle back and core kneading pose relaxes and extends the spine, neck, torso, and abdominal organs.
Knees and hands should be on the ground, with your hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Looking down, arch your belly. Relax your muscles and slide into cow posture for a gentle yoga flow.
Since kids get to flap their knees up and down like wings, the Butterfly Pose is quite popular among children. This pose is especially good if you want to enhance the bond between you and your child and also helps slow down anxiety and increase focus. By getting your kid to sit with their feet flat together and their legs out to the side, you can ask your little yogi to tell you a story or simply pretend to fly.
Sitting on the floor, bring your feet together and bend your legs so that the soles of your feet meet. Place your hands at your heart and slowly raise and lower your knees.
The Cow Pose is something that most kids have naturally done a hundred times and young ones who love animals are a true fan of this pose. This pose provides a calming stretch, strengthens the back and core and can also assist to improve posture and ease back and neck pain.
Get down on your hands and knees and look at the ceiling while dipping your belly towards the ground.
The Cobra pose is another fun and simple yoga for kids that delivers a terrific stretch while fostering a strong back, abs, and strength. The benefits of this position are linked to strengthening the spine, activating the abdominal organs, managing respiratory issues such as asthma and reducing fatigue and tension.
Lie down on your stomach and stretch out your legs behind you. Place your hands on the floor beside your shoulders and gradually lift your head, chest, and shoulders off the floor with your arms. Continue until your arms are completely straight.
Downward Dog Pose is probably one of the easiest yoga poses for kids, and many of them may have done it naturally as it gives them the thrill of experiencing an upside-down view. This is a standing yoga pose in which the child stretches their entire body on all fours, bending the lower body while strengthening the upper body. The position also enhances blood circulation and promotes blood flow.
Place your hands in front of you and walk backwards with your feet until you form a triangle. Look down at your legs while keeping your head between your arms.
Frog pose is another easy and most exciting yoga asanas for kids that focuses on stretching the hips, thighs, and spine. The pose has numerous health benefits such as relieving sprains or back issues, promoting relaxation and improving coordination.
Stand straight with your legs a few inches apart and your knees bent down. Now, place your palms directly beneath your shoulders, between your feet and make sure the fingers are facing forward.
Move the knees outwards to the sides slowly. Then, align the ankles and feet with the knees straight. Begin sliding downwards with your palms flat against the floor. Exhale and continue pressing the hips backwards until you feel a stretch.
The Jellyfish Pose is another easy and fun yogasan for kids that helps with stress relief and digestion. It also strengthens the thighs and knees while stretching out the back of the body.
While lying on your back, lift your arms and legs and gently sway them.
If your child has never tried yoga before, it might feel intimidating, and they may be concerned about not being flexible enough or appearing silly. So, here are some easy yoga poses for kids that your kid should try:
If you are looking for simple yoga for kids, the Mountain Pose (or Tadasana) is a soothing fundamental pose that improves posture and strengthens the thighs, legs, and ankles.
Stand straight with your feet hip-width apart, maintaining the position and extending your arms to the ceiling, meeting your palms together above your head.
The Bridge Pose is a therapeutic back-bending yoga pose that is great for increasing spine flexibility in kids. This is one of the easiest kids' yoga poses that opens the heart and helps strengthen the legs and hips.
Lie down on your back and rest your arms beside your body, palms down. Bend your knees slightly and keep your feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart, with your knees and ankles in a straight line. Lift your lower, middle, and upper back off the floor with a deep inhale. Balance your body so that your arms, shoulders, and feet can support your weight.
The Bow Pose is one of those easy yoga poses for kids for good posture that also strengthens the back and helps stretch your child’s tight hips and hamstrings. By expanding your child's chest, this kid-friendly backbend also helps open their heart, stay grounded and calm the mind.
Lie down on your stomach with your arms stretched out to the sides of your body and your head softly resting on the mat. Grab both ankles with both hands. While facing straight ahead, lift the shoulders, chest, legs, and hips off the floor.
The Corpse Pose is one of the best children's yoga poses as it boosts productivity, memory, and concentration in kids. Moreover, it helps to alleviate insomnia, anxiety, and exhaustion.
Lay flat on the floor, with your face up, upper inner arms away from the trunk and legs straight out on the floor. Tuck the shoulder blades in slightly to give the chest a lift.
