Benefits of Yoga for the Physical and Mind of Children
According to Tina Maladi, the founder of Kids Yoga Jakarta, there are many benefits of yoga for children, including helping them improve concentration and focus and providing a means for children to relieve stress. Yoga can also increase body awareness in children through introduction to body anatomy and increase self-confidence. Yoga helps children physically and in mind.
For the physical, yoga for children provides more or less the same benefits as adults, including:
• Increases muscle strength, makes the body strong, supple, and relaxed.
• Balances hormonal production and improves blood circulation, thereby promoting overall health and boosting the immune system.
• Manages the spine and central nervous system and improves body coordination.
• Deepens the breath, thereby increasing oxygen intake which will improve the performance of the body’s organs, as well as increase concentration and peace of mind.
As for mental and mental health, yoga for children is useful for:
• Gives the sensation of feeling good, increases self-respect and the ability to express itself so as to optimize the interests and talents of a child.
• Sharpen children’s imagination and empathy. Doing quite a lot of yoga poses using the names of animals, plants, and other natural objects, while imagining the real thing, will make their imagination develop.
• Train children to have self-discipline, as seen in the way of practicing yoga. Yoga practice ‘demands’ that every move be meticulous and careful, holding several poses, and engaging in proper breathing techniques.
• Build communication and closeness among family members. Yoga exercises that are done together, mother – child – even grandmother, can be a good chat or discussion.
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