Fit Fam: The Top 10 Benefits Of Doing Yoga With Your Kids

Although I am currently childless, working with kids and showing them how to take care of their physical and mental health is super RAD to me. I thought all you Mommy FitGirl Beauties would love this kid-friendly story. I’ve recently teamed up with the worlds leading yoga gear company, Manduka and am excited to help announce the launch of their new LiveON collection. Offering yogis the first-ever 100% reclaimable and recyclable mats (for kids and adults) these RAD mats are what you and your household need to jumpstart your yogi family journey. A family that practices together stays together, so read on and learn why it’s time to “LiveON.”

MUST READ: Yoga For All: Which Type Is Best For You?

P.S. To celebrate this collection, Manduka put together a kids video starring the cutest little yogis around, so check out what these little munchkins had to say about yoga above.

1. They’ll Be Dedicated For Decades

“Kids respond well to discipline.” Hear this all the time right? Well yoga is a great way to incorporate both physical and mental elements within your already established parenting methods. When kids are involved in yoga they instantly learn discipline and the power of committing to a regular practice – all which are bound to ripple into their everyday life, activities, relationships and responsibilities for decades to come.

2. Operation Coordination

They don’t call yoga a mind body practice for nothing. Balancing and intentional focus are required in this 5,000-year-old art form, so what better way to introduce concentration and coordination to your little tyke then on a mat. From standing on one leg in Tree to propping their legs up on their arms in Crow, yoga poses allow children to learn self-control all while enhancing both their focus and physical/mental awareness.

3. Superb Self-Esteem Boost

The first time I did a proper headstand in yoga my actual head was figuratively big for days. Hello confidence. I mean accomplishment has a RADical affect on us grown folks, so can you imagine how it can also impact the little people in our lives too? Taking the proper steps to learn and master a pose can and will undoubtedly lead them to believing in and pursuing their true abilities. Yoga is cool like that – it grants children the persistence needed to achieve greatness.

4. Present Moment Power-rangers

Speaking of awareness for greatness, yoga’s also great for helping your kiddo gain body awareness. From balancing, to strengthening, to twisting, back bending, and inverting, yoga teaches children to be in the moment and analyze how their bodies move in space. Also, when they learn that yoga takes practice versus an immediate accomplishment, they learn and accept that life is a path with good days, bad days, and everything in between. At any age yoga is about the journey, not the destination, so why not introduce this powerful life lesson to your kiddos early on.

5. Kids Love To Move Like Animals

The creativity involved in kid friendly yoga classes will most likely be the driving force that causes your mini to roll out their mat time and time again. By ditching the traditional Sanskrit names and opting for more generic animal specific terms your child will love flowing from downward dog, to cat and then cow. Their ripe imaginations will also appreciate how some children’s yoga classes are framed as adventures. For instance, one day they may go on a “Jungle Safari” or a “Trip The Beach” all in attempt to incorporate self expression, creativity and playful fun.

6. Prolong Their Ability For Flexibility

And while they are having so much fun, they’ll also be instantly prolonging a gift that they were naturally born with – flexibility. Combine this with the fact that various poses like Warrior 1 and 2 assist in developing strength in their growing bodies and we have a winner yall. So what’s the gain? Optimal strength and flexibility – both which allow for fewer and less-severe injuries. This is golden in a time when kids are engaged in sports, playground activity, or even everyday rough housing.

7. Bye Bye Temper Tantrums

If your toddler’s terrible twos have extended into their pre-k days yoga may help them manage their stress a little bit better. Like all physical activities yoga releases feel good endorphins. Couple this with the breathing exercises and relaxation techniques that yoga provides and your little youngster will be tapping into their zen before you know it.

8. Yoga is R-A-D for ADHD

While yoga is beneficial for children of all ages, it has been found to be particularly so for kids with special needs. Studies have shown that the yoga benefits for children with autism and ADHD is worth exploring. In fact, Autism Key, an autism support website, says that yoga helps address kids’ heightened anxiety, poor motor coordination, and weak self-regulation – all which are things that are otherwise very difficult to achieve for special needs children.

9. Take Time Out For Thanks

The act of practicing poses encourages children to clear their minds and focus on the effort. However another layer that can help round out your child’s mini mind body practice is meditation. Since yoga teaches non-judgment and non-competition toward oneself and one another starting and ending their practice with inspirational messages or positive reflections is a nice step towards an “attitude of gratitude.”

10. It’s Eco-Friendly To Downward Dog

Last but not least, while it may be easier and less expensive to make a mat that isn’t 100% recyclable, Manduka (like most kids today) is on their eco-friendly flow. I mean yoga is all about doing well for yourself and the world you live in, so why not add some icing to your yogi cake and do something RAD for the environment too. Plus this is also Manduka’s first printed mat with animal design, so bring on those down-dogs, cat-cows and camel flow poses already! You can check out their RAD mats here.

Robbie Ann Darby (RAD Experience) is a professional FitGirl, Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer in NYC. Follow her sweaty life on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more fun health and fitness tips!