Children's yoga as a daily balance: ideas and exercises for the whole family

Self-love, self-confidence, mindfulness – in yoga, these terms are given great importance, and society is increasingly extending this meaning to all areas of life . That is why yoga is more than just a workout or a sport. It is a philosophy and holistic technique for the body, psyche and emotions . It is never too early to expand your awareness of your own body and mind . That is why yoga is for everyone , children and adults, beginners to advanced. In this story, we will show you the possibilities that yoga offers as a balance and time out for the whole family . Read on for tips and exercises that will help you to surpass yourselves together, to calm down and simply to have fun. And best of all: you can implement many of the tips quickly and easily . So that you can start your journey into the world of yoga today or tomorrow.

Why Yoga for Children? The Key to Inner Peace and Body Control

Both (children's) yoga exercises and yoga principles are valuable for young and old. But why is the technique so suitable as a family activity and what exactly are the benefits of children's yoga ? In our fast-paced world, in which even the youngest children are often overwhelmed by stimuli , yoga offers a valuable balance. It is like a pause button in the chaos of everyday life that can help children to find themselves and use their energy in a targeted way.

A word about "fidgetiness" in children

Small children in particular sometimes have problems concentrating on one thing for long periods of time. And challenges like yoga, where you have to stay in one pose for a long time, can quickly become a test of patience . But that's no problem at all if you take it easy. You can "only" do three out of six exercises? After ten seconds of a yoga pose, do you need a break? Then that's just the way it is. When it comes to children's sports , it's always about ease , flexibility and having fun . Just like yoga. You'll see: if you can get your child excited about yoga gently and in a relaxed way, their concentration will increase - and their willingness to get more and more involved in it. And if yoga just isn't for your child (yet), there are countless other ways to do something for your body and mind together.

Yoga Magic: How Children Benefit from Regular Practice

Children's yoga is like a magic potion for body and mind. It not only promotes mobility and coordination , but also strengthens self-confidence and the ability to concentrate .

• Body awareness and control: Yoga poses help children develop a deeper understanding of their bodies. They learn how different body parts work together and how to precisely control movements.
• Dealing with stress and emotions: Breathing exercises and meditation techniques give children valuable tools to reduce stress and better regulate their emotions. This can help them stay calm and balanced in many everyday situations.
• Developing imagination and creativity: Many children's yoga exercises are based on stories or are inspired by animals. This stimulates the imagination and encourages children to be creative and come up with their own ideas
• Developing mindfulness and compassion: Yoga teaches children to be present in the moment and to pay attention to what is happening around them and within themselves. This not only promotes self-awareness, but also understanding and compassion for others.

Regular children's yoga can therefore contribute to holistic development : whether at home, at school or in the yoga studio - the positive effects of children's yoga can be noticeable in all areas of life and help children to go through life self-confident , balanced and mindful .

The perfect time: When can children start doing yoga?

It's never too early for children's yoga! Even babies can benefit from gentle stretching exercises and massages. From the crawling age, toddlers can imitate their first yoga poses such as the "mountain" or the "cat". The ideal start for structured children's yoga exercises is usually between 3 and 5 years, when children are better able to follow instructions .

Family Yoga: Growing, Laughing and Relaxing Together

Yoga exercises with children are a wonderful way to spend quality time as a family . First wobbly attempts and laughing at funny poses strengthen your bond and promote communication.

Parents as Yoga Role Models: How to Inspire Children

Children learn best through imitation . If you, as a parent, practice yoga regularly, you will quickly notice how curious the little ones become. Here are a few tips on how to get your child excited about yoga:

Make it fun : Turn yoga poses into an adventure

• Be patient : every child has his or her own pace
• Praise effort , not perfection
• Let your child be a teacher too

By doing yoga together, you not only strengthen family cohesion , but also promote a positive attitude towards exercise and mindfulness . Your own enthusiasm is particularly important: when children see that their parents enjoy yoga, they will often want to share this joy .

Creating yoga rooms: creating a child-friendly atmosphere at home

You don't need a yoga studio or an expensive course to practice with your child. Here's how you can create an inviting yoga corner :

• Lay out soft mats or blankets
• Provide pillows and cuddly toys as "yoga buddies"
• Play soft music in the background
• Hang up children's yoga cards or pictures with poses

A cozy area in the living room or children's room is completely sufficient for this.

Creative ideas: Integrating (children's) yoga into everyday family life

Yoga originated in ancient India around 5000 years ago. That is why many yoga terms and poses still have Sanskrit names (from the ancient language of India): “ Namaste”, for example, is a respectful greeting that means something like “I bow to you”; “ Chakra” stands for energy centers in the body and the term “ Asana ” stands for body position or pose . Many Asanas are derived from the natural movements and postures of animals . One of the main reasons why yoga is ideal for children and can be practiced in a wonderfully playful way . Very quick, very easy!

