Yoga used as therapy for both kids and teenagers

Minimise aggressiveness while increasing the self-esteem of our children. More often than not, a kid's hectic or hyperactive behaviour is caused by a lack of concentration. We, as parents, try playing games and spending more time with them thinking they lack our attention; or we just take them to a doctor when we run out of ideas how to fix this problem. Ironically enough, we might just have a yoga class scheduled in the afternoon to release our own stress after worrying so much about our hyperactive child. Well, your child needs the same release. We all know the health benefits yoga has on an adult. However, not too long ago, its health benefits for children and teenagers were discovered and it's gradually being put into practise.
Among the many kinds of yoga, Asthanga yoga for instance, was created for young teenagers. Children, who reach their teenage years, start growing rapidly and their hormones run wild, which often provokes sudden aggressiveness and/or nervousness.

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"Asthanga's asana, or posture, makes them bend down a lot, which extends their spinal cord and this helps keep the nervous system calm," says Mara Guadagni, a yoga instructor specialised in kids and teenagers at 'It's Yoga Helsinki'. "It also helps rebalance their hormones."
Excessive use of TV, computer and smartphones among others, affects younger people everyday. With this in mind, children become overly active and exited; some becoming bullies and some being bullied themselves. Yoga helps them move, connect their energy and, eventually, work on focusing their energy on relaxation. With yoga, children understand when it's the time to move and be active, but also when it's a time to relax
"As human beings we need the quiet time to recharge our system. Constant alertness creates stress and stress creates hormonal imbalance," says Pia Rydman, a yoga instructor at "Tulijooga" who specialises in 'Hot yoga', practised in around 40 degrees Celsius. "Teenagers already go through a lot of changes and the body changes a lot as well. Yoga gives the opportunity to quiet down, heal the body and learn to concentrate better."
Yoga for children in practise
This new practise is not currently found too often in Helsinki, but its popularity is on the increase. A handful of yoga studios are more than willing to teach younger participants: "It's Yoga Helsinki" will start instructing children in the spring and Studio Yin would happily open a class to children or teenagers if they have enough willing kids to sign up.
"Yoga has the same effect on children, teenagers and adults," says Liisa Hanén, both yoga teacher and yoga therapist at "Studio Yin". Hanén has taught yoga to children up to seven years old and is a strong believer of the healing powers of yoga on younger minds.
"Yoga helps to get to know oneself better. When you get to have more space within you, it calms you," Hanén adds. "It helps accepting oneself and finding your own balance."
Yoga can start in the womb if we consider prenatal and post natal yoga and, surprisingly enough, mothers and their three-week old babies can practise yoga together. With each asana the mother does, a connection with her baby takes place either by physical or eye contact. The baby participates and is aware of their mum's presence. This connection promotes different physiological and psychological benefits for both the mother and her baby.

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Yoga used as therapy for both kids and teenagers