Are the kids having winter holidays and you finding it hard to keep them entertained indoors? Are you looking for an activity that keeps all of you engaged at the same time?
Then why not give yoga a shot?!
Yoga not only improves flexibility but it also relaxes and calms the mind and body.Yoga is not as complicated as you think it to be.
Try out these 10 yoga moves that you can do with your kids:
- Frog pose
Kids love to imitate animals. And nothing can get them wanting to do yoga more than this pose.
This posture helps in relaxing the back muscles, especially for all those kids who carry heavy bags to school.
Keep your feet a little wide and slowly squat down. You can place your hands on the floor for better balance or keep then in a prayer position.
- Tree pose
This is a fun pose that stretches your spine and even strengthens your legs, along with improving your sense of balance.
Stand straight keeping your legs together. Shift your weight to one leg and lift your other leg and place it on the inner thigh of the opposite leg.
- Bridge
This posture is great to strengthen your spine and build your core muscles. Sit on the floor with your knees bent. Place your feet apart with the gap equal to that of the shoulders.
Place your hands behind you on the floor and lift our hips off the floor, keeping your hips straight.
There are several variations to this posture. Try the basic ones first before you experiment with the rest.
- Triangle
This is a fun pose that children usually do during their little games of ‘Simon says’.
Stand with your feet wide apart bend to one side and place your hand close to the knee to hold your calf. Continue pointing the other arm towards the sky. Hold for a few seconds and repeat on the other side.
- Partner boat
Boat pose is a great way to exercise your tummy and leg muscles.
It is a pair exercise. Both partners sit on the mat facing each other. Raise your legs in the air and let the base of your feet touch completely, along with holding the palms of your hands together. Hold for a few minutes and bring to the normal position below.
- Cat or cow pose
This is a good strengthening exercise for your back and spine. Sit on the floor with knees on the floor and your palms touching the floor and your back kept straight in imitation of a cow.
While inhaling stretch your back up like a cat, with your head titled upwards. And when exhaling stretch your back like a cow, tucking your back inwards.
- Plank
This is a strengthening pose for both adults and children. It strengthens your back and spine.
Lie on the ground with your face towards the ground. Line your arms in-line with your shoulders.
Raise your body off the floor using the support of your elbows and only your toes. Keep your body straight with your core tightened.
The key is to maintain a straight back or body, else you will injure yourself.
You can have a competition among the kids of who hold the plank position for the longest period of time.
- Dog down ‘V’ pose
This pose strengthens the shoulders and improves your sense of balance.
Start by lifting or raising your hips from the ground. Keep your feet wide apart on the same level as your shoulders and your hands in front of you, till you reach a comfortable position.
Basically your body should be in a ‘V’ shape for onlookers.
- Sandwich pose
This is a pose that all kids will get easily due to the fact that they are so flexible. Sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Bend your body forward and touch your toes. Inhale when you are sitting upright and exhale when you bend forward to touch your toes.
This is one great abs workout. Hold the position for a few minutes and come back. Repeat till the fun lasts.
- Sky scraper pose
This pose is a good stretch. Stand up straight and hold your hands above your head. Clasp your hands together facing towards the sky. Feel the stretch and hold for a few seconds and repeat.
This is a great way to feel fresh in the mornings.
Adopt yoga as part of your daily lifestyle and feel yourself grow healthy both physically and mentally, along with becoming flexible.
