I got my girls, Kate and Isla, started with yoga as babies. My little Isla used to practice with me as an infant — getting her tummy time in and copying my seal pose. Kate started around 18 months old or so when we would tap into her ‘yoga breath’ to help tamp down the tantrums.
Yoga has been such an amazing tool for them over the years. They are well aware that the best way to calm down from really big emotions is to pause and tap into their breath. They both use poses to stretch before and after horseback riding, and their breath when they’re feeling nervous or frustrated while riding and working with their horses. Most importantly, they celebrate their bodies and what they CAN do rather than focusing on what they can't do. They both know that while the fancy poses look cool, it's far more important to maintain mobility and range of motion as we get older and to move and breathe with intention during our practice.
Yoga is a tool that they will always have with them no matter where they go in life, and I am so happy that we’ve been able to gift them with the practice.
A few positive impacts that yoga can have on the well-being of children (and teens and adults!) are below:
Yoga helps kids manage anxiety, regulate their emotions, and boost their self-esteem.
Yoga helps increase mindfulness and body awareness in kids — teaching them about their bodies and how they move.
Yoga helps with focus and memory.
Yoga develops strength and flexibility, reducing the chance of injury — especially in athletes!
Yoga reduces impulsivity, teaches discipline, and gives the ability to grant oneself grace in challenging moments
You can join us with your kids (suggested ages 4-13) in-studio every second Saturday of the month from 1 to 1:30 for a practice with Amanda Tadatada Gamble, E-RYT 200, RCYT. We offer kids’ classes at $5/participant (participating adults can use their memberships/class packs!). Got an older kid? They can participate in our regular classes for a reduced single pass or monthly unlimited.