The practice of yoga stimulates concentration and helps the child manage his emotions. From what age can we start? What are its benefits? Zoom on this well-being trend adapted to the youngest.
THE yoga is a relaxation activity that suits all children from 3 years oldespecially those who present attention disturbances and anxiety, as well as those who have difficulty falling asleep. However, if your child is not particularly of interest to practice yoga, no need to force it! An extracurricular activity Participates in the personal development of the child, it is therefore necessary to ensure that the latter best meets his desires. If he feels obliged, the activity will not have the expected benefits and the child will quickly feel demotivated.
Yoga for children: What are the benefits?
Beyond the appeasement it provides, Yoga allows the child to improve his concentration, his attention and channel his energy. Thanks to the anti-stress virtues of this activity, the child has more confidence in him and learns to manage his emotions. It is also an opportunity for your child to discover his body, feel it and listen to it. Through the realization of several postures, the child improves his breathing and flexibility, which limits possible back problems. In addition, yoga is an activity without competition, The child will therefore not be afraid of failure. On the contrary, everyone goes at their own pace and performs the postures that like them. Finally, unlike meditation or sophrology that is also very popular in children, yoga allows you to spend to relax: at the end of the session, the child was both lets off and relaxed.
More fun than adult courses, these workshops are suitable for young audiences, are shorter and last a maximum of 45 minutes. Each session begins with a moment of relaxation on a background of soft music: this calm period will allow the child to refocus on himself. Then, the child learns to make simple, colorful and declined postures according to the ages, such as those of animals (the posture of the cat, the dog head down or the snail, etc.) or plants (the posture of the small plant that grows or fir) which are then carried out in a spirit of play and creativity. Through games of cards and small playful exercises, the child discovers the importance of breathing, works his breath and his respiratory rhythm, learns to inspire and expire correctly, namely by the belly. The yoga session ends with a moment of relaxation and relaxation on the ground. The little ones (3-4 years old) are rather in the discovery of the movement: we call upon their imagination by telling them a story that will lead them to mimic the steps of a wolf, the jumps of a frog or even the radiance of a cat. In addition, from 13 years old, the sessions can be the same as those offered to adults, but are rather focused on esteem and self -confidence or around the theme of change and transformation. On the material side, the child must come and dressed with a sport tracksuit or leggings, suitable for the movements linked to the different postures. It will be barefoot or in non-slip socks to awaken the sensations as much as possible. It will be necessary to invest in a mattress for ground exercises and in a blanket for the end of the session.
| Family yoga. Certain yoga courses propose to participate in yoga sessions for two (parent and child), which allows on the one hand to share a moment of complicity with their small then, on the other hand, to perform exercises for two, which strengthen benevolence and listening to the other. |
Little Yogi’s books
These readings around yoga can accompany the child in his initiation. They illustrate with pretty drawings the different postures and allow you to better understand your body, your breathing and relaxation, through small stories, games or practical sheets. Here is our selection.
- Easy Yoga for childrenby Jacques Choque and Isabelle Bruno by Editions Hachette Famille
- Children’s yoga, Practice while having fun, relaxing easily, Adeline Blondieau, Le Courrier du Livre Éditions
- Yoga tale: clever like a monkey,, From Thérèse Dufour to Editions Hatier
- Yoga for little ones,, From Christine Engel to Editions L’Inountevu
- Yoga is for me,, from Rebecca Rissman to Editions Bayard
Where to find a children’s yoga school?
There are yoga courses and workshops adapted to all ages throughout France. Some Pilates or Dance schools offer playful yoga lessons for children from 6 years old (Chaps or Sankalpaji in Paris, Yoga Bikram in Bordeaux, Yogalite in Lille, Casa Bambini in Toulouse, etc.) and toddlers from 3 to 6 years old (Priti Yoga in Lyon, Tigre Yoga in Paris). La Luciole Yoyo, Casa Yoga in Paris or Nava Yoga in Nantes offer lessons for families and mothers/children. Finally, yoga lessons given by the Yogamini association take place throughout the year in certain Parisian museums. The Guimet Museum, the Louvre Museum, and the Center Pompidou open their doors and invite young and old to practice yoga postures in a fun way and to discover, after the session, their works and collections (dates of workshops and information on www.yogamini.fr).
