YOGA FOR HEALTH YOGA FOR HEALTH IN CHILDRENIN CHILDREN

Yogacharya Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANIDr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANIMBBS, ADY, DSM, DPC, PGDFH, PGDY,FIAY

CHAIRMANInternational Centre for Yoga Education & Research,

Ananda Ashram, Pondicherry, South India  

““Children are the wealth of Children are the wealth of tomorrow- take care of tomorrow- take care of

them if you wish to have a them if you wish to have a strong India”strong India”

- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

INTRODUCTION• Children are a unique segment of population • Have very specific health needs • More than 40% deaths are seen below 5 years • Age of both physical and mental growth • Stressful periods (puberty and adolescence)• Stress of academic pressures• Need outlet for creativity & abundant energy • If youthful energy isn’t canalized properly -

socially deviant behaviors such as truancy and juvenile delinquency

BENEFITS OF YOGA FOR CHILDREN

• Prevention is better than cure• Improved immunity• Asanas, Kriyas, Basic Mudras & Pranayama

stabilize & balance the energies • Develops and strengthens all systems and

develops flexibility of the body• Yoga provides the balance, which is lacking in

most other sporting activity• Various disorders such as Childhood Asthma

and Diabetes may be controlled

• Better coordination, concentration, mental calmness and attention span in ATHD, MR and other mental disabilities

• Reduced duration, frequency and severity of epileptic attack

• Reduce anxiety and aggressive behaviour• Asanas tone up abdominal area and helps

relieve/control functional abdominal pain, juvenile DM, hepatic and renal disorders

• Loma Viloma : – flexibility, balance, control, strength and

endurance are developed– helps improve and regain lost power and function

in children suffering handicaps

• Pranayama:– improves academic performance of slow

learners– internal cleansing – improves lung function, heart function,

speed of reaction and cognition – develops an integrated personality – synchronized use of the breath with

movement can bring about revolutionary effects on performance & improved state of mind, emotions and all round health

• Children are prone to glandular imbalance • Homeostatic influence on the psycho-

neuro-immuno-endocrine system and thus both the hypo as well as the hyper functioning of the system is controlled and equilibrium is attained

• Proper and proportional growth and development through Yoga

• Positive anabolic growth in children -genetic potential attained

• Inculcation of Yogic values– prevent problems that children face as they grow into

young adults – social life is improved- children also influence elders – mental solace and ethical strength – never become asocial or anti social beings and will

have a positive self image of themselves– substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and other

social disorders that plague modern youth can be prevented as well as controlled

• Yogic concepts - Only a ‘quiet mind’ and ‘controlled body’ can produce real ‘skill in action’

• Yogic relaxation – counterfoil to the extreme stress of

competitive pressures – fosters mental, emotional and physical health – Concepts of ‘Spanda-Nishpanda or ‘exertion-

relaxation-exertion-relaxation’ in an alternating rhythm

• Yoga provides a more conscious and aware outlook of the whole phenomenon of human life on earth

• Makes the child a more valuable member of the human social unit

TEACHING YOGA TO CHILDREN• Never forget that Yoga is fun• Stimulate interest in ‘Concepts of Yoga’• Emphasis should be on movement initially • Emphasize breath - movement correlation • Adequate relaxation at end of class • Follow the ‘carrot’ approach • Jovial advise on diet and pitfalls of modern vices • Periodic discussions with parents • Yoga family - emotional and psychical bonding • A happy home makes a happy child

• Karma Yoga activities encouraged at home• Importance and power of prayer - emotional and

mental strength• Antenatal period of the mother is an important

contributor to the child’s health. • Strive to bring the young ‘mothers-to-be’ into the

Yoga fold as a healthy baby is spawned from a healthy mother

• Young girls must be stimulated to take up Yoga as it may help to prevent many genetic and congenital disorders in their offspring as well as help them have a safe delivery

YOGA SPORT : A TOOL TO REACH CHILDREN

• Yoga Sport– a ‘fact’ in today’s Yoga world • Outlet for the competitive spirit, drive and energy• Learn to accept the ‘highs’ with the ‘lows’ • Enthusiastic participation more important • Intense practice -develop amazing skills• Meeting point –positive peer pressure• Shaken out of the complacency • Competitive edge sharpens & focuses the body

awareness, greater accuracy and perfection

IMPORTANT YOGA PRACTICES FOR CHILDREN

• Play Yoga- Yoga frolics• Asanas : animal and bird poses• Pranayamas: sounds and breath• Kriyas: Children enjoy adventure • Mudras: pre-puberty- no topsy turvy• Relaxation: very important• Yoga theory: wholistic development

CONCLUSION

• Yoga practices and values need to be introduced early to children and youth

• Health and happiness can be attained• Yogic qualities are to be imbibed with joy, and

not learnt with fear or compulsion • Parents and teachers must reiterate the

importance of Yoga by example • Our duty is to make them aware & conscious

of these wonderful concepts of daily living 

ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS A SMALL SPARK

TO ILLUMINATE THEIR LIVES WITH

YOGA FOREVER

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