Both yoga and meditation are practices that adults sometimes think their child will not enjoy or be able to do. First, know that yoga for kids doesn’t always look and feel exactly like an adult yoga class. Children are often exuberant in expressing their enjoyment when participating. It is generally a little more fun and active than an adult yoga class, with a balance of quiet and calming activities. Children love to meditate, too, in part because they have an opportunity to use their imaginations creatively, with no limitations. Contrary to perceptions, children are naturally closer to achieving a meditative state than adults.
Children’s brainwave states are slower than adults, making it easier for them to jump in and out of a meditative state. This is the case up until adolescence and even into early adolescence. They have not reached the patterned state of higher brainwave analytical activity like adults on overdrive often do. Going into a meditative state is actually reminiscent of infancy. From birth to two years, brain wave states are equal to those of a deep meditative state, allowing information to flow steadily through the senses. Children are, by nature, imaginative and are very open to the process of mindful awareness experienced and taught both in meditation and during relaxation in yoga.
What’s the real benefit of all of this, you wonder? On the physical level, yoga helps children maintain flexibility and strengthen muscles. Through the movement and focused breathing portions of class, children learn self-control, and an increased ability to focus. Children learn to achieve deep relaxation, reduce their own stress, use their imaginations, have fun, and produce endorphins that make them feel happy! This, along with the strength, flexibility and inner growth they see in themselves empowers them and increases self-esteem.
Meditation’s benefits are similar and complementary to yoga. Meditation reduces anxiety, enhances anger management skills, decreases depression, and has physical benefits, like lowering blood pressure, relieving insomnia, diminishing headaches, and improving digestive system function. Once the process is learned, practice at home can help with sibling relationships, winding down when needed, relaxing in the doctor’s office, preparing for tests, and empowering children. As a result, they build stronger relationships with parents, peers, and themselves. They learn to access their imaginations more easily, and enhance their creativity, sense of joy and inner peace. Both yoga and meditation are true gifts to give our children. Teaching them to utilize these tools at any age gives them a powerful edge in moving towards peace, self-awareness, and happiness throughout life!