Benefits of Yoga in Early Childhood

While we know the importance of practicing mindfulness and wellness in our own lives, have you ever thought about incorporating it into your curriculum for the children in your care? Young children’s bodies and minds benefit from simple meditation and yoga practices, 

According to an article from PBS, Why Yoga and Kids Go Together, “Yoga is about exploring and learning in a fun, safe, and playful way. Yoga and kids are a perfect match.”  Some of the key skills children can learn from doing yoga are described in the PBS article:

• Yoga teaches us about our bodies.
  • “When we practice the physical postures or exercises (called asanas), we learn how to move more freely and with greater ease and awareness. These postures help our bodies become strong and flexible.”
  • Yoga teaches us the importance of listening to our bodies, by noticing how different poses feel and modifying them when something feels uncomfortable.

• Yoga teaches us to breathe better.
  • When we breathe deeply and fully (called pranayama), we become aware that we can use our breath to bring peacefulness or energy to our bodies.

• Yoga teaches us about taking care of ourselves.
  • Yoga is a great way– for adults and children– to care for ourselves by moving our bodies and tapping into our energy. And, as with all forms of exercise, a good yoga practice can lead to a good night’s sleep!

Erica Filyo, a certified yoga instructor and founder of Childblossom Yoga, starts her yoga classes for young children with story time, followed by breathing exercises, stretching, and playful activities and games– all while incorporating yoga poses. The class ends with guided imagery to help little ones calm their bodies and minds. Filyo, who is also a learning behavioral specialist, explains, “There is a real need for incorporating movement and breath into social and emotional learning…Exercises for kids to draw their breath through their entire body allow them to get in touch with and utilize every muscle.”

You don’t have to be a yogi or certified yoga instructor to incorporate yoga into your curriculum.  If you are interested in introducing yoga to the children you work with, a good place to start is with children’s books that introduce basic poses and yoga positions. A few great options are listed below:

1. Good Morning Yoga by Miriam Gates
2. Yoga Bug by Sarah Jane Hinder
3. The ABCs of Yoga for Kids written by Teresa Power, illustrated by Kathleen Rietz