Hatha Yoga Helps Autism, Increases Focus, Calms Kids

Hatha yoga is good for kids

Hatha yoga isn’t just for adults—in fact, many parents invite their children to practice yoga alongside them. There are many reasons why it’s beneficial to introduce Hatha yoga into your child’s life. Here are some of the many rewards that they may reap from Hatha yoga:

Hatha Yoga Reduces Autism Symptoms

If your child is on the spectrum, practicing yoga may help him reduce the severity of certain symptoms. A study conducted in 2016 found that children with autism who practiced yoga on a regular basis saw a reduction in sleep, gastrointestinal, and behavior problems. These symptoms can be severe in autistic children, so practicing yoga may greatly improve the quality of their lives.

Hatha yoga is effective for helping other issues, including easing arthritis pain and has been shown to reduce blood pressure.

Improves Focus

Many kids have a hard time concentrating because they grew up surrounded by distractions such as smartphones, TVs, and tablets. Luckily, yoga can help children who have trouble concentrating. Practicing yoga teaches children how to focus on balancing in one pose at a time. This forces them to clear their minds of distractions and concentrate solely on the movements of their bodies. The focus that they learn on the mat will help them perform better in school and other activities.

Calming Techniques

When children become stressed or frustrated, they tend to act out by throwing temper tantrums or bursting into tears. But, these are not healthy ways to handle stress and frustration. Teach your children how to calm themselves down when faced when adversity by introducing them to yoga. In yoga, kids will learn breathing techniques that they can use to calm their minds and bodies when they feel stressed or frustrated. These skills can be applied in their everyday lives to help them overcome any obstacles that they may face in life.

How can you turn your kids into hatha yogis? Start off small by teaching them poses for beginners and then move into more challenging poses as they become stronger and more flexible. Take a look at this infographic to learn more: