Tiny Yogi Adventures: 5 Easy Yoga Exercises for Kids to Boost Their Concentration

While more or less, we all are aware of the benefits of yoga and meditation for adults, kids equally benefit from them. Today’s kids spend more time indoors, plugged into various electronic gadgets. As outdoor activities or playtime is next to non-existent for kids, yoga plays a crucial role in keeping them physically active and mentally fit.

A thorough study published in the National Library of Medicine discusses in detail how mobile phones affect kids’ learning and memory. (1) The dwindling cognitive strength of kids due to the distraction caused by smartphones is a matter of great concern. When screens dominate children's attention, it's crucial to find balance. Parents might be constantly on the lookout for activities that not only engage the little ones but also improve their psychological capacity and overall well-being. When parents help kids to include basic yoga asanas in their routine, the shift in their behaviour, performance and activities becomes noticeable.

Another study shows how yoga is beneficial for young minds. (2) From improving their physical strength, focus, coordination, concentration, balance, and flexibility to protecting them from mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHD and more, yoga improves their lives. So let’s explore the best yoga poses for kids and how they improve kids’ concentration power.

Top 5 Yoga Asanas for Kids

Here is a list of yoga steps for kids that every parent should inspire them to add to their routine:

1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

One of the simplest and most basic yoga poses for kids, it only asks you to stand tall like a mountain with feet at hips’ width apart, hands stretched straight downward or upward in a namaste positioning and feet touching the ground. Advise your kid to start his/her yoga routine with this pose for better stability and balance.

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2. Tree Pose (Vrikshasana)

This asana asks the kid to stand straight on one foot and the other foot remains folded and supported against the straight foot’s knee. Fold the hands in a downward namaste pose or do the namaste pose over your head or stretch the hands separately toward the sky like tree branches. This pose enhances balance and concentration while improving core muscle strength.

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3. Butterfly Pose (Baddha Konasana)

Sit on the ground or on a mat with legs folded inward and soles pressed against each other. Now stretch your hands forward and place them under the feet as you cuddle them. It gives a butterfly wing-like shape that makes it pretty easy for kids to do yoga at the beginner level. It releases stress from the groin area and improves the movement of pelvic floor muscles. This yoga for children helps kids get relief from mild anxiety and depression.

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4. Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)

Simply ask your kid to lay on their stomach with the legs tightly pressed against the surface and the torso resting on two arms stretched forward on palms’ support. Now ask your kid to slowly move their head backward for the best stretch. From improving mood, strengthening the back muscles and improving posture to ensuring a healthy spine, cobra pose is one of the perfect yoga activities for kids.

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5. Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Stand straight on your feet, and slowly move downward to rest against your knees and toes. Now keep the palms pressed against the floor, slowly remove your knees from the floor and let your soles and palms handle the entire body weight. It might seem a bit tricky at the beginning but it's another variation, down dog against a wall is pretty simple. Instead of putting your weight on your palms, you stand against the support of the wall with your palms resting on the wall. This pose promotes flexibility in the spine, hamstrings, and calves.

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Introducing yoga into your child's routine is like taking them a step forward to a world of physical and mental well-being. Let your child be at the top of his/her health by influencing him/her to practice these basic yoga asanas from a young age. These are perfect asanas to continue throughout life. 

As parents, we understand the constant struggle you face to balance screen time and engage your children in meaningful activities. To take this adventure a step further, let them play engaging and educational games of Skillmatics. From games like Peek-A-Boo Jungle Themed Cloth Book, flashcards for toddlers, Dot It! with Magnets Art Kit and animal-themed no-mess art kits to underwater animal-themed floor puzzles, marvel-themed trivia card games, Search & Find Reusable Mats or educational & clever category board games, the options are endless on Skillmatics. Foster a holistic approach to your child's development!

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7425970/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3980104/