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Benefits of Meditation and
Yoga Poses for Kids
Susan Helene Kramer
Benefits of
Meditation and Yoga Poses for Kids – YouTube video
Yoga
poses and meditation are activities that can be done individually or in a group
of different ages or mixed abilities. And at home, yoga poses can be done by
everyone in the family at the same time, making this a great activity to do
together, bridging the generation gap!
What is important to remember when different age groups with different
abilities are practicing together is to really center on the individuality of
each member.
What difference does it make how far forward everyone can bend, if they are
already stretching to their max? What is important is that everyone move as
they find comfortable and invigorating.
You’ll see
some overlap in the meditation and poses benefits as both aspects benefit the
growing child.
Meditation benefits:
1. Learning even, regular breathing gives instant stress relief on a moment's
notice. The regular even breathing is a bridge that ties body to mind; when
breathing is made regular it calms the physical body.
2. Following the sequence within a meditation develops memory and the ability
to concentrate, which carries over into school work.
3. Longer
meditations give the body and mind time to deeply relax and center.
4. I found in
teaching, that active or hyperactive kids moving in rhythm with the group, such
as in walking meditation, derive a calming effect.
5. Meditation is non-competitive, and each can participate within the limits of
their own ability, with adaptations if needed, or by working with a partner.
6. Meditation can be done individually or in a group setting and it does not
need a special place to practice.
7. Beginning meditation practice in childhood sets up a lifetime habit for a
way to handle stress, and as the child matures spiritual qualities can be added
to meditate upon, such as kindness, loving, honesty, compassion.
8. Developing the discipline to sit still for meditation carries over into
learning how to sit and concentrate to work out a problem or do school work.
9. Meditation practice develops strength of character, as the child learns
about virtuous living by thinking over the qualities of each virtue.
10. Meditation can help a child learn to think for themselves, and determine a
best course of action by reflecting on possible solutions.
11. If the child is being raised in a particular religion, the quiet time of
meditation is a chance to reflect on the spiritual lesson for the day.
12. Meditation is a positive activity that can be an example to a child's
friends of a way to handle stress and work out problems.
13. Meditation feels good because a calm mind and relaxed body generate
feelings of harmony.
14. As kids grow up and meditation deepens feelings of joy awaken within, and
can be shared in daily living through caring actions, making meditation a
win-win activity.
Yoga
Pose benefits:
1. As yoga
poses are done with the right and left side of the body equally, right and left
brain connections are reinforced.
2. Concentration is developed by performing the correct sequence of movements
in the poses, and by remembering what pose comes next.
3. By moving the right or left side of the body following the verbal direction
to do so, students learn which are their right and left sides, and moving to
the right or left.
4. Focusing the eyes is developed in poses that hold a gaze on a specific spot
for a moment.
5. Moving in rhythm with the group while doing even and regular breathing seems
to have a calming effect on active or hyperactive children.
6. Following the yoga poses, taking a few minutes for meditation is calming and
centering.
7. Learning even, regular breathing gives instant stress relief on a moment's
notice. The regular even breathing is a bridge that ties body to mind; when
breathing is made regular it calms the physical body.
8. Yoga is non-competitive; everyone progresses at their own rate.
9. Yoga poses are an activity that can be done individually or in a group
setting.
Benefits of
Meditation and Yoga Poses for Kids – YouTube video
All content on this site is copyright Susan Helene
Kramer
and may not be used in any manner without express written permission.
Little Dances and
Meditations for Kids in English and French
Yoga for All Kids
Meditation for All
Kids
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A yoga practitioner since 1976, Susan
writes on practical spirituality, family, social issues and dance.
Email: susan@susankramer.com
page created January 3, 2012; updated
August 19, 2017; added Children in Motion
book May 9, 2021