Starting young

“‘There are three values: feel good, be good and do good’…… Yogi Bhajan.
   We often think of children as care free, with very few worries and forget that they go through stress just like any adult.
   In today’s society of peer pressure, consumerism and sibling rivalry, children need time to find their own space where they can let go of any worries and concerns.
   As a Yoga teacher and a single mum with two very strong minded girls, I felt the necessity to begin teaching classes to children. As with most things, the younger you begin the easier it becomes, and as I spend a great deal of my time around children between the ages of 4-14, I began to notice how seriously conditioned by society children can be.
   There is so much stimulation around that it is hard for them to enjoy the simpler aspects of life. So I began to try to help children access naturally the tools from within so they could understand their true selves and true personalities. It is important to start by developing a positive relationship with children, giving them structure so that they are able to have a good relationship with themselves and those with whom they share their lives. They need to learn to be happy with who they are, to enjoy their own company and most of all to love themselves.
   I found success in this aim when I began to teach a group of adolescent 10-13 year olds. I say adolescent because children are growing up and developing quicker than ever before. This is a challenging age group to teach, however it has proved to be a positive experience. These children are of an age which gains great benefit from Yoga. They absorb all they learn with pleasure and enthusiasm which is truly heart warming.
   Our practice is Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. It is a very balanced, positive practice...”

Written by Indira Singh, the article continues to discuss the benefits to children of starting Yoga young, and the class structure she uses with them. This structure includes ‘tuning in’, warm up, postures e.g. the Sun Salutation sequence, relaxation & meditation and breathing exercises.