Monday, August 4, 2008

Yoga For Kids




Yoga for kids is an excellent way for a child to exercise and has many other benefits for a child's health. Not every type of yoga can be used as yoga for children though. It must be taken into consideration that children's' bodies are still growing and cannot cope with the strenuous exercises of intense yoga sessions as it can affect both their bodies and minds.

There are, however, a number of programs created especially for children who utilize the more gentle poses and breathing exercises from a number of different types of yoga. Yoga classes for children can be a very rewarding activity as it can help self-conscious children become more aware of the things they can do.

How Can Yoga Benefit A Child?

Yoga for kids can benefit children in a large number of ways, by improving physical and general health, mental health and to helping to treat specific illnesses and conditions. The most common benefits of yoga for children are related to maintaining a healthy body and fighting illnesses. Children's yoga may not be suitable for your child if it suffers from physical illnesses or physical defects.
General Health
There are obvious benefits to be gained for a child through the physical exercise involved in yoga but the effects can be even greater. Easy yoga for children has shown to build stamina in those who practise it, aid stability and also improve general balance. It strengthens the child's muscles, elongates the spine and promotes good posture.Yoga has also shown to improve children's digestion and aid the elimination of toxins and aid circulation.

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Introduction to Yoga

Introduction Yoga' means not only contemplation but also communion and yoking all powers of the body, mind and soul to God. It is a very ancient and efficient system of disciplines and controls designed to produce the integration of the body, mind and spirit. It also achieves higher states of awareness and self-realization by methodical efforts to attain perfection. The therapeutic benefits obtained by performing the asanas are well known. The circulation of the blood is improved; tensions can be removed, and a feeling of well-being is induced. The muscles are strengthened, nerves soothed and physical endurance is increased. One important aspect is that blood vessels and nerves for the internal organs are "massaged" by the twists and bending, ensuring proper functioning. Ageing bodies can have fewer aches and pains, stiffening of joints can be healed and depression alleviated. 1. Hatha Yoga Concerned, primarily with the body and the asanas. 2. Bhakti Yoga Path of love and devotion. 3. Mantra Yoga Recitation and repetition of words and verses. 4. Karma Yoga Service through action and work. 5. Jnana Yoga The intellectual path. 6. Raja Yoga Synthesis of Bhakti, Karma and Janan. 7. Laya Yoga The secret path, the 'Yoga of Dissolution'. What is Yoga? Yoga is a philosophy brought down diligently through the ages. And, it has acquired more significance now because of the “stressed out” way of life that we live in this fast paced world filled with pressure, anxiety and energy consuming routine. In ancient times, the seven stages of yoga consisted of : 1. Eyama – Good deeds 2. Niyama – Stoping bad habits 3. Asanas – 4. Pranayama – Breathing 5. Pratikaharan – Special diet 6. Dharana / Dyanam – Concentration 7. Samadhi – Submitting oneself to die What we are trying to do here is not drill into your head that it is some kind of an exercise that has to be done. IT is certainly not so because it is just not some form of an exercise or some form of a routine that has to be rigidly followed. It is more of a philosophy and it has to become a part of yourself as much as eating, brushing your teeth, combing your hair or even breathing. And, once it pervades your system there is no way that any thing can take its place. It becomes so much of a second nature to you that you find it difficult to even imagine that how you had lived without it for so long. And this, is no exaggeration – it is the pure and simple truth itself. Yoga Reduces heart beat Charges energy leading to less food requirement Reduces tension Leads to calm and composure Exercise Enhances heart beat Discharges energy leading to increased food requirement Increases tension Gives went to aggression