We don’t know about you, but over the past year we’ve been doing some deep breathing. And we mean a lot. It turns out, all of those breathing exercises can actually be applied to a productive hobby — Yoga!

While many adults find yoga to be a great hobby, is it good for children as well?

Short answer: Yes! Yoga can provide tons of benefits for children, from keeping them physically fit to improving their mental health. Here are just a few of the benefits that yoga for kids can provide.

1. Yoga helps form social relationships

Hobbies are a great way for your children to form connections with their peers. While yoga can be an individual activity, there are plenty of yoga classes that your child can attend and meet other children their age. Not only will they be able to have a fun time exercising with friends, but most yoga classes play music to help children enjoy class even more 

2.Yoga can improve cognitive functions

Practicing yoga is a great way for your children to improve their concentration and cognitive functions. Why is that you ask? Various yoga routines for kids require a good amount of concentration in order to make and hold the different yoga poses.

Many poses also require a lot of focus on balance and breathing. All in all, yoga is a wonderful way for your child to stay in the moment and focus on one action at a time rather than jumping between activities.

3. Yoga improves strength, flexibility, and breath control

There are hundreds of different types of poses in yoga, and each can help strengthen a different part of the body. By taking classes or just practicing yoga from the comforts of home, your child can improve their physical strength through the different poses in their routine.

These same poses can also help your child with their flexibility and posture. Yoga requires very specific body positions and concentration, which your child can use in their everyday life. 

Yoga is also a great way to help your child understand breathing control. Being able to control their breathing can help your child in stressful situations and keep them in the moment instead of panicking. 

4. Yoga is non-competitive and inclusive

Typically, the athletic activities children play are competitive sports. However, not everyone enjoys competitive activities (yes, as kids we were guilty of running the other way on the soccer field). Consequently, it’s not uncommon for kids to be turned off from physical activity if they associate it with something they don’t enjoy.  

Yoga is a fantastic option for a child that doesn't like to compete. While some children may be more experienced in yoga than others, it is never a competition, and there are plenty of different poses for children of all experience levels and abilities. The only person you can try to beat is yourself as you continually try to improve your own abilities!

5. Yoga teaches calming techniques through mindfulness

Mindfulness is a form of exercise that helps you stay in the moment and bring yourself down from a stressful situation. Meditation and yoga are two types of mindfulness exercises that you can perform, as they both rely heavily on breathing.

Breathing exercises are extremely helpful when it comes to regulating your mood and behavior. Your child can learn these breathing techniques to help calm themselves down even when they aren't practicing yoga.

6. Yoga teaches self-awareness

Yoga requires a lot of focus not only on posing and breathing, but also on the connection between your mind and body. You have to be fully aware of what every part of your body is doing in order to pose properly and keep yourself balanced (both mentally and physically).

Children are not born able to do this; but yoga is a fantastic way for them to begin experiencing the connections between their mind and body. In turn, they’ll begin to understand themselves better. 

7. Yoga reduces stress and anxiety

Yoga is a wonderful way to improve your mood. As you breathe and move, endorphins are released, which also acts as a stress reliever. 

While we may want to believe that children have it easy, there’s a lot of stress packed into their lives.  “Unseen” stress is real — many children struggle because they don't know how to vocalize what they are feeling. Yoga can help them relieve that stress in a positive and effective manner.

Yoga will not only relieve stress in the mind, but in the body as well. The various poses involved can relieve the tension the body builds up, especially in the neck and back. This will help children feel more relaxed and healthy in a fun way.

8. Yoga is a healthy way to have fun

Who would’ve thought that children love having fun? But not every hobby is healthy for your child. While binging cheddar bunnies might seem like a sport — it turns out it isn’t all that healthy. Yoga is a great way for your child to burn some energy, make new friends, and have fun all at the same time!

Encourage your children to adopt healthy hobbies today

As you can see, yoga is a fantastic activity that your child is sure to enjoy participating in! Every child needs a hobby, and starting yours off with something exciting like yoga is bound to keep them healthy and happy.

What is your child's favorite physical activity? Do you want to get them involved in a fun and healthy hobby that they'll love?

If so, you should consider signing your child up for yoga today! For more helpful parenting advice, continue reading our blog today.