Being a kid isn't always easy and seems to be more complicated than back in the day. In an era of instant gratification, social media fuelled peer pressure and intense school itineraries, many children have very little downtime or the opportunity to experience boredom. As a result, they often feel over stimulated, mentally exhausted and isolated.
Yoga and mindfulness can help ease these symptoms and have a positive impact on our children's minds, bodies and overall wellbeing.
YOGA BENEFITS:
Develop body awareness
Learn how to use their bodies in a healthy way
Manage stress through breathing, awareness, meditation and healthy movement
Build concentration
Increase their confidence and positive self-image
Feel part of a healthy, non-competitive group
Have an alternative to tuning out through constant attachment to electronic devices
Through yoga, children can learn:
1. Awareness of the breath to naturally reduce stress and release healthy hormones.
2. Strengthening and energising the body to help it work more efficiently, digest food better and protect fragile joints.
3. Balancing poses promote stillness and calm, helping kids deal with everyday stress and find respite from constant stimulation.
4. Stretching and lengthening muscles to increase flexibility as well as strength.
5. Awareness and focus to increase confidence, posture and inner strength.
6. Flowing, connecting and integrating to build awareness of the body's capacity.
7. Meditation and relaxation to calm, soothe and rest the body and mind.
There are lots of tools you can use to teach yoga to children. The young ones like games, doing poses from yoga books for children and singing songs with big, expressive movements. Older children love to create their own poses, be challenged by balancing and learn about the muscles and other aspects of anatomy.
MINDFULNESS FOR KIDS
Practicing mindfulness can improve the behaviour and emotional wellbeing of all kids, regardless of their nature or personality, a powerful tool while their brains are still under development.
MINDFULNESS BENEFITS:
greater sense of happiness
feeling calm
improved relationships with friends and family
increased concentration
ability to cope with stress and anxiety.
Through practicing mindfulness, children can learn:
1. Focus and self control through reinforcing and strengthening neural pathways.
2. Less anxiety and stress by regulating blood pressure, breathing and heart rate.
3. More positive moods and increased emotional intelligence through truly experiencing their feelings.
4. Better decision making through improved emotional regulation.
6. Increased self-esteem from a greater sense of inner strength and positive body image.
8. Improved social skills through better control over words and actions.
There are multiple facilities with amazing child focused classes and workshops in yoga and mindfulness right across Belfast and Northern Ireland. Here are just a few...
FLOW STUDIO BELFAST
Before little ones even arrive on the scene, Flow Studio provide pregnancy yoga classes to relieve tension, keep the body supple and promote restful sleep. Post natal Mum & Baby yoga classes help a new mum reconnect with herself physically, mentally and emotionally, while playfully bonding with her new baby. A little further down the line, classes for Little Yogis, Youthful Flowgis and Teen Yoga increase self awareness and a quiet calm in children as they grow.
SANTOSHA YOGA STUDIO
Santosha offer multiple yoga and mindfulness classes with sessions for individuals, families and those with special needs.
At family yoga workshops, parents and children learn different variations of postures, how to encourage focus through breathing exercises and physical ways to support a child in asanas.
Children are also taught mindfulness techniques at yoga for kids classes to engage them in learning more about themselves mentally and physically. This involves playing games, practising breathing exercises and working to understand ourselves and the world around us.
Yoga therapy sessions for children with special needs involve singing, eye exercises, breathing, asanas and relaxation. The sessions last between 30-60 minutes and are led by a highly experienced practitioner who has worked with adults and children with specific needs for many years.
http://www.santoshayogastudio.co.uk/pages/index.asp?title=Family_Yoga_Workshop_
BUTTERFLY YOGA
Butterfly provides yoga classes for children, adults and family workshops, with support for children and adults with disabilities through the Yoga for Special Child Program.
The team has experience of working with children and adults with Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, Multiple Sclerosis, Cri Du Chat, Brittle Bone, Anxiety, Fibromyalgia and Epilepsy.
Children can gain a better understanding on how to master their own movements and gain confidence at set programmes (4-6 weeks), one off sessions, summer schemes, community (adult), youth and parent & toddler groups. Private family workshops are also available.
NAMASTE YOGA
Namaste Yoga offers a variety of classes for children aged 5-9 years and include practicing postures, playing yoga games, breathing activities and relaxation.
https://www.namasteyogacentre.co.uk/yoga-classes-belfast/kids-yoga-belfast/
SYNERGY YOGA
After-school classes in St Brigid’s parish hall, Derryvolgie Avenue are open to all children age 4 to 11 with Children's Fun Yoga as well as P7 Mindfulness and Pre-teen Yoga sessions.
https://www.synergyyogabelfast.co.uk/familyyoga_giftcards-236284-909211.html
RELAX KIDS BELFAST
Relax Kids teach children mindfulness and relaxation techniques with easy and fun ways to manage their mental health and well-being. The sessions offer tools to help children cope with stress and anxiety while building their confidence and self-esteem.
