MOVEMENT
Kids Yoga
A range of children's yoga instructions for a fun and calming afternoon break.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Yoga exercises help adults and children alike to find a healthy escape of everyday life. It is also an ideal movement and strengthening training for your child and ensures a correct and healthy posture and improves endurance, concentration and strength in a playful way. Just a few exercises can help your child relax more easily, fall asleep more easily and relieve stress more effectively.
MATERIAL
INSTRUCTIONS
1.
Position yourselves on the yoga mat in front of a mirror. By having the ability to look at yourself during the yoga session it is possible to check whether the poses are performed correctly or might need slight adjustments. It also gives your child a sense of self awareness.
2.
Now you can have a look at the first pose together and instruct your child on how it has to be carried out. Feel free to join in or demonstrate the different poses for your child by example or with a puppet or stuffed animal.
Position both legs shoulder-width apart in a stable stance and press feet firmly to the floor. Slowly lift the right or left leg and pull the foot up as far as possible and place it against the other leg. While doing this, clasp hands together in front of your chest and slowly inhale and exhale. This position can be held as long as it is comfortable. Or you can count silently until you have inhaled and exhaled 10 times and then change legs. This exercise trains balance and promotes concentration
This exercise may not look very challenging at first, but if you do it with sufficient body tension, it can be very strenuous. It's best to demonstrate this exercise yourself the first time. To do it, start on your knees and bend forward. Then the knees are stretched through and the head is lowered between your outstretched arms. This exercise strengthens the abdominal and back muscles while stretching the shoulders and backs of the legs.
This yoga pose is best started from a standing position. Keep your back as straight as possible while slowly bending down to touch the floor with your hands. It is important to keep the head straight until your palms are touching the floor. Your hands should be positioned close to your feet.
Position both legs shoulder-width apart in a stable stance and press feet firmly to the floor. Slowly lift the right or left leg and pull the foot up as far as possible and place it against the other leg. While doing this, clasp hands together in front of your chest and slowly inhale and exhale. This position can be held as long as it is comfortable. Or you can count silently until you have inhaled and exhaled 10 times and then change legs. This exercise trains balance and promotes concentration
TIP
If your child has siblings or friends over, they can make up or listen to a story together and strike the appropriate pose whenever the character appears in the story. This is fun and encourages coordination, creativity and teamwork.