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Animal Yoga
If you are looking for a quiet, calming activity for your child, give animal yoga a try. Yoga helps relax children and builds focus and concentration, breath awareness and body strength.
How to do it?
Lay out your yoga mat or towel. Play some gently music if you like. Demonstrate each pose as described below. Help your child assume the correct positions. Encourage your child to take deep gently breaths, moving slowly into the next pose. Taking time with this activity is the best way to calm a busy mind and body.
Yoga poses based on animals:
Elephant Pose
From a standing position, move your feet wider than hip width apart, bend over so that you back is flat, clasp your hands together and sway your arms slowly in front of you like the trunk of an elephant. Repeat.
Cobra Pose
Lie face down on your stomach, legs stretched out straight on the floor. Place palms flat on the floor next to your shoulders, lift chest off ground, arch back and hiss like a snake. Repeat.
Bear Walk
From a standing position, bend over so that your hands and feet are on the ground and your bottom is in the air. Walk like a bear on the spot, lifting alternate feet and hands. Repeat
Cat Pose
Get down on your hands and knees. Keeping your arms straight, look straight ahead. Gently tuck your chin in to your chest and arch your back like a cat. Bring your back down gently and lift your head up to look straight ahead of you again. Repeat.
Hippo Pose
Kneel down and sit back on your heels. Slowly lean your upper body over your knees to rest your forehead on the ground. Rest your arms down alongside your body and take a few deep breaths. Pretend you are a hippo resting in the water.
Crocodile Pose
Lie flat on your stomach with your legs stretched out straight together on the floor. Rest your forehead on your hands in front of you. Take deep, slow breaths. Bring your elbows to your side and lift your body from the ground (known as the plank position) pushing up from your elbows and toes keeping your hands and elbows on the floor. Keep your neck back and legs straight, hold for as long as possible and then return to floor pose. Repeat.