Looking for a creative way to get your kids to exercise, without hyping them up or overstraining their muscles? Yoga could be the answer. Elina Nykanen Rozycki, owner of the Yoga Tree studio, started running kids’ yoga classes four years ago when she was looking for somewhere for her own kids to practise in a safe environment. She tells us how yoga can benefit your children too.
Why is yoga so good for kids?
They’ll gain heightened body awareness and an improvement in the strength and flexibility of their muscles and joints. Children also learn how to relax by breathing or lying down, and their coordination improves – yoga is a bit like a brain gym. The most important thing, though, is that children who have experienced yoga are more likely to return to yoga as an adult, because they already know what it’s about and don’t feel as shy or self conscious.
What are the most suitable types of yoga for kids and why?
Kids’ yoga isn’t any specific type of yoga, it’s just basic yoga poses (usually hatha yoga-based). The names of the poses are often changed to either an animal or something the kids can relate to. It’s amazing to see how the kids learn the poses and remember them incredibly well. I often get feedback from the parents and also from the teachers at schools where I teach, saying the children sometimes spontaneously do some yoga by themselves.
Aside from the physical aspects, what are the other benefits of yoga?
What makes yoga different from other activities is that it combines the emotional and intellectual wellbeing of the child, which other physical activities don’t. Yoga also teaches that calming down is just as important as being active. It builds tolerance as each child does his or her own version of the pose. It’s about having fun – so it’s definitely not serious, nor is there competition involved. We focus on building self-confidence, because however you do the pose is right!
Are there any risks?
I have never experienced kids either getting hurt or not liking yoga. Kids’ natural flexibility protects them from injuries, and they also listen to their bodies if something doesn’t feel good, instead of pushing themselves over the limit as adults sometimes do. Sometimes, not only rigorous exercise but also pressure and stress can really affect children in our busy world. Yoga is about being who you are and exploring yourself without hurrying, or having any strict rules.
What can kids expect from the class then?
The classes usually have fewer than 10 kids, aged between five-10 years – we keep the groups small for safety. The class is 30 minutes long, and begins and ends with sitting together in a circle where we either share a soft toy or poem, or do a little visualisation. We do about 15 minutes of poses and games and finish with a couple of minutes’ relaxation. These classes are just for the kids, because we have noticed that it’s easier for them to concentrate when it’s just children, instead of having the parents involved.
The Yoga Tree is running a series of classes for kids, by registration only, throughout June. Call for more information. Yoga Tree Studio Villa 405 / 1, Al Bateen off 30th Street (near 11th Street) (02 667 6579).
