Breathing Exercises to Help Children Calm Down.
Today’s post is a guest post from Katie Berg, a registered yoga teacher in Southern Minnesota.
I have been practicing yoga for 8 years. When I began practicing yoga it was just another form of exercise. Not until last year did I realize how much more yoga can be. After struggling with anxiety, I turned to yoga. Yoga has lessened my anxiety more than I thought possible. I want to share with others how much yoga can benefit them, for whatever reason they are practicing. I am a registered yoga teacher and am a certified Yoga Calm for Kids teacher, and a Certified Prenatal Yoga Instructor.
Photo by Jyotirmoy Gupta on Unsplash
Why are breathing exercises important for children?
Teaching children to breathe at a young age is important. Teaching children breathing techniques will help children to self regulate, handle heavy emotions, and pay better attention. These are just a few benefits of helping children use their breathing to regulate.
Below are a few examples of Yoga Calm breathing techniques. Practice these with your children to help them calm themselves during a meltdown or stay focused during school.
Hoberman Sphere: As the sphere opens, breathe in and let the belly rise. As the sphere closes, breathe out and let the belly fall.
Deep Belly Breathing: Begin by lying on your back and place your hands on your belly. As you breathe in feel the belly rise, as you breathe out feel the belly fall, like waves in the ocean. This can also be done sitting in an upright position, with legs crossed.
Pinwheel Breath: Inhale through your nose, and as you exhale blow all of your air onto the pinwheel in order to make it spin.
Volcano Breath: Start in a standing position with palms touching at the chest. As you breathe in bring the palms above your head, like lava rising to the top of a volcano. As you breathe out let the volcano explode by swinging arms apart down to your side, and back up to where you started.
Wood Chopper: Start with hands clasped and arms above head. As you exhale bring your arms down pretending to chop wood, and as you inhale bring arms back up over head.
Child's Pose: In child’s pose, breathe into your back. As you breathe in you will feel the back rise, and as you breathe out you will fill the chest fall.
Connect with Katie!
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/katiebergyoga
