Kids Yoga
Welcome to Gaia Dharma kids yoga
At Gaia Dharma we offer a selection of courses and activities dedicated to children. We strongly believe the next generation will benefit greatly by being able to learn the tools to regulate themselves and find their centre. It’s very important to re-connect with nature and to have the tools to protect oneself during times of acute stress or chaos. During the pandemic, the rise in cases of mental health issues or physical ailments caused by extreme stress in children was astronomical. Children are our innocent and pure of heart, we must protect them and let them shine to their potential. Gaia Dharma will soon offer course on Yoga , Mindfulness, Kids Reiki, Healing Arts, Breath-work and Mandala Art, Chakras and Crystals.
Why Yoga for children
Like adults, children have to deal with their own stress in life. Moving house, starting a new school, preparing for a new sibling - these are all stressful events that affect children. Children need a way to manage stress and anxiety and one form of practice is teaching children yoga.
What is Yoga
Yoga is one form of practice which includes breath control and specific body postures (asanas/poses), that provides a range of physical, spiritual and mental relaxation. It teaches children to be calm, while gaining awareness of the bodies, self-control and discipline.
Benefits of Yoga for Children
When children practice yoga it increases their confidence, builds concentration and strengthens growing bodies. For children with behavioural issues, yoga can improve their impulses in a positive direction and provides them with an outlet as a way to manage their behaviour.
Physical Benefits of Yoga
Helps develop the right balance of muscle tone and strength throughout the body to support the joints.
Builds core strength for good posture and overall physical fitness.
Helps to maintain flexibility and mobility in all joints and muscles.
Encourages the retention of calcium to help build strong bones through weight-bearing postures.
Supports and strengthens the immune system by reducing stress and stimulating the lymph system (the body’s highway of white blood cells which fight viruses and infections).
Improves balance, alignment and coordination with practice of postures.
Helps children develop a positive image of their body and an awareness of how to look after it.
Helps balance energy levels and calms the nervous system with twists that stimulate the spinal cord and regular practice of relaxation
Develops sensory awareness – children learn to notice what’s going on in their body and mind while they’re in postures.
Yoga can accommodate all body shapes and sizes and is not competitive, so it’s a good form of exercise for non-sporty children too.
Keeps the heart and respiratory system fit and strong, encouraging better circulation by getting the heart pumping and using more of the space in the lungs with deeper breathing.
Improves the digestive system with yoga asanas that get things moving in the gut and by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system during relaxation, triggering important acids in the stomach to be released for breaking down food.
A reduced risk of injury in sports and games with better overall fitness and coordination gained through yoga practice and better flexibility in the joints.
Social, Emotional and Cognitive Benefits
Increases attention span and improves concentration
More oxygen circulates round the body and brain during yoga practice and breathing exercises, so improving memory retention and learning ability.
Children get better at dealing with anxiety and stress because they learn to incorporate relaxation and breathing techniques into daily life.
Improves relationships and social awareness through group and partner work.Encourages healthy sleep patterns with the practice of relaxing the body and lengthening the breath.
Increases confidence with speech in interactive parts of the stories and improves vocal ability as the voice is exercised in tandem with postures.
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