10 Reasons you NEED to start practicing yoga with your child!

Each Sunday, me and my two children roll out our yoga mats and use this time as a way to ‘reset’. It’s our way of taking a moment to connect, to play and to relax and recharge together. There is always so much to do during the week, the time seems to fly by but on a Sunday, we intentionally take time to slow down and reset before we head into another busy week.

There are so many reasons to practice yoga together. If you have your own practice, you’ll know how good yoga can feel and how it can impact your mood, your mindset and well everything. And if you don’t have your own practice, even more reason to start one together, for you and your child/children!

1. Stress relief

It’s hard to see how much stress can impact even the youngest children. This is often down-played as “what do kid’s have to be stressed about?” and “They don’t know stress like we did.” but that is simply not true. Children experience stress just like adults, except they have less experience and less tools to be able to manage it effectively. They wont simply say “I am feeling stressed.” or “I’ve had a hard day.”. We will often see this stress as big outbursts, arguments with siblings, isolating themselves or asking you to play with them.

Yoga is a way you can de-stress, have some fun and create calm together. It is a great self-care practice that is going to help your child learn tools that they’ll be able to practice now and as they grow up.

2. Screen Break

How good does it feel to get off those screens, and I’m not just on about the kids! This is time for the grown ups to put their phone away and focus on spending time together. It can feel so good to get away from distractions and to do lists and just spend this quality time enjoying each others company while playing and exploring yoga.

3. Improves Focus

While children are learning while practicing yoga, it’s not quite the same as the usual learning like in school or even home school activities. Yoga provides a break from all that, a chance to move, to release excess energy and a chance to switch off the thinking brain and to relax. We are encouraging children to tap into their imagination, their creativity release stress and tension. This all helps children to better focus and concentrate. This is why movement breaks and brain breaks can be such a useful practice to include in schools and home learning.

4. Emotional Regulation

Yoga helps children with emotional regulation by fostering self-awareness and providing tools for managing their feelings effectively. When children practice yoga, they learn to tune into their bodies and minds, becoming more aware of their emotions and how they manifest physically. This heightened self-awareness is crucial for recognizing emotional triggers and responding to them in a balanced way.

Practicing yoga together as parent and child strengthens this self-awareness and emotional regulation further. Through shared practice, parents model healthy emotional responses and coping mechanisms, which children naturally emulate. Additionally, the supportive environment of practicing yoga with a parent encourages open communication about feelings and experiences, building trust and empathy.

5. Positive Touch

One of the most profound benefits of parent and child yoga is the positive touch involved in many poses and practices. Positive touch, such as gentle assists, holding hands, or partner poses, plays a crucial role in child development. It promotes feelings of safety, security, and love, which are essential for healthy emotional growth. Positive touch in yoga helps children feel supported and nurtured, reinforcing their sense of belonging.

6. Body Autonomy

Adding to the last point, yoga emphasizes the importance of body autonomy and respect for personal boundaries. During practice, children learn to listen to their bodies and communicate their comfort levels. Parents can model and reinforce these lessons by asking for consent before offering physical assistance or adjustments, teaching children that their bodies are their own and that their boundaries are respected. This practice instils a sense of empowerment and confidence in children, knowing that their feelings and preferences matter.

7. Physical Benefits

I could have made this post ALL about the physical benefits of Yoga, because there are so many! From flexibility, strength and balance to digestion, circulation and respiratory health. While we benefit from the physical practice for our physical being, our physical body also benefits from the relaxation and mindfulness elements of the practice such as helping with muscle tension, and letting go of stress from the body.

8. Calm

Even though a family yoga session might look lively and chaotic at times, the structured movement and breathing exercises are designed to channel energy in a positive way. By engaging in yoga together, parents and children can transition from high-energy activities to more calming practices, such as mindful breathing and relaxation poses. This gradual shift helps children learn how to regulate their energy levels and emotions, promoting a state of calm.

9. Encourages Playful Expression

Yoga offers a joyful and playful environment where children can freely express themselves. During yoga practice, children are encouraged to move, play, and explore their bodies through imaginative poses and fun activities. This playful approach allows children to release their energy in a positive and structured way. As they transition from high-energy, playful movements to more calming poses, they learn how to shift their focus and settle into moments of stillness. This balance teaches them that calmness can coexist with playfulness, helping them understand that it’s okay to have varying energy levels and emotions. The playful nature of yoga makes the practice enjoyable and engaging, fostering a love for calmness and mindfulness in a fun and accessible manner.

10. It’s Fun!

Honestly, this is enough of a reason to practice without going into physical, mental and emotional well-being…it’s fun! With it’s exciting games, playful activities and creative practices, it’s always a time that is enjoyable for both parent and child. The focus on connection is a beautiful way to have fun together.

So, time to get practicing!

Free Family Yoga

I hope you enjoyed those 10 reasons why you need to get practicing yoga with your child!

If you’d like some extra support, make sure you grab my Free Family Yoga Guide here:

1. 

   […] body is not separate from the mind or spirit, it’s part of a larger system that includes the koshas…

2. 

   […] both feel when a big emotion comes: “I am feeling overwhelmed right now. I’m going to try bumblebee breath…

3. 

   […] terms of yoga it all comes down to the Kosha System. This is 5 layers of our being that…

4. 

   […] emotions feel overwhelming, simple breathwork—like extending my exhales or practicing Bee Breath (Bhramari)—helps shift my nervous system from fight-or-flight…

5. 

   […] To learn more about the Koshas check out this previous post: What are the Koshas? Understanding these 5 layers…