If your kid has mastered the basics of yoga, they may be ready to go on to something more difficult. Hence, here are two advanced yoga poses for kids.
While strengthening the core muscles, the Boat Pose is one of the best kids' yoga poses that helps them de-stress and rejuvenate. If your child has frequent digestive troubles, this pose will also relieve constipation and other digestive issues.
Sit down, lean back slightly, stretch your arms straight out and elevate your legs while keeping your belly tight. Keep your body in a v-shape and stay balanced.
The Happy Baby Pose is a soothing pose that can help your child relax while stretching their body very well. If you're wondering why this pose is termed "happy baby", the reason is that because your child resembles a baby resting on their back when in this position.
Hug your knees against your chest while lying on your back. With both hands, grab the outer half of your feet and rock like a pleased baby.
Standing yoga poses are a great way to stretch, develop stability and alignment and improve balance. Hence, here are the two best standing yoga poses for your little one to try.
Tree Pose teaches your child the grace of a tree, as well as how to stand tall and keep their balance. It also improves balance and concentration while stretching the legs and chest.
Bend the opposite knee and lay the sole of your foot on your inner ankle or thigh while standing on one leg (never on your knee).
The Chair Pose is one of the most beneficial yoga asanas for children because it efficiently enhances their health. It strengthens the thighs and ankles, tones the shoulders, hips, and spine, and balances the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
Take a deep breath and raise your arms above your head. Exhale and bend the knees forward until the thighs are parallel to the floor. Lift and extend your arms straight while maintaining your tailbone down and your lower back long.
If you want to begin with simple yoga for kids to help your child adapt to any level of strength, learn to sit in stable positions for long and make their bones stronger, here are three yoga asanas for kids you need to know:
As specified by the name, Sukhasana or the "Easy Sitting Pose" is one of the most basic yogasan for kids to do. This pose stretches the knees and ankles while strengthening the back. Many children call this hip-opening pose "crisscross applesauce" since it includes sitting up straight with legs crossed in a comfortable, seated position.
Sit in a cross-legged position with your buttocks touching the floor, your feet directly below your knees and your hands clasped in front of your heart.
The Hero Pose is great for calming children as it creates a grounded feeling of stability but is equally beneficial for your child's tired legs as it stretches the spine, quadriceps, and shoulders.
Sit with your knees together and your feet hip-width apart, palms facing up, and your hands on your knees. Straighten your spine and drop your shoulders down and back a little.
Most children enjoy the Lion Pose as it helps them relax and relieve stress, anger, and anxiety. By imitating a lion and roaring, kids attain more benefits from this pose such as regulating the function of the tonsils and the immune system.
Sit back on your heels with your hands pressed against them and your fingers spread out like claws. Inhale deeply through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth. Open your mouth wide, push your tongue to your chin, and roar!
If you still have questions about teaching easy yoga asanas for kids, here are our answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
Surya Namaskar is an effective yoga series that is sure to help your youngsters in several ways. Here is a quick rundown of the steps of Surya Namaskar for kids:
Children aged 4 and above can begin practising Yoga. However, you must make certain that you only teach easy yoga poses for kids in the beginning.
If you are looking for easy and effective yoga asanas for kids, here are some of the best children's yoga poses you can try:
Kids are super easy to teach yoga as they are full of energy. However, to make it fun and easy for them, you should plan the asanas in such a way that there is a balance between quick and slow poses as well as breathing exercises. Also, repetition can bore children at this age, so keep the activities diverse. Most importantly, practise with them regularly to make it easy for them.
The advantages of yoga asanas for kids are countless, particularly for children with hyperactivity and attention problems. There are several easy yoga asanas for kids that you can easily integrate into your tiny tot’s life.
Because most of the easy yoga poses for kids have names that imitate animals and other aspects of nature, your little yogi will easily relate to them as they are performed and will practice them regularly until adulthood. Moreover, no matter how children do yoga, they must find it enjoyable and simple.
Easy yoga poses for kids include cat pose, cobra pose, mountain pose, bow pose, corpse pose and bridge pose. Always aim to begin with easy yoga asanas for kids and make it fun for them. You can start with animal poses like cat-cow and ensure consistency in their practice.
So, while teaching kids yoga poses to your child, concentrate on the movement and how to make it engaging for them at first. Work on incorporating breathing and meditation once you've piqued their attention.
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