It is no secret that the practice of yoga bars no age. Thus it is a popular activity not just for adults but even for the children these days. Today, it is not only in gyms and yoga studios but even schools and colleges have yoga practice sessions. Making children learn yoga provides them with not just much-needed relief from the stress of sports, studies, and homework but they also learn the subtle art of being calm and happy since their young age.
Most importantly, making your kid learn different yoga asanas and practice yoga opens the door to a lifelong practice that nurtures their healthy bodies, minds, and spirits. Additionally, it keeps them active, balances their body, mind, and soul, and helps them focus on their life.
It said that ‘Every child is a Yogi’. If we observe a small child, they are stretching, sitting or playing in a certain yoga asana sometimes. Yoga is a natural phenomenon happening in a child to make them stronger. However, making the kids practice yoga when they grow up is not an easy task. After all, the phase such as “Sit down and do the Navasana” won’t work on them. If you want your youngster to practice yoga prepare to shake things up and make it fun. Thus, here is
Best Yoga Poses for Kids
These fun and exciting poses arouse their interest and keep them engaged. Here we have listed some of the best yoga postures for kids.
1. Butterfly Pose – Badhakonasana
This could be every children’s favorite yoga pose. Also, popularly known as the Butterfly Pose because of the movement of the legs during the posture, giving the appearance of a butterfly flapping its wings. The posture is named Badhakonasana because of the way it is carried out – both the feet tucked close to the groin, clasped tightly with the hands as though tied or bound together in a particular angle. The posture is also sometimes known as the Cobbler Pose as it resembles the sitting position of a cobbler at work. Practicing Baddhakonasana strengthens and improves flexibility in the inner thighs, groins, and the knees.
With the spine erect and head facing forward, bend your knees and join both your feet in front of the groin. Now, hold both your feet with your hands and gently flap both the legs/highs just like a butterfly. Be aware of the stretch in the hamstrings, thighs, and groin. Read More
2. The Tree Pose – Vrikshasana
The Tree Pose is about balancing in a position by pressing the sole of one foot into the inside side of the standing leg. Tree pose brings out the inner strength and focus of kids.
Start the posture with the eyes focused at a point. Keep both feet firmly planted in a standing position. Then, place your right foot on your inner left thigh and then turn the knee out to the side. Bring your hands together in prayer (Namaste) in front of your chest and pick a spot on the floor to focus on. Finally, hold for 5-8 breaths and try the other side.
3. Boat Pose – Naukaasan
This is a fun pose for kids as they can play with lifting their feet off the mat and also raising their arms. This poses is a fun way to strengthen their lower belly while stretching the shoulders, back of the arms and legs.
Start sitting up tall with your knees bent and your feet on the ground. Then lean back and engage your core and make your feet parallel to the floor. It’s better to practice boat pose with a partner. Press the soles of your feet with your partner’s and hold hands to balance each other. Hold this pose for a few breaths.
The challenge is to keep breathing —learning to breathe through difficult situations, yet, be calm.
4. Dog Pose – Adho Mukha Svanasana
Dog Pose – Adho Mukha Svanasana pose mimics the dog’s posture while they stretch. This pose involves balancing the weight on their legs and hand in an inverted ‘V’ position.
Start will both feet firmly planted in a standing position. Bend your back to tuck in the toes facing inwards by raising the hips as much as possible. Remember to push the chest well inside, and observe the stretch in calf muscles and at the back of the hip muscles and hamstrings. Read More
5. Garland Pose – Malasana (Similar to the SQUAT)
Malasana (Mah-LAHS-anna), also known as the Squat or Garland Pose, is a mild hip opener that stimulates your metabolism while stretching your groin and hips. During each exercise, make sure to maintain a focus on your breathing. Squat is fun interesting and still very useful yoga pose for your kid. They are great for building strength in the thighs and abdominals. Plus the garland pose helps alleviate all the back and shoulder stress caused by carrying heavy backpacks and bags.
Start with standing in your feet and bend your knees and lower your torso down between them. Place your hands in prayer at your chest (Namaste) and use your elbows to gently press your knees. Stay lifted out of your back and breathes deeply 5 to 8 breaths. While this can help with relief from discomfort and prevent strain, exercise caution. Go slowly and do not push your body beyond its limits.
6. Airplane Pose – Dekasana
The name itself fascinates the kids- which kid doesn’t want to fly? The kids use all the muscles in their body to steady their airplane for building strength.
Start with standing in your feet and balance on one leg, kicking the other one behind them. Extend both arms like wings and focus in a point. With this pose, kids imagine that they are flying high over their city.
7. Bhujangasana – Cobra Pose
Cobra Pose is a common beginner’s pose, and it’s clear why this pose is named after a snake. “Bhujanga” means “serpent” in Sanskrit, as the pose mimics a serpent rising to strike. This pose benefits the chest, shoulders, spine, and buttocks. Kids usually love this pose as they can also make the sound “hiss” like a snake in this posture. The eighth pose of the 12 poses of the Surya Namaskar, this asana energizing backbend resembles the raised hood of a cobra.
Lie down on your stomach, your feet together and place your chin on the floor. Now, place your hands underneath your shoulders, keeping your elbows close to your body. With the next inhale, start lifting your head and chest off the floor. Keep the elbows slightly bent and the back muscles working. Keep your shoulders relaxed and exhaling lower yourself back onto the ground. Take 2-3 rounds of inhaling yourself up into the Cobra pose, and exhaling down to the floor. Then hold for 2-3 full breaths, and come back down. Rest on the floor for a few breaths, or enjoy Child’s pose as a gentle counterpose. Read More
8. Cow Pose (Bitilasana) – Cat Pose (Marjaryasana)
Kids are obsessed with animals and will enjoy the posture after the name of any animal. This pose conjures playful, relatable imagery which helps kids to feel yoga more like play. This pose makes kid’s back and arms strong and improves their breathing.
Start on all fours. Make them inhale while lifting their head and tail at the same time. This is the cow pose. Exhale to tuck the head into your chest. In cow pose, drop your belly and chest towards the floor. In the Cat pose, use abdominals to round your back towards the ceiling.
In Conclusion
Daily practice of these Yoga asanas will bring striking change in the physical, mental and emotional well-being of the children. However, remember not to push the kids very hard, instead, inspire them slowly and gradually to grasp this beautiful practice and one day perhaps even walk in this path.
