Many adults around the world love to slip into their yoga clothes and get stuck into the ancient discipline. However, these days it is also possible for youngsters to get involved in the activity. Indeed, there are lines of yoga wear that start from babyhood upwards.
Among those extolling the benefits of the activity for children is author Daphne Wright, the Whitby Gazette reports. Along with artist Helen Welton, she has produced a book aimed at helping to keep youngsters fit.
Called Fun With Animal Yoga For Children, the creation is an attempt by the two women to make the discipline more accessible to the younger audience.
Ms Wright remarked: “I was teaching yoga for about ten years and a lot of people used to come to my classes and say it was a pity I didn’t do it for children, so I decided to
produce this book, with Helen’s help.”
Ms Welton, who has created illustrations detailing some of the different poses children can strike when engaging in the activity, added: “I think it can be enjoyable for children to inhabit the different animals. I’m an occupational therapist so I’m used to running groups and I know that children have quite a lot of stress in their lives.
“If they’re sitting at a desk all day it’s quite good if you can take a breath and it’s useful for children to get into a habit where they know how to relieve stress.”
She went on to note that by donning their yoga clothes and getting involved in the discipline, children can use their creativity and the exercises can also help them to “balance their emotions”.
The book is intended for youngsters to use with the assistance of adults, who can also join in.
Getting into the habit of engaging in yoga at a young age could have significant health benefits for people throughout their lives.