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Helpful tips from Shakta Kaur Khalsa,
author of Fly Like a Butterfly
"C
reate a special time of the day for yoga. Take some time in the morning or evening, and follow it with a deep relaxation.
Make a “sacred space.” Use a small table or cover a box with a cloth. Decorate it with pictures and objects that have special meaning for your child. Use a candle for focus during a meditative yoga time.
Begin by closing your eyes, and taking a few deep breaths. Remember: F-U-N, those three little letters that are so important! Entice your child with interesting, imaginative, engaging exercises. Challenge them using a timer (“Let’s see how long you can stay up in that pose with deep breathing!”). Reach into their inner-self using your intuition and light-hearted humor rather than your intellect.
How long is good to do yoga? With preschoolers, ten to fifteen minutes is a good start. Each exercises lasts 30 seconds to 1 minute. You can add more time as they get used to it, and develop the ability to stay focused. Elementary-age children can easily keep up for twenty minutes, including a few minutes of deep relaxation, and perhaps a meditation of a few minutes. Of course, each individual child is different. You will know best what the capacity of your child is. Remember, it is better to start simply, and build gradually."
Abinashi Khalsa adds, "Relationships are important at all ages. Building strong relationships as a child will lead to more healthy and mutually beneficial relationships in maturity. Here are a couple of meditations that teach children to cooperate and have fun with a partner, which is great for learning to get along. You may practice with your child or your child may practice with other children under your supervision."
"Washing Windows: Sist across from your partner with your legs crossed. Sit very straight, look into each other’s eyes, and offer a greeting. Put the palms of your hands together with your partner’s. Pretend you are washing a window. Move your hands slowly in circles with your partner. Try to tune into your partner, and she will tune in with you. Try to move where she wants to move, and she will move where you want to move. Be sensitive and keep going for a minute.
The Sunflower: This works best if there are four or more of you. Sit down in a circle with everyone’s legs stretched out in the center. These are the petals of the sunflower. Close the petals by stretching forward and touching your toes, bringing your face close to your knees. Start to sit up slowly and open your arms as you breathe in.
Slowly keep leaning back, controlling the movement with your stomach muscles, until you are lying on the floor with your arms out to the sides. Breathe out as you go down. Relax and stay open. Using your stomach muscles to help you, sit up very slowly. Let your arms be out in front to help pull you up slowly as you breathe in. Slowly lean forward and rest your hands on your legs or toes as you breathe out gently."From the book: “Fly Like A Butterfly”, Copyright, Shakta Kaur Khalsa www.childrensyoga.com