Children's yoga exercises for at home and everywhere: Asanas for young and old

From individual yoga flows to interactive stories to partner exercises – there are various approaches to get you excited about children's yoga. And you're guaranteed to find versions that you 'll all enjoy .

• Animal yoga . Turn your living room into a yoga zoo! Children love to imitate animals.
• Downward-facing dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana): The body forms an inverted V. Arms and legs stretched, head between the upper arms.
• The Cobra (Bhujangasana): Lie on your stomach, palms next to your chest. Raise your upper body, arms slightly bent. Open your chest, look forward or slightly upward.
• The Butterfly (Baddha Konasana): Sitting, bring the soles of your feet together, knees fall to the side. Straighten your spine, hands grasp your feet or rest on your knees.
• The cat-cow pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana): All fours. Cat: round your back, chin to your chest. Cow: lower your stomach, raise your chest, look up. Switch smoothly between the two positions.
• Tell a story and incorporate various children's yoga poses. For example: "We are going on an adventure through the jungle." First we stand strong like a tree (Vrksasana). Oh, there comes a monkey (Hanumanasana)! Now we have to cross a river, let's make the bridge (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)..."
• Partner exercises – strengthen family ties through shared poses: children’s yoga in pairs is twice as much fun!
• Double boat: Sit opposite each other and hold hands, lift your feet.
• Back to back: Sit back to back and stand up together.
• Partner tree: Stand next to each other and hold hands while balancing on one leg.

There are also numerous types of yoga with different focuses . Well-known examples include “ Hatha Yoga ”, which combines breathing with powerful asanas; “ Vinyasa Yoga ”, which is characterized by flowing transitions and creative asanas; or “ Yin Yoga ”, which focuses on slow, meditative exercises . On the Internet you can find great instructions , posters or videos about the types of yoga, other stories and asanas that will help you with your yoga balance.

Children's yoga for beginners and advanced

The beauty of the many ways and possibilities of doing yoga is that there are no limits . Adapt the asanas to your ability, develop your own children's yoga themes or family yoga ideas and flows (like Vinyasa Yoga - a sequence of movements) and get inspiration from everywhere .

• Making yoga cards - A DIY project for the whole family: Design your own children's yoga cards! Draw or stick pictures of different yoga poses on index cards. You can then pull these out and copy them - a wonderful project for rainy days.
• Yoga challenges for more motivation: Start a family yoga challenge! Who can learn a new (children's) yoga pose every day for 30 days? Or who can stand in a tree the longest? Make it fun and reward each other for your progress.
• YouTube channels and apps - the best instructions for children's yoga: There are countless online resources for family yoga. Watch videos together and join in. Some apps also offer child-friendly instructions.
• Virtual (children's) yoga courses : Many yoga studios now offer online courses for family yoga. You can often take part in these from the comfort of your own home.

Children's yoga is a wonderful way to introduce children to movement , relaxation and mindfulness in a playful way. But it can sometimes be a little challenging , especially when the little yogis are full of energy! So that you can radiate calm and strength yourself, our products offer you quick energy and motivation . Like our Minis , for example, with quick carbohydrates. Or our Energy Gums* for sporty yogis. And of course our Focus Gummies° for adults, as the perfect support for focusing during your yoga sessions.

Promoting Concentration: Meditative Yoga Exercises with Children

Yoga is not just physical exercise. It also offers valuable techniques to help you relax and improve your concentration .

• Breathing games – using the breath as an anchor: With breathing exercises, children can learn to calm down and focus.
• • Bee humming: Hums like a bee when exhaling
  • Flower scent: Imagine smelling a flower (inhale) and blowing on it (exhale)
  • Belly balloon: Place your hands on your stomach and feel it rise and fall as you breathe
• Mini meditations – short breaks in everyday family life : Children can also benefit from short meditations.
• • Singing bowl meditation: Let a singing bowl sound and listen until the sound has faded away
  • Body journey: Directs attention to different parts of the body one after the other
  • Gratitude ritual: Before going to bed, name three things you are grateful for

Quintessence: (Children's) Yoga as a way to a relaxed and active family

Children's yoga offers a wonderful opportunity to grow together as a family and at the same time do something for the body and mind. It not only promotes physical fitness, but also emotional intelligence , the ability to concentrate and creativity . Whether you practice daily or just have an occasional yoga session - every minute you spend together on the mat is valuable. Let yourself be inspired by the many possibilities and find your very own yoga path as a family . Remember: It's not about perfection , but about having fun experiencing things together. So roll out your mats, take a deep breath and let the yoga adventure begin! Namaste, little and big yogis!

 

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