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[T99]Teaching Yoga To Children

by Matthew Hick, Mat

If you thought yoga was just for adults, you need to think again. Nowadays, yoga is greatly popular among all ages ' especially with kids. Practicing yoga actually enables children to develop a fitness program and a way of healthy living. Yoga can give children these tools at a young age ' allowing them to start out the right way.

Why would children need yoga? Consider the obesity problem existing with children today. Weight problems will result in health problems. It's a great idea to have a physical activity for kids that will exercise and entertain. Also, it will relieve stress or tension in their lives caused by school, peer pressures, competitive sports and busy lives. Yoga is a healthy way for a child to deal with difficult situations and resolve them.

You may not have thought you would see children in yoga classes, but many yoga followers are beginning to see if yoga makes them feel good, then why not let it make their children feel good also. The yoga classes a parent attends might offer a 'mommy and me' class, or you can just practice it at home with your children. Children love to mimic and they will love to try to get into the different positions you assume. Children's yoga may differ from adult yoga in that dogma and spirituality aren't stressed. Children's yoga will revolve around storytelling, repetition, counting, problem solving, dancing and movements. It will keep the child's attention and keep them interested in it.

The physical benefits of yoga for kids are obvious. They will develop greater flexibility, strength, good posture and coordination. The mental benefits would include concentration, relaxation and calmness. But the benefits do not end here. Studies have shown that students taking yoga have fewer disciplinary problems, higher grades and are more physically fit. It is a noncompetitive form of exercise that can and will build confidence.

If these are not enough benefits to convince you, yoga is also very valuable for children with special needs. Many physicians today even recommend yoga for special needs children. It can help children with Downs Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Attention Deficit Disorder and Autism. These children need an outlet for their energy. This is a perfect outlet. They can refine their motor skills, learn to articulate better, develop improved eye contact and social skills, as well as, strengthen and tone their bodies. If the child has physical limitations, poses can be altered to use only certain portions of their bodies.

Yoga is gaining momentum in the world today and rightly so. It is for everyone, even kids. Whether you are young or old, whether you have special needs or physical limitations, it can be tailored for the individual to get the best results possible for them. Kids and yoga seem like a natural match. It can be therapeutic for those who need it. Kids can develop healthy bodies at an early age and also healthy habits. This is something they can keep with them for the rest of their lives.

The third ingredient is to take action. The difference between a dream and a goal is how much action is propelling the idea forward. If I visualize becoming a Yoga teacher without any action, then this is just a ?pipe dream.? You would be better off to dream in your sleep and take action while you are awake.

Look around you and you will see most people do not make any significant changes or take positive action. If you want to teach Yoga, this is to your advantage. Why do I say this? So many people passionately talk and dream without action. Even after you become a Yoga teacher, you must still take action, but many people ?rest on their laurels.? A few Yoga teachers skip their continuing education, become stale, and eventually quit.

How can this happen? Because Yoga teachers and everyone else should write down goals, make plans, and keep taking action. This is not that difficult, but sitting down and dreaming is easier. The biggest difference between those who think about becoming a Yoga teacher and those who become a Yoga teacher is action. Determination and perseverance do count against all the odds.

The last ingredient toward successfully teaching Yoga is to maintain your own personal practice and continue your education on Yogic subjects as they apply to your students. Learn more about safety, anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, sports medicine, modifications, props, and physical therapy. Network with medical professionals and you will learn more. Learn about Yogic philosophy for yourself and for those Yoga students who are eager to learn from you.

This is what I refer to as the ?monitoring stage.? You cannot expect your ability to improve as a Yoga teacher to run on ?auto-pilot.? You still have to write down and reach for goals.

Again, perseverance comes into play. For every Yoga teacher I know, perseverance has become a way of life. This is the way it must be in an ever-changing and fast paced world. Your dreams may not go according to plan bur perseverance is your private mental strength. When you teach Yoga classes, you must address the needs of your students and this causes self-improvement.

The rewards for Yoga teachers are many, but giving Yoga instruction requires determination. You will run into obstacles, like any other profession, but how do you want to be remembered? Think about this: Every person you help will help someone else. You are causing a positive chain reaction by teaching Yoga classes at a time when positive energy is in big demand.

As a Yoga teacher, you have the potential to do enormous good, but you must focus your attention on your faithful Yoga students, your family, and friends. It is normal to take people we are familiar with for granted, but you must persevere to appreciate what you already have.

? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Article Source : Pg. 22

About Author

Both Matthew Hick & Paul M. Jerard Jr. are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Matthew Hick has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mobile Phone Reviews, Balanced Diet and Coffee Advantages. More Articles at for over 5 years.. Matthew Hick's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.

Paul M. Jerard Jr. has sinced written about articles on various topics from Leadership, Yoga Practice and Anger Control. Paul Jerard is director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He's a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches that along with fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students who want to be a teacher.. Paul M. Jerard Jr.'s top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.