Since the majority of human brain development occurs within the first years of life, the long-term effects of your child’s health cannot be understated. Yoga is a great way to stimulate children’s brains, minds, and physical bodies for consistent development as they grow. It also helps children with muscle memory.
Here are some easy yoga stretches to do at home with your preschooler so you can give them a great start to their day, and a jump-start to long-term mental and physical stamina.
1. Cat-Cow
This yoga exercise is good for not only the entire spine but also the thyroid and pituitary gland. These glands help with the regulation of hormones and metabolism, which can give your child more energy and more likely to do physical activity.
Begin down on all fours, with your palms underneath the shoulders and your knees underneath the hips. Take a deep breath and arch your spine as high as you can by bringing your belly button towards the spine and then hold the Cat position for two counts. Then exhale and draw your belly button towards the floor and look forwards, then hold the Cow position for two counts. Continue to alternate between the Cat and Cow positions slowly, while focusing on your breathing.
2. Child’s Pose
This yoga exercise is good for children because it increases blood flow and flexibility without the entire body. Over time this can not only help with their physical abilities in the present but increase their health for many years later.
Get on your knees to start, then on an exhale, bend forward, stretch your back, and place your forehead as close to the floor as you can. Make sure your torso is laid between your thighs and bring your arms alongside your body with palms facing upwards next to your feet. Take a few deep breaths in this position.
3. Downward Dog
This yoga pose is really good for muscle memory while running and doing sports later in life
Begin in Table Position with spread the palms wide, stack the shoulders over wrists, knees are hip-distance apart. Then raise your Body Up and Back into Posture. Then hold and breathe.
4. Cobra Pose
This yoga pose will strengthen your child’s spine, stretches the chest, lungs, and abdomen. Stretching that many muscle groups at a time can help mitigate anxiety and help cognitive ability.
Lie stomach-down on the floor with the tops of your feet on the floor. Then spread your hands on the floor under your shoulders. Press your body into the floor as you inhale and begin to straighten the arms to lift the chest off the floor. Only go only to the height at which you feel comfortable. Hold the pose anywhere from 15 to 30 seconds, breathing easily. Release back to the floor with an exhalation.
5. Gate Pose
Begin to kneel down with your knees and ankles together with the tops of your feet against the mat behind you. Straighten your right leg out to the right with the sole of your right foot pressing into the floor in line with your left knee. Rotate the right leg from the hip so that your right kneecap faces the sky. Raise your palms and arms to shoulder level and then exhale as you bend down toward the right side taking your left arm up straight over the head. Make a 45-degree angle between your left arm and the ground and elongate the entire left side of your torso.
7. Seated Twist
This will help yoga stretch and strengthen their abdominal muscles as well as internal detoxification of their organs and circulatory system.
Start off with your legs crossed, and then take one hand, and place it on your opposite knee. As you do this, keep your back tall, and twist your upper body so you can rest your other hand on the floor behind you. Hold this for a couple of 5-10 deep breaths, then release and return to facing forward. Repeat on your opposite side.
Here we have covered six yoga stretches that can help your child’s physical development, mental strength, and muscle memory. Over time this will give them a jump start in life so they can achieve what they want, have better relationships, and enjoy their lives.
