The Effects of Kids Yoga

Yoga has always been connected to forms of relaxation and getting in touch with your inner self. This form of enlightenment can trace its roots in India. There are actually many forms of yoga and these are not limited to movement and actions only. Yoga also encompasses aspects of thought and meditation. So it is little wonder that many parents who believe and practice yoga encourage their children to practice yoga also.

There are now many yoga centers that provide kids yoga sessions. Kids yoga is similar to that of adults but only paced slower. Many people have doubts whether yoga for children can benefit them but parents who feel the benefits of yoga from their own experience insist that there are benefits, either physically or mentally in teaching kids yoga.

Results of Kids Yoga Studies

Studies and research have been done regarding teaching kids yoga and the effects of doing so. So far, researchers have mixed results to the effects of teaching kids yoga at an early age. The results of many studies were not conclusive since these varied and oftentimes focused more on one specific mood of the child. Many other loopholes were present in some of the studies due to time constraint. Other yoga devotees believed that the study needed longer time and more yoga sessions to have a better effect.

There were increased flexibility of the children’s bodies after several sessions of kids yoga and some children who felt anxious before entering a yoga session would leave feeling better or less anxious. There were improvements in the child’s aspect of self worth but these were not as great as one would expect.

Of course, since the kids yoga study only covered a small group of female children much doubt was cast on whether the results were inconclusive or even reliable. The size (number of children) of the control group was pointed out as too little.

Many experts hypothesized that the results turned out his way because children at a young age have less problems and do not seek enlightenment at all. Teaching them kids yoga would have been an exercise at futility because most kids are naturally limber and flexible at a young age and they are carefree enough not to be affected by daily problems.

Many other studies have tried studying children with disorders and the effect of kids yoga on them. These theories could have merit but many people who are devotees of yoga still believe that there are benefits to teaching kids yoga.