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TIPS FOR MAKING YOGA A PART OF YOUR FAMILY

Create a special time of the day for yoga. Take some time in the morning or evening, and follow it with a deep relaxation.
Make a “sacred space.” Use a small table or cover a box with a cloth. Decorate it with pictures and objects that have special meaning for your child. Use a candle for focus during a meditative yoga time.
Begin by closing your eyes, and taking a few deep breaths. Mentally or out loud recognize the inner guidance, and connect it to the universal guidance, however you perceive it to be.
How long do you practice yoga? With preschoolers, ten to fifteen minutes is a good start. Each exercises lasts thirty seconds to one minute. You can add more time as they get used to it, and develop the ability to stay focused. Elementary-age children can easily keep up for twenty minutes, including a few minutes of deep relaxation, and perhaps a meditation of a few minutes. Of course, each individual child is different. You will know best what is the capacity of your child. Remember, it is better to start simply, and build gradually.
Keep it F-U-N, those three little letters that are so important! Entice your child with interesting, imaginative, engaging exercises. Challenge them using a timer (“Let’s see how long you can stay up in that pose with deep breathing!”). Reach into their inner self using your intuition and light-hearted humor rather than your intellect.