Guest Author - Nancy Welker
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring.....except the young child anxiously awaiting Santa Claus!
With Christmas Eve being only a few days away, many parents will face the problem of how to get their young ones off to bed - and asleep - while they make preparations for the arrival of Santa at their house.
Speaking from experience, this is not an easy task, but there are Yoga postures your child can do that are calming and relaxing and can help to improve their sleep habits on Christmas Eve, and every other night of the year as well.
INTRODUCTION TO YOGA FOR CHILDREN
The popularity of Yoga is so great in the United States, that many parents want to start their children on the path to reduced stress and improved mental focus early in life by teaching Yoga to them. In fact, there are many elementary schools in the U.S. that offer Yoga classes to their students.
Outside of your local school though, Yoga classes for children may be difficult to find, however there are many books and videos available that give your child (and you as well) a good means of instruction.
Yoga can be especially helpful for children with hyperactivity issues, attention deficit problems and any other difficulties regarding concentration and patience. Regular practice can make a big difference in your child's ability to perform tasks without interruption. Improvement in schoolwork and classroom behavior are among the most important benefits.
PHYSICAL BENEFITS
Practicing Yoga can help a child develop a greater awareness of his or her body and what it can do. Children are by and large quite flexible, but that is not a guarantee your child will naturally achieve Yoga asanas without time and practice. Every child will start out a bit differently, but they can all increase strength, improve balance and coordination and enhance their overall health.
EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL BENEFITS
Yoga is a wonderful tool for stimulating creativity and imagination in your child's school and play activities. Practicing Yoga also teaches children to focus on what they're doing, and improves the attention span.
Your child will become more confident and self-aware, and this can help them make friends more easily and enjoy time spent with friends in a non-competitive way.
Moreover, Yoga can help relieve stress in children and help them to better manage negative feelings, anger and jealousy.
MAKE IT FUN!
Your child's attention span is not as long as your own, so in order to keep his/her attention you will need to find ways to make Yoga fun and interesting. It's best to approach Yoga as a kind of game to a child under the age of 6 as they will naturally take to the idea of Yoga being a new form of "play time".
Try this:
Have your child watch an animal, such as a cat, dog, lion or frog, and then encourage him/her to imitate the animal's movements. While the child is doing this, gently move the child's shoulders down or push in slightly on the back to make sure he/she has good posture and is maintaining the best form possible while mimicking the animals. Point out to them that in nature,"animals never slouch." (Which is very true!)
When you venture further into your child's Yoga practice, asanas such as the Cat Stretch, Downward-Facing Dog Pose, Lion Pose and Cobra Pose, will be a natural transition your child will enjoy and look forward to doing.
To make your animal-themed postures even more fun, add barking, meowing, roaring and hissing.
TIMING IT JUST RIGHT
Remember that a Yoga practice can only hold a child's attention for a limited amount of time. Here's a quick reference for timing based on age:
*15 to 20 minutes of practice for the preschooler
*20 to 30 minutes of practice for elementary age
*30 to 45 minutes of practice for preteens
Always include a short period of relaxation at the end of each practice. Also, keeping a regular schedule for Yoga teaches younger children to use a calendar, keep track of days and times and begin to learn something about time management as well.
Most of all, enjoy the time spent teaching your child Yoga. This can be pleasant time together that you continue to share throughout your life.
Links to Downward Facing Dog, Lion Pose and Cobra Pose are listed at the bottom.
Merry Christmas to all.......and to all a "good night"!
