Life as a kid can be stressful. Waking up early in the morning to go to school, studying different subjects, playing with friends, tuition classes, studying for tests, sports classes, homework, eating meals, etc. phew so many things to do. Not to forget emotional and hormonal changes, taking permission for outings, peer pressure, parental pressure and mind-chatter when things don’t go your way. For kids, it’s easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed at times.
Yoga Asanas for kids i s a good idea to provide them with the much-needed relief from stress. Yoga works to reduce stress and anxiety in both the body and the mind. Yoga Asanas and Pranayamas make kids more resilient to the recurring exam and other stress triggers. Recommending some yoga poses for stres s relief, improving posture, focus and balance.
Yoga For Kids
Yoga before getting out of bed and going to bed
Before getting out of bed – Do simple stretches, and yoga poses like Yast ikasana, Suptvakras ana, and Yoga Mudra. (Evacuate your bladder and bowels first)
Before going to bed – Try reflection techniques. If the day has been hectic and emotional, then try Nishpanda Bhava, Yoni Mudra and Pratipaksh Bhavana. Yogendra Pranayama IV (abdominal breathing) and Pranayama IX (Alternating nostril breathing pranayama)
Eagle Pose (Garudasana)
This yoga posture helps students to concentrate and focus the mind better. It is an excellent stress management tool. This asana helps to free up the tightness felt in the shoulders joints and hip joints. Fixing your gaze in front of you improves focus, balance and poise.
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose)
One of the most popular yoga poses that take s you to your childhood days. Keep your head between your legs facing down and feel the full stretch. Keep the inhalation and exhalation count equal. Breathing should be smooth, slow and rhythmic. This asana will relieve fatigue, stress and backache you get from studying all day at your desk. You get great stretching of hamstrings and decompress the spine. You will experience calm and fully energised.
Hastapadasana
This is a forwarding bending of spine pose. In this asana, you are touching your hasta(hands) to your feet (pad). This opens up your hamstrings, and blood circulation is improved towards the head region. Relief from a backache you experience after long hours of sitting.
Child’s Pose (Balasana)
Balasana
Yes, you can say a pose dedicated to children. When you feel stressed all the time, the adrenal glands are strained and can lead to burnout. As you go down inhale the relaxation and exhale the stress.
Thunderbolt Pose (Vajrasana)
A must do asana for all students. This posture keeps the digestive system in order. Remember the how you feel funny in your stomach or butterflies just before the exams. This pose helps. One of the best yoga postures that you can do even after the meals. Practice 10 minutes each night before you off to sleep.
Start slow but dedicate at least 30 minutes each day. After few weeks you will start to notice the subtle changes. Yoga is nature’s gift to live well. So plan daily routine with yoga and keep the stress at bay!