Three Fabulous Benefits of Yoga for Kids

Yoga for kids helps them grow into adults who are more sure of themselves and are more responsible with the environment. Also, it's a sport that doesn't have a competitive element
Three Fabulous Benefits of Yoga for Kids

Written by Ángela Aragón

Last update: 30 May, 2022

Believe it or not, yoga for kids is becoming more popular and it can be used as a way to improve children’s health.

 

Until fairly recently, we thought that the most important part of kids’ lives was their education.

However, we now know that activity is essential for their development as well as for their mental health. But what exercise should kids do?

The traditional response is soccer, basketball or other sports, but there is another world outside of those.

Oriental philosophies bring with them a whole treatment for the body that seems to interest us more and more. This is shown in the recent rise in yoga, but is it good for children too?

When should children start with yoga?

yoga for kids

Keeping in mind the characteristics of children, the best thing to do is to start your children with yoga after the age of 4. 

At this time, their body structure is already solid and they already have certain psychomotor development. They’re already conscious of their own body and have certain control of it.

On the other hand, some people wonder if it is an adequate discipline for all kinds of children. The answer is affirmative.

Both introverts as well as the more dynamic children will benefit from it. Even those who show functional diversity will find its practice advantageous.

The key is to find a class that is most adequate for their personality.

There are different methods within yoga aimed at reinforcing and correcting imbalances in the body.

However, all of them provide us with the benefits that we will talk about as we continue.

Discover the advantages of yoga for children

They will learn to improve themselves without competing

children meditating

Yoga is one of the few sports where you do not win nor lose. You also can’t turn on the television and see competitions.

More so, if we compare it with other exercises, yoga is unique.

The importance of this learning is fundamental for kids. It helps encourage improvement without the goal of being better than another person or of winning a prize.

Knowing that there is a satisfaction that comes from within and that it doesn’t depend on recognition from others is essential for being happy.

Yoga for kids encourages self-knowledge

When we talk about self-knowledge, we usually think about the inside world. While it’s true that this is a fundamental piece, having a conscious relationship with our body can also help us a lot.

Being conscious of your limits and feeling capable of overcoming them gives you a sensation of power that translates into improved self-esteem. 

Also, yoga makes us feel every muscle, every bone, even every inhalation of air.

This makes it more likely that we take care of ourselves and that we respect our body’s functions. More so, we learn to l honor the space of others with the same seriousness, given that we already know that they are not our enemies, but our equals.

Learn to detect and control stress

Learn to detect and control stress

Probably the most important part is the “detecting,” since without this we cannot control it. Just like the philosophy that comes with it, the activity itself requires relaxation.

Because of that, if your emotional state is not relaxed, as soon as you are ready to practice it, you will notice the difference.

By noticing this contrast, you understand that you had an emotion inside of you that is making you feel poorly. At the same time, you can find the way to deal with it.

As adults that have lived far from this discipline, we know how difficult this is to learn to do when you are already grown.

Having this skill since childhood makes a big difference. It is a substantial tool that helps you to develop calmly and to be able to choose what’s best for you.

These are the main advantages of yoga for children. As you can see, it will help them to grow to be better behaved and to respect themselves as well as the environment they’re growing up in.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


    • Dai C, Nabors LA, Vidourek RA, King KA, Chen C. Evaluation of an afterschool yoga program for children. Int J Yoga 2015;8(2):160-161.
    • Hagen I, Nayar US. Yoga for children and young people’s mental health and well-being: research review and reflections on the mental health potentials of yoga. Frontiers in psychiatry 2014;5:35.
    • Galantino ML, Galbavy R, Quinn L. Therapeutic effects of yoga for children: a systematic review of the literature. : Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 2008.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.