Teacher recommends using yoga basics for kids’ inner peace

If your child is anxious, tired, fidgety or just plain bored, it may be in their interest – not to mention yours – to show them how to do a few simple yoga basics for kids. It turns out that numerous yoga instructors and alternative health experts recommend using yoga basics poses for stressed sons, discombobulated daughters and anxious adults.

Is stress a big deal?

It is, and it's a widespread problem to boot. If you think adults are the only people who suffer from anxiety, wait until you see the statistics collected by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

The agency estimates that about 29 percent of adults will suffer from an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. While this figure may not surprise you, the data on children is pretty disquieting. The NIMH states that, among 13- to 18-year-olds, 25 percent are likely to have an anxiety-related condition over the course of their lives.

That's one-quarter of teens who will be diagnosed with a disorder caused by stress! Presumably, the lifetime risk for younger children is similarly high.

De-stressing with yoga

More than a few news agencies have published stories recently about the benefits that kids can get out of yoga. For example, an article in the Orleans Star noted that kids who attend classes at the popular daycare center Gymboree may be enrolled in yoga classes this month, at the Play and Music on Vantage Drive event.

Many parents report seeing improvements in their child's behavior and stress levels after showing them how to stretch, meditate and pose just like mommy and daddy.

Of course, frazzled parents can use the regimen themselves. After all, watching a child worrying about his or her stress level can leave you, well, stressed.

The Washington Post recently published a popular blog post listing ways that parents can help kids worry less about going back to school. And what about the parents themselves? The newspaper recommended doing yoga to "reduce your stress and awaken your joy."

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