By Reynaldo Mena
Brandy Rametta: Yoga is a wonderful practice that benefits both children and adults. It nurtures the mind and body, and if children start practicing yoga early, it benefits them in many ways. They grow up to be well-rounded and healthy adults. Children today face issues that were once only faced by adults. They experience stress and worry due to increased workloads. Introducing yoga to your children early helps them cope with the pressures of life. They learn yoga poses that calm their minds and also build strength and balance. They become healthy with strong immune systems. Your children learn to control their emotions and behavior. They become more creative and well-adjusted individuals.
I remember when I first started practicing yoga, I enjoyed attending classes with a teacher who shared a vigorous, challenging, yet fun session. I enjoyed it a lot. Occasionally, during the class, when my muscles trembled and sweat covered my body, he would tell a joke that made us forget about everything. Later on, I realized that besides teaching adults, he had his own method of teaching yoga to children. He shared some of his routines with us, and we gradually got used to taking the classes seriously but with a dose of fun.
This is what Brandy, owner of Heart and Soul Yoga and Wellness, recommends. “The classes have to be softer, fun, so that they can remember them. Children get very excited,” says Rametta. She recognizes that playfulness is extremely important. She advises not to take the sessions too seriously with many postures; it is not recommended. “I incorporate one or two postures every two weeks. I try to keep it light-hearted. For example, my children will start developing an interest when they see me practicing. If they see me meditating, they will try to meditate afterward, maybe they will approach me to ask questions. Let’s remember that children have a lot of curiosity, which is essential for them to incorporate this practice into their lives,” she adds.
According to Brandy, the perfect age to start teaching is five years old, but not for a long time. “The sessions don’t have to be long, an hour or an hour and a half. They can be five or ten minutes; that improves children’s concentration, attention, mindfulness, and breathing… isn’t that reason enough to do it?” she enthusiastically adds. Brandy recommends incorporating the practice of meditation when children are ready. “With everything that is happening in society, the problems in schools, mental health, it is very important to start giving them the tools to develop awareness in their lives,” she says.
Some yoga masters advise starting somewhat complex yoga poses at the age of 8, which is the age when children start moving towards puberty. The following facts support this:
-Air sacs in the lungs continue to increase in numbers until the age of 8. After this age, they only grow in size. Introduce deep breathing and related exercises to help your children develop strong lungs and hearts.
-The immune system of the body takes its final shape by the age of 8. At this age, yoga for kids, such as Sun Salutations and other complex yoga poses, increases immunity and endurance in children.
-Practicing yoga prevents the early onset of puberty due to positive effects on the pineal gland. Children need to experience their childhood fully, and practicing yoga poses helps with that. Children who reach puberty at the right time grow into wise and well-adjusted adults.
-At the age of 8, children begin to understand concepts and ideas and can start distinguishing between right and wrong.
Some Basic Rules of Teaching Yoga for Kids:
1. Build your children’s practice step by step. They need time to master the yoga poses. Once they adapt to the taught poses, move them to the next level. Monitor and guide them throughout the process.
2.Start with short sessions in the beginning. Finish your yoga lessons within minutes because children have a short attention span. Once they enjoy the sessions, you can gradually increase the time.
3.Focus on breathing patterns. Teach your children to breathe deeply and properly. It helps them relax and stay calm.
4.Nobody is perfect in this world. People can be good, better, or excellent, but never perfect. Accept that. Don’t force your children to become perfect. Yoga for kids should focus on doing poses well and learning new things rather than seeking perfection.
5.Practice yoga poses first, and then help your children do them. Include yourself in their practice. It makes it easier for them to imitate and follow your poses.
6.Use visual aids such as drawings, photos, or even videos of yoga poses. Pin the pictures on a board or show your children the poses in person before practicing them. This way, your children can visualize and follow along better.
7.Music is important in yoga for kids. Play music during yoga sessions. Music can calm and soothe children or make them energetic. Use music to your advantage.
8.Use yoga throughout the day. Direct your children to do energizing yoga poses in the morning and calming poses in the evening to help them fall asleep quickly. Adjust it based on your children’s behavior.
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Recomended: interview with Brandy “If you want to do something, just do it, no matter what.”
