Will you let your kid join yoga and gym classes?
It is most likely that fitness conscious mammas and papas will have kids who are equally particular about fitness. It almost seems like playtime and running around with hyper energy just isn’t enough. So, will you let your child stretch to some asanas and enroll them for a gym class. We got some experts to guide us.
What kids can do
Yoga teaches kids to be active and attain self-control. It also builds their concentration. Yoga expert Chaitanya Tirth says there are a few basic asanas that provide immense developmental benefits to children.
“Easy asanas like Sarvangasana and Halasana are known to help kids with their spinal flexibility. Halasana is one such asana that increases blood flow to the brain areas and helps with improving memory,” says Tirth who believes that a 30-minute interactive session at home can help kids immensely. Other asanas that kids can try at home, under adult supervision include Chakrasana and Surya Namaskara, which also provide several physiological benefits.
Asanas to avoid
Tirth believes children can start practicing meditation and easy asanas from five years upwards. He however believes that they should not be allowed to attempt complex asana likeChakrasana, “It’s based on breathing exercise and involves complex postures. This asanashould only be practised by teenagers, and kids of more than 14 years of age as it could have an adverse effect on their growth,” he adds.
Junior gyms too?
In the West, the trend of having gyms has taken over, but is this taking things a tad too far? Mumbai-based fitness expert Vinod Channa believes it’s controversial, though he feels it is a good thing to join the gym. Channa believes that kids also need enough nutrition that includes proteins, carbohydrates, fibres and minerals to supplement their work out. “These days, because of a space crunch in the city where kids don’t have many open spaces to play in, I feel joining the gym is not too bad an idea,” he adds.
Source: Bollywood News