Yoga loosens young bodies and minds

By Kelly Yates
CHILDREN at a Narre Warren childcare centre are loosening their limbs and improving their balance through the art of yoga.
The Long Day Care Centre at the City of Casey Childcare Complex is offering free yoga classes for the three to five-year-olds every Monday at no additional cost for parents.
City of Casey manager for children’s services Colette McMahon said the yoga classes taught children how to have fun with yoga.
The yoga program at the Webb Street childcare centre is run by Just Kids Yoga, and the classes introduce eclectic yoga practice with creative activities to stimulate a child’s imagination.
It encourages the development of children’s balance, coordination, inner strength, confidence and self-esteem, body awareness, relaxation, breathing skills and concentration.
The children participate in activities such as imitating the way animals move and the noises they make, playing percussion instruments while walking in rhythmic ways and weaving stories with both their bodies and minds.
Children’s yoga teacher Heather Blashki from the Australian Institute of Yoga agreed that children from the ages of three to five years of age would benefit from yoga.
“The main aim for the children is to have fun but at the same time it helps them improve their concentration and breathing techniques,” she said.
Ms Blashki said introducing yoga to children at such a young age was a fantastic idea and recommended that all childcare centres launch a qualified yoga program.
“The children have no pressure to perform in yoga classes. It’s not competitive at all,” she said.
“It’s not about achieving; it’s about finding your mind, body and soul.”
Ms Blashki said in the 19 years she had been teaching children’s yoga, the feedback from both children and parents had been positive.
“Some parents have said that it has helped with their child’s asthma and also improved their concentration levels,” she said.