Yoga for Children
Yoga Therapists at Empowering Mind & Body are trained to work with children privately and in a group setting. The therapist takes into consideration the age and developmental level of the child to determine the most appropriate approach when teaching movement, breathing and meditation to address their unique needs. Therapists are creative in the application of tools and make the therapy fun and engaging in an age-appropriate way.
Benefits of Yoga Therapy for Children:
- Improve flexibility, strength, coordination, and balance
- Improve mind-body connection (how thoughts and feelings are connected to body sensations and vice versa)
- Improve ability to regulate emotions and manage stress
- Learn different ways to relax
- Improve ability to focus their mind
- Improve self-confidence and self-love
- Aid in the prevention of injury
- Aid in the recovery from an illness or injury
- Aid in addressing developmental delay
Tools and Techniques Used in Yoga Therapy for Children may Include:
- Creative ways for children to learn to share how they feel in their mind and body to improve self-awareness and help make connections
- Strong active and dynamic practices that challenge and engage them
- Poses in the shapes of animals
- Pictures and stories for engagement and to provide choice
- Partner poses if practicing with others
- Creative expression/artwork integrated into the practice where appropriate
- Yoga games
- Breathing through visualization, using tools that are age appropriate such as bubbles, windmills, stuffed animals, etc. and Making sound
- Meditation through visualization and story telling