We know that most adults experience stress and it is one of the major causes of many serious illnesses among them. However, it is equally true that kids also experience stress, especially amidst the constant pressure of keeping up to the expectations in the race of life. Ever since they start schooling, kids are looked high upon as future doctors, scientists, IITians, and so on. Not just studies, there is also the pressure of staying abreast with various other extra-curricular activities.

All this makes kids prone to stress, which we might never think even exists for them. To release this stress, kids should be encouraged to practice yoga. Not just to lessen anxiety, yoga should also be embraced for a healthy lifestyle.

Although with so many obligations and agendas related to school, assignments, activities, etc. it is not easy for kids to include Yoga in their daily schedule. However, knowing the fact that yoga is beneficial for their health, it is the responsibility of every parent to encourage them to practice it from childhood. However, parents should not impose yoga forcefully, rather introduce it in a fun way so that the children get motivated and are excited to practice it regularly.

Benefits of practicing Yoga      

Yoga is immensely beneficial for kids. Recent studies have also proved that anxiety and stress can be reduced and improved to a great extent by practicing yoga habitually. 

Here are some important benefits:

• Yoga enhances health and mental wellness among kids
• Yoga help kids to perform better at school by improving memory and attention span
• With consistent practice, yoga teaches kids to breathe deeply and intentionally
• It also teaches kids to become flexible and confident with their body
• Yoga not only improves health conditions but also ensures enhanced physical strength, concentration, and cognitive abilities.
• Kids with ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) can benefit immensely from the calming nature of Yoga by practicing it regularly

How to Encourage Kids to Practice Yoga

• parents can practice yoga in front of kids or along with kids
• they can explain to kids the benefits of yoga
• they can include fun posses and practice yoga in a fun way
• they can introduce kids to yoga classes where kids can practice the same with their pals
• parents can also use yoga products to instill keenness for yoga in their kids 

By practicing interesting yoga poses with your kids, you can encourage them to include yoga in their daily schedules.  Down Dog Pose, Child’s Pose, Tree Pose, and Bridge Pose are among some of the interesting and beneficial yoga poses for everyone, including kids. These yoga asanas strengthen the body and relax the mind as well as help in developing some important life skills that can bestow kids with health and wellness throughout life. 

Need of Life Skills among kids

Life skills are the skills that we all need to deal effectively with the challenges of life. These skills can be anything useful in our life. And yoga is known to help in developing life skills, especially among children who start practicing yoga from early on in life. 

Besides being an excellent exercise, yoga asanas also help to develop the following life skills among children:

• Enhance self-care skills – by providing better awareness of their bodies and helping children to work independently towards self-care.
• Help cope with emotions – by regulating the behavior of kids in a better way and improving calming effects among them.
• Help with relaxation and mindfulness – relaxation is something missing in our lives, especially in today’s fast-paced world. With all the stress of study, assignments, etc. children need to relax and unwind through yoga and meditation.

Some statistics

Yoga has seen tremendous popularity over the years. Not only in India, but yoga is also extremely popular among millions of yoga enthusiasts across America, Asia, and other parts of the world.  Yoga in India has found its place in the school curriculum across many private and government-run schools. As per global statistics, 1.7 million children in the US practice yoga.

In India, yoga has a strong foothold in the wellness industry.  Government initiatives are ongoing to make yoga compulsory in schools. Yoga has already found a place as an extracurricular activity in most schools in the country and is most likely to become a part of the school curriculum.

Overall, yoga is an excellent way to strengthen our bodies and relax our minds. It is a very good exercise and thus should be incorporated into our daily life. Encouraging kids to practice yoga helps them to relax, stay away from anxiety, sleep better, and be mindful.        

The habit of practicing yoga is not only good for the mind but health as well. And since we like our kids to inculcate good habits, we must encourage them to practice yoga in a fun and pleasant way.