Star Kids Yoga

“Children benefit immensely from the practice of yoga. The physical benefits are enormous. Yoga not only works the muscles, but it massages the internal organs at the same time. So, while children utilize every muscle from their biceps to their baby toes, they are also taking care of their kidneys and stomachs, thyroids, pituitaries, and every organ in between. This allows for healthy regulatory, digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems, to name a few. In my opinion, however, the primary benefit really comes from the peace and equanimity that yoga fosters. Yoga provides a non-competitive forum where every child is perfect. When children learn new poses, they have strong senses of accomplishment and pride without ever having to win or lose. In yoga, children are encouraged to practice deep breathing for stress control, meditation for focus and concentration, and respect and love for themselves, the earth and all its inhabitants.” - Parenthood Online Magazine

"Although yoga has enjoyed popularity with adults for many years, it's only recently that we have understood how helpful it can be for children, increasing their self-awareness, building self-esteem, and strengthening their bodies. It's truly a welcome oasis of mindful, yet active, play. And, by the way, the key word is play. What children care most about is having fun. While adult yoga can be as serious as a person makes it, children's yoga has got to be a blast!

Besides having a good time, children who practice yoga experience numerous benefits--increased learning capacity and mental alertness, better coordination, and improved self-discipline, to name a few. A child's yoga practice can also benefit the adult, since a happy child makes a happy parent." - "Mothering", issue 99, March/April 2000

"Why yoga for children? Ten years ago, that question was most likely asked about martial arts. Now there are classes for children at martial arts studios around every corner. And, like martial arts, yoga develops many wonderful qualities in children. In addition to the obvious benefits of exercising the physical body, both sharpen the child's ability to focus and give self-confidence and self-discipline. And yoga, practiced regularly, helps children become aware of themselves from the inside out. From this awareness, children can change and grow in new and positive directions." - Yoga for Children? Yes!

"For children, practitioners say, yoga's physical and mental benefits are the same as for adults: improvement of strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, focus, and the ability to deal with stress. Children of the fast-paced, media-saturated 21st Century can turn to yoga as an avenue for relaxation, they say. The non-competitive nature of yoga also offers an opportunity to embrace all body types, which are generally narrow for specific sports, even for such individual activities such as ballet or gymnastics. 'In yoga practice a child cannot be wrong,' says Shana Meyerson, owner of Mini Yogis in LA. 'The child does not have to worry about being picked last for the team or being ridiculed if she can't 'perform' as well as other children. Children who usually shy away from physical activity suddenly have a physical outlet in which they can succeed and shine.'"
- LA Parent Magazine, May 2003