During the lock down, keeping your kids healthy can understandably be more difficult with the various restrictions and distancing rules. As we continue to fight the virus it is also important to strive to stay healthy and active. The team at Pediatric Associates wants all families to continue to exercise and move for at least an hour a day. With the extra time on our hands there are many activities we can still do safely. Below we’ve explored the history, science and benefits of yoga. You and your family can participate to create a wonderful experience of life time..
Yoga
The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit language, meaning union. Yoga means union. Thousands of years ago, yoga was practiced by spiritual people to obtain enlightenment to unite individual consciousness to universal consciousness. Now the word is more commonly used as a connection between mind and body. There is scientific evidence that if you practice yoga every day, you can control your mind, decrease your heart rate, decrease blood pressure, increase digestion, increase immune response, have good quality of sleep and many more benefits. Yoga was first introduced to the west, here in Chicago on September 17,1893 during the World Parliament of Religions by Swami Vivekananda.
Yoga for Children
Yoga can be paired with other activities to teach your children how to stretch their bodies while focusing on breathing. Yoga can be done from the comfort of your home or backyard and requires no materials! You can find our favorite links at the end of the blog.
Yoga is an important activity that improves not only physical strength and flexibility but also mental acuity and mindfulness. As our society continues to be fast paced it is important for children to have an outlet to release daily stresses. Doing yoga even for a couple minutes a day promotes a strong sense of self awareness that is vital for growing minds. Dr. Arora recommends starting yoga as young as two years of age. Many schools have yoga as a part of the curriculum. It is practiced by many professional players to improve focus and concentration.
It is also taught and practiced in my corporations. There is a belief that it leads to job satisfaction and increases productivity. People practicing yoga feel connected to God and are more happy.
Benefits of Yoga
- Improved balance, flexibility, range of motion and strength
- Decrease risk of sports related injuries
- Increase performance and concentration
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Increase school grades, intellect and memory
- Discipline and focus
- Kindness and gratitude
- Respect and love
- Improving cognitive function and determination,
- Better, deeper and refreshing sleep
- Less mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.
- Less risk of infection and improved immunity.
- Autoimmune diseases, and risk of cancer may be related to stress and hence practice of yoga can decrease the risk
- When practiced with mindfulness, it can decrease the risk of diabetes, obesity, hypertension.
- Yoga is a full circle experience with physical, spiritual and psychological benefits. These benefits can help children to control and channel their energy into something positive and healthy.
Great Times to Practice Yoga
Some beneficial times to do yoga include early in the morning as a way to wake up the body or before nap/bed times to cool down, relax the body and control breathing.
Links and further reading
