Benefits
BENEFITS & KEY ELEMENTS OF YOGA
This was originally a fact sheet for practices I facilitated for students (K-12) who were practicing yoga as part of their gym module.
10 Benefits of Yoga (& Meditation) for Kids*
- Yoga promotes overall health and wellness.
- Yoga increases physical and mental agility by developing balance, flexibility, full body coordination, and strength.
- Yoga aides detoxification, while simultaneously boosting the body’s metabolism and immune system.
- Yoga builds self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-esteem.
- Yoga improves concentration, mental focus, and attention.
- Yoga effectively develops brain power (health) and intellect (sharpness).
- Yoga reduces stress and enables one to cope with difficult or negative emotions.
- Yoga helps develop inner peace and calmness.
- Yoga sharpens and expands universal awareness.
- Yoga builds community and encourages peace.
4 Key Elements of Yoga – Things to Remember
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Namaste! (Sanskrit greeting which literally means “I bow thou”)
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Respect and honor yourself and others.
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Asana (3rd Limb of Yoga & Sanskrit word for “seat,” used interchangeably with “pose”)
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Connect to your foundation (“seat”).
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Prāņāyāma (4th Limb of Yoga & Sanskrit word meaning the control of life-force, used to refer to breathing exercises)
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Be aware of your ability to “control” your “breath.”
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Drishti & Dhāraņā (Sanskrit words for “focused gaze” / “focal point” & “single focus” / “concentration,” which is the 6th Limb of Yoga)
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Focus your “gaze” on a point that doesn’t move, and “concentrate”.
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** BONUS: What 2 things do you remember to do at the end of every practice? **
You can find some short (and full) practices on my YouTube channel and more about yoga classes on the Class Schedules calendar.
*Adults can experience the same benefits!