No adult can compete with the active nature of children. This hyperactivity is attributed to the highly processed foods they consume. Other factors are the activities depicted on television and in comic magazines. They copy or ‘act out’ the movements of the superheroes. In home electronic games, you can see that the trend is moving towards more violence, and this is quite alarming as this type of scene can become the acceptable norm for our children to live with.

But parents need not worry. Now there are children’s yoga programs designed for our little ones who can take advantage of the abundant energy that flows from them. It has been observed that children up to 4 years old will have no difficulty following a 30-45 minute yoga session. Yoga postures develop their motor skills and stimulate their creativity; as they move from one posture to another they are usually named after animals.

Here are some simple yoga poses for kids:

1. SUN SALUTE: This is a fluid movement pose and counter pose and will be fun for the kids.

2. WARRIOR POSE: This pose improves the muscles of the legs and arms, promoting stability.

3. EAGLE POSE: Eagle Pose improves balance, as children tend to wobble a bit because their muscular system is still developing.

4. TRIANGLE POSTURE – good for the spine; preventing scoliosis especially for girls who tend to grow faster at a certain age. This pose aligns the spine as the surrounding muscles are stretched equally.

5. COBRA POSTURE: This pose increases the flexibility of the spine and is also a good cure for ‘bedwetting’.

6. RABBIT POSE: This pose stretches your back muscles.

7. THE LOBSTER POSE: This pose is great for your back and spine and helps prevent bedwetting.

8. LION POSTURE – Releases tension and irritability. Kids usually get a lot of laughs doing this pose!

9. PRANAYAMA – Simple breathing that calms children.

Yoga for children should be fun and under the careful guidance of adults. The teacher must be creative in his approach so as not to bore the children. However, some postures should be avoided, especially those that will have a considerable effect on the various glands. Since these children are still in the development stage, they should be allowed to go through the phase of adolescence in their natural course when they reach that stage.