Yoga strengthens muscles, builds coordination and confidence and helps children to relax and regulate their emotions, says Victoria Tso.
Yoga offers a holistic approach to supporting children with additional needs, addressing physical, emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of their development. By making yoga accessible and engaging, children can experience benefits from improved physical health to enhanced emotional regulation and social skills. Whether through personalised one-to-one sessions or interactive group classes, yoga can be a valuable tool in the well-being of children with special educational needs.
Yoga helps balance and coordination. Many yoga poses require children to maintain balance while holding specific postures. This practice strengthens their muscles and improves their overall coordination. There is no base level required to get started, unlike with many other physical pursuits. We can begin with simple breathing techniques to build lung strength and work from there.
For children with physical disabilities or motor skill difficulties, yoga can help improve flexibility and muscle strength, making daily activities easier and more comfortable. Yoga also teaches children how to relax, manage stress, and regulate their emotions. Mastering yoga poses can also boost a child’s confidence. As they learn new poses and see their own progress, they develop a sense of accomplishment, which can improve their self-esteem and overall sense of well-being.
Group yoga classes offer opportunities for social interaction. Children learn to share space, take turns, and interact with peers in a structured environment, which can help improve their social skills and foster a sense of community. Being part of a yoga class can help children feel included and accepted. Many yoga activities involve listening to instructions and communicating with the instructor and peers, enhancing verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
Children’s yoga often involves imaginative play, such as pretending to be animals or objects during poses. This can stimulate creativity and imagination, helping children develop their creative thinking skills. Children’s yoga classes are also full of a wider variety of activities than adult classes, with mandala drawing, mindful crafting, and other opportunities for creativity usually included.
Try this at home
There are lots of yoga techniques you can do at home. Breathing techniques, simple stretches, and moving meditations such as mandala drawing are all great examples. One simple breathing exercise is Balloon Breath. Children imagine their lungs as balloons. They take a deep breath in through their nose, filling their “balloons,” and then slowly exhale through their mouth. This helps calm the nervous system and improves lung capacity. Bee Breath and Snake Breath (where children make a humming or hissing sound while exhaling) has a soothing effect on the mind and body. Feather Breathing involves blowing a feather gently, which encourages controlled breathing and can be a fun way to practise breath regulation. It also makes the breath visual, which can be more engaging for younger children.
Victoria Tso
Victoria Tso is a children's yoga teacher, early years teacher, and the founder of the Inner Child Yoga School.
Website: innerchildyogaschool.com