Our children seem to be expected to learn at higher standards every year. They are involved in activities in and after school which makes them seem to always be on the go. Now experts are looking at ways to teach our children how to settle down from their active life routines and bring the focus back to learning while in the classroom. Yoga can help develop many strong qualities in our children and give them the tools they will need to have a successful future. Yoga teacher training is developing ways to benefit our children.

Benefits for Children

Besides the basic and obvious benefit exercising brings to the body, yoga can sharpen our children’s minds and give them the ability to focus, build self-confidence, and develop a sense of self discipline. Yoga teaching with our children on a regular practice will help them become more aware of themselves and listen to what their bodies say. Through this type of awareness, change and growth can be seen in positive ways.

Yoga teacher training now takes focus on how to bring yoga into our schools or geared toward the shorter attention span of younger students. A yoga teacher can make a difference and help a student through self-discovery before they are directed by what society expects from them. At this point and age a child’s approach to life is unique and through yoga they are encouraged to use their creativity and explore. They are guided to free their anger, fears, and sadness and to trust in their inner self. This allows them to shine and for their heart and minds to be in sync.

Through yoga teacher training many instructors are realizing that through yoga you are providing the tools of awareness and that children express this awareness so clearly and with their own level of wisdom that they earn their own level of respect. Children have turned the tables many times on their own teachers to where they have become the teachers themselves.

What to expect during a children’s yoga class

Yoga teacher training will bring the age of the student into account and make the poses modified if necessary while keeping the attention spans of their young students on task. Teaching young children they can flex their spines while practicing cat or cow poses while mooing or even meowing through the pose. While stretching into a cobra pose there could possibly be hissing added into the stretch; while balancing on their bottoms and holding their legs up into a lotus flower pose or being completely focused as a fierce warrior while practicing an archer pose. Students can bring their imagination into the practice and connect with each pose based on how their imaginations take them away.

Active yoga sessions are always followed with a deep relaxation where the students lay on their back with their arms and legs stretch out long and relaxed. With children yoga certification may give you ideas to bring the students awareness to visualize lying on a warm, sandy beach and as the waves came in and went out so did their breathing. This can guide them into such a state of relaxation that their minds and bodies connect in such a way that they are more relaxed then if they were sleeping. This is the start of their learning yoga and meditation. This type of yoga teaching provides an inner experience of yoga they can keep with them into the future.

How to create time and space for yoga in your child’s life

There are so many resources today that provide ideas on how to incorporate yoga into your daily routine. Books, videos, classes that can give you simple directions even for those that are new to the idea. Here are some tips on how to add yoga into the family routine:

• Add it to the schedule- make sure that you make a special time of day be time for yoga. It can be in the morning or evening always followed by some deep relaxation.
• Special Spot-make a yoga spot that you use each time you practice yoga and a calming space for deep relaxation and meditation.
• Quiet time-close your eyes and taking deep breaths. Either out loud or mentally finds the inner guide and connects it to your outer guide.
• Time it-depending on the age of your children will be the time you can put aside to practice yoga. The younger the child the shorter the time that they will be still. You can add more time as they get older or the more you practice. Each child is different and will adapt to yoga differently. You will be able to recognize the timing and adapt as needed.
• Keep it FUN! You need to be able to mix the poses with interesting and creative exercises. Challenge poses with a timer. Find your intuition and light-hearted humor and make it fun.

Yoga teacher training focuses on bringing yoga and the benefits it provides to all shapes, sizes, and ages. Look for classes that offer child yoga and get ready for fun and creative play while bringing healthy benefits to your body.