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In a shocking revelation made a few years ago, the US learnt that a quarter of its population is obese. And the trend is not showing any signs of reversal. Fifty percent of today's kids, with their unhealthy habits of overeating and idling before the television, are growing up to be overweight adults. What they need is a healthy lifestyle, a supple body and a controllable mind. This is what yoga can give them.
Kids yoga is a way of developing body awareness, powers of the mind and observation skills that boost up self-esteem and lift those drooping shoulders. Kids yoga can be fun and creative; not just the silent traditional kind that adults follow. Teach your kids these yoga poses:
Standing poses
Sunrise and sunset:
Stand straight. As you inhale, lift your arms above your head and stretch your back. As you exhale, bend down and touch your feet. Do this ten times, breathing as slowly as you can.
Side stretch:
Stand with legs wide apart and hands held like wings. Turn your feet right. Take a deep breath and bend the right knee as you exhale. Touch the right hand to the floor and the left one to your ear, while keeping both of them straight. Feel the stretch for a minute while breathing in and out slowly. Reverse the motion to stand tall. Now repeat on the other side.
Gorilla:
Stand with legs wide apart. Bend forward at the waist and let your arms hang down. Sway backward and forward like a gorilla. All the while keep your knees straight.
Balancing poses
Tree:
Stand erect and feel yourself becoming taller. Lift one leg and keep it on the other leg just above the knee. Open your arms sideways and hold them above the shoulder. Breathe slowly and maintain balance for a good amount of time. Repeat with the other leg.
Flamingo:
Open your arms like wings. Extend one foot backwards and lean forward as you make your foot horizontal to the ground. Hold the pose gracefully and unwaveringly. Repeat with the other foot.
Seated poses
Bicycling:
Lie down on the back. Bend your arms and legs and start bicycling.
Rock horse:
Lie down on your belly. Bend your knees and grab the ankles with your hands. Rock back and forth.
Fish:
Lie down on the back. Stretch your toes forward and squeeze your legs together. Now with elbows and flat palms on the ground, lift up your trunk while keeping the head and buttocks on the ground. Come down and repeat several times.
Roar:
Take a lion pose, stick out your tongue and with stretched facial muscles roar like crazy.
Dragon breath:
Sit with crossed legs, breathe in to capacity and exhale through the nose. Try to put out a lighted candle in front.
Closing (rest)
Lie down on the back and relax every part of the body. Breathe slowly and imagine that a warm light is slowly pervading your body. Imagine yourself as a star floating in the sky.
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