Yoga for sadness - emotional well-being

8/15/2023 0 Comments

Yoga for Sadness - Emotional Well-being

Yoga and Sadness

The practice of yoga can be an effective tool for children to process and move through sadness. It is important for children to know that it is okay to feel sad and that yoga can help them regulate their emotions and build resilience.
Mindfulness techniques, deep breathing exercises, and gentle movements can empower children to acknowledge and process their sadness.

Storytime

As a mum and a children's yoga teacher, I know firsthand how sadness can engolf our little ones. Life is full of ups and downs, and it's crucial that our children learn how to navigate their emotions in a healthy way. That's where yoga and mindfulness can come in.
Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a little girl who was feeling very sad. She didn't know why she was feeling this way, but she just couldn't shake the feeling. Her mum, who loved practicing yoga herself, suggested they practice some yoga together.
They started with some deep breathing exercises, inhaling through their nose and exhaling through their mouth. Then they did some simple yoga poses, like downward dog and child's pose. As they moved through the poses, the little girl started to feel more relaxed and calm.
After their yoga practice, they sat quietly and practiced mindfulness. They closed their eyes and focused on their breath, noticing the sensation of each inhale and exhale. The little girl began to feel more centered and at peace.
These practices are just a few examples of how yoga and mindfulness can help children when they're feeling sad.

Four practices that you can try with your children

Ups and Downs: Take a moment to focus on one thing in your life that you're grateful for and one thing that is hard right now. This is a great way to look at the good stuff in our life without ignoring what is hard.
Positive affirmations: Repeat positive affirmations together, such as "I am strong" or "I am loved." This can help boost your child's self-esteem and remind them of their worth. How we talk to ourselves matters.
Journaling: Encourage your child to write down their feelings in a journal. This can help them process their emotions and gain clarity.
Mindful breathing: Practice deep breathing exercises together, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. This can help your child feel more calm and centered.

Remember, it's important to validate your child's feelings and let them know that it's okay to feel sad sometimes. By practicing yoga and mindfulness together, you can help your child develop healthy coping mechanisms and build resilience for the future.

Yoga For Sadness - Practice

Join me as I lead the children through various yoga poses designed to promote emotional well-being. Throughout the session, I emphasize the importance of embracing and understanding their emotions, particularly sadness, as a natural part of life.

Yoga has been proven to enhance emotional regulation and resilience in both children and adults. By incorporating mindfulness techniques, deep breathing exercises, and gentle movements, this practice aims to empower children to acknowledge and process their sadness in a healthy and positive way. This video is aimed at children aged 7 to 12.