Best of 2013: Benefits of Yoga
As you know, yoga is more than practicing a Downward-Facing Dog Pose at your local yoga studio. It is an ancient philosophy that includes breathing techniques, relaxation, character education, mindfulness, and physical postures.
The most popular question that readers ask is why they should practice yoga with their children and how do they get started if they don’t have any prior experience.
My goal is to provide you with the inspiration and tools to practice yoga in your home, classroom, and studio. The benefits of yoga surround us every day and I hope to help you bring yoga into your life in a way that works for you.
Below are the top articles of 2013 on the Kids Yoga Stories website, according to Google Analytics, about the benefits of yoga.
Top 3 Articles on the Benefits of Yoga in 2013:
Benefits of Yoga and Story
My passion is integrating kids yoga with story. I believe in the power of having engaging experiences through reading in action. Reading can be good for our minds and bodies. Read twenty benefits of yoga and storytelling here.
Teaching Gratitude
One of the yoga principles is Aparigraha, which could be translated as “greedlessness” or “gratitude.” As a mom, I have been thinking a lot about how to instill this value of gratitude in my daughter. Our family is about to move across the country, and it has been a special time to reflect on what we “need” and what we can give away. Going through such a huge transition has me thinking about how to teach our daughter about being grateful for our life, no matter what happens along the journey. Read the 10 Ways of Teaching your Toddler about Gratitude here.
Raising a Happy Child
The focus of the month was on Santosha (translated as “contentment” or “happiness”), one of the five personal disciplines of the yoga philosophy. When I taught for years in international schools, I was particularly curious about what makes children happy around the world. Now, as a mom to a two-year-old, I have been thinking a lot about how to raise a happy child. Below are a few things I have discovered or read over the past couple of years. Read the 10 Tips for Raising a Happy Child here.
Guest Posts on the Benefits of Yoga
Describing the benefits of yoga and how to get started with practicing yoga were two popular requests for guest posts last year. A few more articles on yoga that I wrote for other blogs:
Yoga Helps Families Stay Healthy, Brilliant Star Magazine
10 Tips for Starting a Family Yoga Practice, InCulture Parent
A Step-by-Step Guide to Have Your Family Moving, Laughing, and Storytelling Together (Zoo Theme), Educators’ Spin On It
10 Ways for Moms to Practice Yoga, All Done Monkey
10 Ways to Have Fun and Be Active with Your Toddler, Danya Banya
14 Ways that Yoga for Kids is a Great Idea, Kid World Citizen
Would you like to keep updated on other articles on the benefits of yoga? Sign up for our weekly Kids Yoga Stories newsletter by adding your name and email address to the box at the top of the page.