Question
What are the benefits of yoga for children?
Answer
A 2003 California State University study showed that yoga improves students' behavior, academic performance, and physical health. We're going to discuss four different areas of benefits for children. The physical benefits are that yoga improves body awareness and physical confidence and encourages circulation and cardiovascular health. Social-emotional benefits are that yoga increases self-esteem and helps develop
self-control.
Cognitive benefits include increased attention span and focus. In addition, it's a playful way for children to relax in an increasingly stress-filled world. Language benefits are that yoga supports early literacy skills and learning new words. Language development is also increased through kinesthetic learning, which is often achieved by attaching movement to a book.
Jensen and Kenny (2004) stated, "Children with ADHD who practice yoga are much more likely to remain focused and are less hyperactive, which in turn reduced the amount of emotional outbursts and their oppositional behavior."
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course Imagination Yoga - Inspiring Kids to Move, in partnership with Region 9 Head Start Association, presented by presenter name, Jamie Dix, BS.
