Experts from a variety of fields are in agreement that yoga is a practice that benefits kids who need improvement in both physical and mental wellness. The beauty of this practice is the ease in which individuals of all ages can work it into their daily routine. With a growing concern regarding both inadequate fitness and increasing stress, there are so many reasons why young people should start doing yoga on a daily basis. Some of the most immediate results include reduced anxiety, greater strength, better concentration, emotional balance, better relationships, and higher academic performance.
Why Kids Should Practice Yoga Every Day
Kids can reap the rewards from practicing yoga just like adults. By purchasing just a few inexpensive yoga props little ones can get started. It's a practice that can be incorporated into a child's day without interfering with the many other commitments, like school, sports practices or music lesson. Just like eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep, practicing healthy is an excellent way for a child to maintain good mental and physical health. Reading children's books about yoga walks little ones through a variety of poses while also sharing all the benefits experienced by the characters in these stories.
Social, Emotional, and Academic Benefits of Yoga
Yoga provides numerous benefits for kids, helping them thrive both in school and emotionally. It significantly boosts a child's overall well-being and success. Yoga's focus on mindfulness and concentration helps children train their minds to stay present. This leads to improved attention span in the classroom, fewer distractions, and a greater ability to absorb information. By promoting mental presence and awareness, yoga can also lead to better memory retention and recall, fostering a deeper connection to learning. Yoga helps children develop crucial self-regulation skills, enabling them to monitor and adapt their emotions, behavior, and attention. This means they can learn to respond intentionally rather than reacting impulsively, which often results in better classroom behavior and improved decision-making.
(1) Yoga helps children manage their stress.
Just like their parents, kids are carrying quite a bit of stress on their shoulders. Many times they are not able to articulate what is bothering them, so the symptoms of stress show up in their behavior and temperament. The cause may seem insignificant in comparison to the burden adults are carrying, but it is very real and difficult for little ones to handle. Yoga is an effective way for children of all ages to release the physical symptoms of stress through breathing and stretching. Like the characters in kids' books about anxiety, children who feel constantly worried can benefit tremendously by practicing yoga.
(2) Yoga is beneficial for children with ADHD.
Kids who struggle with impulsivity, inattentiveness and hyperactivity can benefit from daily yoga practice. Physical exercise alone helps with these symptoms, but when the meditative and breathing components are added, the results are even more impressive. Teachers, therapists, parents, and researchers have all reported the benefits, especially in kids who have difficulty listening. Yoga offers a wealth of benefits for children with ADHD, helping them manage symptoms and boost their overall well-being. It champions being present in the moment, a key element of mindfulness. By guiding kids to focus on their breath, body sensations, and movements, yoga helps them sustain attention and reduce distractibility. Many poses require deliberate, controlled movements, training the brain to focus on a specific task andd resist impulsive actions. Furthermore, specific breathing techniques, like deep belly breathing, can oxygenate the brain and calm the nervous system, which in turn improves concentration and lessens the "mental fogginess" often linked with ADHD.
(3) Yoga improves flexibility in children.
Yoga significantly boosts a child's flexibility through gentle yet effective stretching. Unlike typical static stretches, yoga poses (asanas) encourage a mindful lengthening of muscles and connective tissues, gradually increasing their range of motion. As kids move through these stretches, they develop a greater body awareness, tuning into areas of tightness or restriction. This heightened self-perception helps them understand their physical limits and learn to deepen stretches safely over time. Furthermore, yoga's emphasis on breathwork and mindfulness helps children release tension, making their muscles more pliable and receptive to stretching.
(4) Focus and concentration are at the core of this practice.
Children learn how to train their minds to hone in on their poses. They develop a laser focus on their yoga stretches, and block out all other noise, thoughts, and stressors. This ability to concentrate carries over into school and other endeavors. Some studies have reported an improvement in grades amongst students who do yoga.
(5) Yoga is a practice children can carry into adulthood.
Many organized athletic and exercise programs come to an end for kids at some point during their school-age years. Youth sports provide so many health benefits. But the majority of these activities end when kids graduate from high school, and oftentimes even sooner. The beauty of yoga is that kids can do it for the rest of their lives. As their bodies change and age, they can adjust their movements according to their ability and comfort.
(6) There is no pressure to compete with yoga.
In a world where young children feel the need to outperform others to make the cut for a sports team, the pressure can feel overwhelming. Kids are escorted to excessively long practices, private lessons, and extra coaching sessions all in an effort to get ahead. Unlike competitive sports where kids are often pitted against each other, yoga focuses on individual progress and self-improvement. This takes away the pressure to "win," creating a more supportive and accepting atmosphere where every child can feel comfortable and valued, no matter their physical abilities. With yoga, there is zero competition. In a roomful of people, there will always be a diverse range of ability in terms of flexibility and fluidity. However, the only thing that matters is how much each individual is benefitting both physically and mentally from the session.
(7) Emotional control is a key benefit of yoga.
Kids who are prone to throwing temper tantrums usually outgrow this behavior once they are through the toddler years. But sometimes older children still have difficulty controlling their anger and can have outbursts that are disproportionate to the triggering event. When this happens, the disruptive behavior interferes with relationships and other aspects of a child's life. Breathing and meditation tools are extremely helpful in these situations.
(8) Children improve muscle strength through yoga.
While yoga is often associated with flexibility and relaxation, it's also incredibly effective for helping kids build strength. Many yoga poses challenge children to support their own body weight in various positions, like standing, sitting, or lying down. This naturally engages diverse muscle groups throughout their entire body. For instance, poses such as Downward-Facing Dog, Warrior poses, and Plank actively work their core, legs, and arms. Unlike some sports that might overdevelop specific muscle groups, a balanced yoga practice targets a wide array of muscles, including those often underused in daily activities or other sports. This leads to more balanced strength and can help reduce the risk of injury. Plus, holding yoga poses, even for short periods, develops isometric strength, meaning muscles work to maintain a position without shortening or lengthening. This builds both muscle endurance and overall strength.
(9) Yoga promotes a sense of community in children.
Group yoga classes are excellent for building a sense of community among kids. They naturally encourage cooperation, especially through activities like partner poses, where children work together to achieve a shared shape. This requires direct communication, trust, and teamwork. Similarly, "human mandalas" or other group poses help kids understand how each person's effort contributes to the whole, fostering a collective spirit. In this non-judgmental space, children feel safe to interact positively without fear of criticism. Working closely with peers also cultivates empathy, as kids learn to be mindful of their partner's comfort and emotional experience.
