Children’s Yoga Encourages Social Emotional Learning

Growing children obviously need more than “book learning” to grow into their best selves. They need direct and repeated instruction in life skills, like communication, self-awareness and regulation. Together, these skills are known as Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and are just as critical to success as happiness as the ABCs and 123s. Yoga postures and practices are a wonderful way to practice these internal skills through a physical practice. Build bodies AND minds with postures! 

Not sure where to start? We got you!

• Self-awareness: Yoga helps children develop self-awareness by teaching them to focus on their bodies and their breath. This can help them to better understand their own emotions and how to manage them. For example, a child who is feeling angry might be encouraged to focus on their breath and the sensations in their body. This can help them to calm down and regulate their emotions.
  • Bumblebee Breath: Plug your ears. Breathe in through your nose with a gentle but full breath. Then exhale slowly with a humming sound. While humming, feel the vibrations in your head, behind your eyes, in your teeth, etc. Repeat the breath, this type focusing on the vibrations in your throat and chest/back. Keep repeating the breath, moving the awareness of humming lower and lower, until you feel it in your toes.

• Self-regulation: Yoga also helps children develop self-regulation by teaching them how to control their bodies and their minds. This can help them to focus and pay attention, which are essential skills for learning. For example, a child who is having trouble paying attention in class might be encouraged to practice yoga poses that require focus and concentration.
  • Tree Pose: Balance poses are a great way to practice concentration and focus in a physical – and fun – way, and Tree Pose is a favorite! Children stand on one foot and bring the sole of the other foot to the standing leg at the ankle, shin, or thigh (NOT the knee). Their arms can be in any shape they like. While they are balancing, they can pretend to be different kinds of trees, or imagine swaying in the wind. It’s impossible to balance successfully and have a busy mind, so this is a great practice to try when you see your kiddo spiraling into worry or frustration.

• Empathy: Yoga can help children develop empathy by teaching them to be aware of the feelings of others. This can help them to better understand and connect with others. For example, a child might be encouraged to practice a yoga pose that requires them to focus on the feelings of another person.
  • Partner Poses: Team kids up into partner pairs (or you can be their partner) and explore postures that require two people. For examples of partner poses we love for kiddos, check out this article.

• Communication: Yoga can also help children develop communication skills by teaching them how to express themselves in a clear and assertive way. This can help them to resolve conflicts and build healthy relationships. For example, a child might be encouraged to practice a yoga pose that requires them to communicate with a partner.
  • Partner Poses: Working successfully with a partner requires some degree of communication. This can obviously be in the form of speech, but could also include listening to the other person’s breathing for clues about their experience in the pose, or making eye contact to be more connected.

Yoga is a safe and effective way for children to improve their SEL skills in a fun and engaging way. There is a growing body of scientific evidence to support the benefits of yoga for children’s SEL skills. A study published in the journal “Child Development” found that yoga can improve children’s self-regulation, empathy, and social skills. For more information about kids yoga, check out our schedule of classes and workshops HERE.