Yoga’s good for a giggle
AN OLD FORM OF EXERCISE IS REACHING OUT TO A NEW FOLLOWING, WRITES KERSTIN KEHREN
Practising yoga can build children’s self-esteem, teach relaxation skills and improve concentration, according to child and family counsellor and yoga instructor Linda Ryan. “I just make sure that the activities are fun and engaging and aimed at their age and ability level. Parents have said that children have been happier, calmer and more focused, as well as getting better with others,” she said. A free class is held each Thursday from 3.30pm.
PRACTISING yoga can build children’s self-esteem, teach relaxation skills and improve concentration, according to child and family counsellor and yoga instructor Linda Ryan.
The Cairns resident facilitates a weekly Rainbow Kids Yoga class for children at Hambledon House Community Centre in Edmonton.
The free class is offered each Thursday from 3.30-4.30pm and is suitable for kids aged 7-10.
While the format of a class can vary, it will generally begin with breathing work and a warm-up.
“Then we go into yoga poses and then usually a game and we usually end with relaxation, such as guided imagery (or) progressive muscle relaxation,” Ms Ryan said.
The yoga instructor uses a number of techniques to keep the kids engaged in her class.
“For this age group, I just make sure that the activities are fun and engaging and aimed at their age and ability level,” she said. “We have a lot of variety in the activities and social interaction.
“A kid’s yoga class is different from an adult yoga class in that it’s very interactive.”
She said she used a lot of praise and positive reinforcement to build up the children.
Ms Ryan said parents bring their children to the Thursday class for a variety of reasons.
“(It’s) mainly just to have fun in a non-competitive environment and for exercise and to learn relaxation skills,” she said. “Parents have said that children have been happier, calmer and more focused, as well as getting on better with others – and they’ve been very excited to practise their yoga poses each week at home.”
While Ms Ryan stresses that yoga benefits everyone, it can be particularly useful for certain children. “It can help particularly children with high stress levels and anxiety, concentration difficulties or low self-esteem,” she said. Rainbow Kids Yoga is held at Hambledon House Community Centre, 177 Bruce Hwy, Edmonton, each Thursdays, 3.30pm-4.30pm The class is free but bookings are essential. Contact Linda Ryan at l.ryan@cairns.qld.gov.au or call 07 4044 3410.