Yoga Practice
Yoga for Growing Kids By Yogesh Varun Our childhood shapes us for the future. It is everyone’s wish that a child receives the best education and good health as they grow. Yoga is the only complete exercise a child can receive, as it is a self development system which unite one‘s body, mind and soul. A child learns to be healthy and be humble with others. Children are flexible by nature and clear in their minds, which in deed help them achieve any challenging asana without any effort. What they learn now will set their range of movement in the muscles and joints. Children are generally hyperactive. They are always jumping and running around. They are good in nature. Some children are quiet and may seem slow in response. There are some who are either physically or mentally challenged. Irrespective, this is a right time to introduce Yoga. The time of growth is very crucial – their physical development, metabolism, memory power and immune system. The majority of children are very alert. Otherwise, they fall sleep immediately. You need not tell them, the moment they put their heads down, they go to sleep. That’s why mediation is not a right approach for them. But concentration technique can help them stay focused. Children like speed and variety. If you ask them to do the asanas slowly, they get bored. Repeating some asanas becames monotonous, as they like changes and new things – interesting and exciting – so they do more. This way the child enjoys doing Yoga tremendously. The challenge is not only for their bodies but helps them develop quickness, memory, intelligence, coordination and synchronisation in movements. It is common for children to suffer from running nose, cough, and viral fever and loss of appetite etc. Regular practice of Yoga can give them good health and good alignment in their body structures. Childhood has a big impact on adult life. Yes, Yoga is a future investment and a great gift for their lives.
We have Maya demonstrating the pose and the technique for as in this article. Maya is a very clever and obedient girl who has been learning Yoga for the past 6 years. Now she is 9 years old. She loves her Yoga class and enjoys doing all the challenging asanas and always wants to learn new things in class. Trataka The growing brain is like clay, which can be molded in whatever shape before it is baked in the oven. So we can teach the young ones to develop the habit of concentration. To attain this state, various different methods are adopted. One of the most direct, simple and yet effective, is the technique of Trataka. The methods of the practice are easy to learn and understand. Everyone can practise it and the benefits are enormous. Even children, with little effort and persistence, can gain much from it in a short period of time with some noticeable experience. The word Trataka means “steady gazing”. The practice of Trataka involves gazing at a point or an object without blinking the eyes. It is a method of focusing the eye and in turn the mind on one point to exclusion of all others. There are many types of gazing and children are taught only the external gazing with eye movements. Trataka develops the power of concentration enormously; focus of mental energy towards one point improves memory power and calms the mind.
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Gazing at a candle flame Sitting comfortably in a cross-legged pose. Light the candle and then place it on a small bench or a table so that the flame is at the eye level. Keep the candle about an arm’s length from your eyes and directly in front of you. Adjust your position so you are comfortable with spine erect. Keep gazing at the flame without blinking your eyes as long as possible the close your eyes when the tired. Try to visualise the flame of the candle internally, repeat the whole process few times.
Gazing at all directions We seldom work on our eye muscles. Just like any other muscles, the eye muscles need exercise if they are to be stronger and healthier. Much of the time, we only shift our gazing minimally from left to right, as when reading and turn our heads to look around. Moreover, I remember when I was a child, I had a good opportunity to look at the far away objects like the blue mountains, trees, birds etc. Nowadays, there are not such things available for the children. And the parents buy the latest gadgets for them to play, which is pushing them to look at close objects. We can see the number of children wearing spectacles increase from the very young age. By moving the eyes in every direction, without moving the head at all, it strengthens the muscles and helps to prevent eye strains and improve eyesight. First look up, and then look down. Now look at the far right and then look at the far left, now look at diagonally up the right corner and then look down at the left corner. Then make a full round clockwise and anti-clockwise. Then look at the tip of the nose and the eyebrow centre. Lastly, hold your index finger up about a foot from your face, and move your eyes from the index finger to the wall beyond and back. To end, close your eyes and relax.
Introducing Trataka and all the Yoga techniques at an early stage is like planting a seed now. When it grows and becomes a big tree, it can stay stronger and benefit others. Today’s children are tomorrow’s back bone of the society. They will shape our future world.
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