Practicing yoga gives children emotional, mental, and physical stability, better balance, as well as deeper gratitude and self-love. A very important part of any yoga practice—for adults or kids—is breathing, known as “Pranayama”. When we take full deep breaths, the blood circulation throughout our entire body increases, bringing oxygenated blood to every cell in our body - supporting all of our organs (doesn’t that sound good already?). We feel an increase in focus and a calming of our body and mind almost instantly. Pranayama is an important element of children’s yoga—we ALWAYS start the class practicing our breathing and end with it as well. And, it’s fun too. It’s never to early for children to learn the amazing benefits of focused breathing.
Try some of these breathing techniques with your child(ren) and see what happens!
Balloon Breath: Sit it a comfortable position (maybe criss-cross-apple sauce or even laying on your back). Close your eyes. Now place your hands on your hands on your belly and imagine you have a beautiful balloon inside your tummy. What color is it? Breathe in through your nose and breathe that air right into the balloon in your tummy so it gets big, and maybe even pushes your hands out a little. Now, let all the air come out of the balloon through your mouth. Keep going a few more breaths, or for as long as you like. Ahhhhhh!
Take Five: Sit in a comfortable position (maybe criss-cross-apple sauce). Close your eyes. Hold up one hand up and make a fist. As you breathe in through your nose, slowly open your fingers one at a time. As you breathe out through your mouth, close the fingers one at a time until you have a fist and the air is all out. Start again.
Straw Breathing: Sit in a comfortable position (maybe criss-cross apple sauce). Hold a straw in your mouth with your lips closed. Now breathe in slowly through your nose and then breathe out through the straw as slowly as you can. Fun & calming!
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Visit the Enchanted Mats Website if you would like to read more!
Sign Up for the Enchanted Mats Newsletter HERE!
Find out about Classes for Preschoolers, School Age, Parent Child, and Adults.
Next Session of Yoga Tots and Yoga for Kids begins Thursday, March 20th, in Castro Valley. Registration is still open!
Toddler and Me Classes begin May 5th!
Click here for more information about all classes
Susan Green - Owner Enchanted Mats
RYT-200, ACE - Group Fitness, ACE Health Coach
Try some of these breathing techniques with your child(ren) and see what happens!
Balloon Breath: Sit it a comfortable position (maybe criss-cross-apple sauce or even laying on your back). Close your eyes. Now place your hands on your hands on your belly and imagine you have a beautiful balloon inside your tummy. What color is it? Breathe in through your nose and breathe that air right into the balloon in your tummy so it gets big, and maybe even pushes your hands out a little. Now, let all the air come out of the balloon through your mouth. Keep going a few more breaths, or for as long as you like. Ahhhhhh!
Take Five: Sit in a comfortable position (maybe criss-cross-apple sauce). Close your eyes. Hold up one hand up and make a fist. As you breathe in through your nose, slowly open your fingers one at a time. As you breathe out through your mouth, close the fingers one at a time until you have a fist and the air is all out. Start again.
Straw Breathing: Sit in a comfortable position (maybe criss-cross apple sauce). Hold a straw in your mouth with your lips closed. Now breathe in slowly through your nose and then breathe out through the straw as slowly as you can. Fun & calming!
______________________________________________________________
Visit the Enchanted Mats Website if you would like to read more!
Sign Up for the Enchanted Mats Newsletter HERE!
Find out about Classes for Preschoolers, School Age, Parent Child, and Adults.
Next Session of Yoga Tots and Yoga for Kids begins Thursday, March 20th, in Castro Valley. Registration is still open!
Toddler and Me Classes begin May 5th!
Click here for more information about all classes
Susan Green - Owner Enchanted Mats
RYT-200, ACE - Group Fitness, ACE Health Coach
Susan Green is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200,) and is certified by YogaFit Kids and It's Yoga Kids. She has also completed a 42-hour Yoga for the Special Child training with Sonia Sumar. She is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified Group Fitness Instructor (with over 12 years experience), and an ACE certified Health Coach. Susan LOVES yoga and wants to share the many benefits (stronger and more flexible muscles, increased body awareness, mind/body connection, exploration of “inner” self, increased self love, deeper compassion for others, deeper sense of gratitude …and so much more) with the children (and adults) of our community.
