Dear Yogi/nis

It’s March already and Mother’s Day too which started me thinking about family and yoga. You might not have children in your home, but maybe you have god-children, grand-children, nephews or nieces that come to visit and so it might still be relevant to you.

Bu then yoga is such a sacred, intimate, and normally quiet practice whilst family life can be busy, noisy, and chaotic. Should they fit together? Can they?

There are many benefits.

You’ll be well aware of the benefits yoga brings you but for children, it can help with concentration, making them more self-confident and help them manage stress and avoid mental health difficulties later in life.  Schools have introduced yoga and mindful meditation and have seen the results, so if your school isn’t providing this your home is a perfect place to start. It can also give them the attention that they so often crave from adults and provides a positive activity to do together to promote continued bonding.

Whilst here at Aquarius Yoga we might not offer yoga groups for children, they can start practicing yoga at any time, as long as you take into account their activity levels their attention span and what their bodies’ needs. 

The easiest way to start is at home by simply letting them observe you during your practice, and encourage them to join you if they show that they’re interested. 

If you have enough space in your home it can help to set up a calm space where mats are always ready for anyone to practice.  This way you can show them the importance of quiet time just as much as social time.

Family yoga at home can happen in brief spontaneous bits throughout the day, but because children benefit from routine, it might be an idea to take regular times to slow down, connect with the present.

Transition times such as between sleep and wake, or between school and the evening at home might be a good time to catch 5 or 10 minutes to breathe and move together. Three rounds of sun salutations or a few partner poses where you might balance together can set the tone for a relaxed and engaging day or evening. Enjoy their creativity by letting them explore their own poses and breaths and let them name them too or make up stories and characters for them. Then it becomes their practice as much as yours.
Mealtimes can be a great opportunity too, not for poses but maybe for being mindful, slowing down and noticing, reflecting together.
Bedtime is another great time for it. It will help the nervous system work through any stress hormones left over from the day and can be a chance for you to talk together and process emotions from the day. To encourage sleep, a bedtime ritual with a gentle round of Om can be like a lullaby. 

It’s important to remember though that if we wish to get children involved, it should never be a chore or a task. Yoga as a family goes beyond physical poses and embraces how we consider our lives, our connection together as a family, and how we navigate the world making choices and interacting with others.

Normal schedule from Monday 04 March – Friday 12 April. No class on Monday 18 march due to minor repairs in Market hall.

Om Shanti