One great way to keep your kids fit is by doing yoga together. Yoga doesn’t only keep them fit and prepared for later in life, but it also teaches them to stay focused, be disciplined, reduce stress and much more. The book ABCs of Yoga for Kids, written by Teresa Power and illustrated by Kathleen Rietz, is a perfect guide on how to do yoga with your kids.
Find a quiet room and hold the poses for 3 or 4 breaths. Don’t eat heavily before doing yoga, since you will be twisting your organs. And most of all, have fun together! Here are 12 poses you can do with your kids:
1. Pretzel
Sit tall in a cross-legged position. Stretch one arm across your body and rest it on your knee. Stretch your other hand behind you and breathe in deeply. Breathe in and out three or four times slowly before switching.
2. Easy Pose
Sit up straight in a cross-legged position. Softly place your hands on your knees, palms facing up. Breathe in and out deeply to calm your body.
3. Airplane
Lie flat on your belly. Lift up your chest, arm and legs. Breathe deeply before letting go.
4. Cobra
Lie flat on your tummy with your elbows bent. Slowly lift your chest so your elbows are under your chest and your legs straight behind you.
5. Elephant
Stand up straight, than fold forward. Interlace your hands, swinging them side to side like an elephant’s trunk.
6. Jack-in-the-box
Sit straight up, pulling up your knees to your chest. Wrap your arms around your knees and point your forehead to your knees, breathing out. Breathe in while lifting your head. Repeat this as often as you want.
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7. Otter
Lie on your stomach with your arms in front of you. Slowly push your chest and head up, straightening your arms.
8. Yoga
Stand straight with your feet flat on the floor. Slowly lift your arms over your head, stretching your body into a Y-shape. Stay here and breathe deeply.
9. Lion
Kneel on your shins, with your chest to your thighs. Breathe in and out. Then spring your body forward and roar like a lion.
10. Oyster
Sit up straight with the bottoms of your feet together. Slide your arms underneath your knees, touching the floor with your elbows. Breathe in and out slowly while reaching your forehead to your feet.
11. Volcano
Stand tall with your feet slightly apart. Bring your hands to prayer position. Inhale and push your hands to the sky. Exhale and move your hands to the side and then back to the centre.
12. Eagle
Stand tall. Slightly bend your knees. Place your right leg over your left one. Cross your right arm over your left one. Breathe in and out three or four times, then switch sides.
