Explore the fun of yoga poses with your child

Yoga is an effective form of exercise. It not only rejuvenates your body but also your mind and soul. Yoga has many benefits when you practice it on regular basis. Make the habit of practicing yoga along with your child, let them also understand the benefits of yoga. The best time to practice yoga is early in the morning. What are the yoga poses which you should practice with your child.

Explore the fun of yoga poses with your child 

· Pranayama

The very first step to start your yoga practice is pranayama. It helps your body & mind to relax and get prepared for yoga practice. Pranayama helps in developing your concentration. Practice pranayama with your child. 

To practice pranayama, you ask your child to sit comfortably and breathe in through nose (pause) and out the nose (pause). Repeat this for few moments then slowly open your eyes. 

· Child’s yoga pose

Child’s pose is very helpful for your internal organs (such as brain, heart, lungs, stomach) through bringing fresh oxygen. This pose helps the internal organs to function with fullest capacity and also improves your digestive system.

To practice child’s pose, ask your child to sit on the heels, lower the forehead to ground & extent the arms way out in front of you. 

· Adho Mukha Svanasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana is also termed as downward facing dog pose. This yoga pose helps in strengthening the muscles and improve the flexibility of joints & spine. You should practice this yoga pose with your child. 

To practice dog pose, ask your child keep the hands under shoulders, knees upper hips, curl the toes under, straighten the legs & arms. Now hold this pose for the count of 3 breaths and carefully release the pose. 

· Vinyasas

Vinyasas are number of yoga poses that have to be practiced without rest. These yoga poses increases the heart beats which gives strength to heart muscles and boost up with energy. These yoga poses helps in improving the skills required to move different body parts so that we can change our position. 

Practice the downward facing dog pose and child pose together. Let your child start with dog pose, lower to all fours and move into the child’s pose and then return to all four then to dog pose, after this back to all fours and the child’s pose. Now take some rest here.

· Make up yoga poses together

Yoga poses should be creative for child. You should encourage your child to make up innovative yoga poses and term them. This is great for practicing language skills. Make up poses together can include many things such as animal sounds, natural gestures etc. 

· Vriksasana

Vriksasana is a balancing pose that helps in improving the concentration for long time. You should practice this yoga pose with your child.

To practice vriksasana, just imagine that you are a tree with roots. Now let your child begin with a standing position with your palms touching & thumbs resting on your heart. First of all your child need to shift his/her weight on left leg and lift the right foot to inner thigh with knee facing out. Pause for some time (until he/she can manage comfortably) and then repeat the same with other leg. 

· Partner & family yoga pose

This yoga pose will help to build good relationship skills and it will be a fun as well. Let your child practice this yoga pose with you and experience the fun of this yoga.

To practice this yoga pose, you need to assume the dog pose and ask your child to crawl under you. After this let her/him do the dog pose and turn your head to the side to face yours and then rub the noses together. 

· Shavasana

This is a very important yoga pose that have to be performed at the end of yoga session. This is a relaxation pose that helps to relax your body, mind and soul. 

To practice shavasana, ask your child to lie on your back, palms at side facing up and legs fall off to the side. Now close your eyes and try to concentrate on breath moving in and out through your nose.