BENEFITS

• Children learn about their bodies
• Acknowledge their special gifts
• Ability to relax and self nurture
• Increased flexibility and balance
• Greater ability to focus and concentrate
• Better posture
• Improved self image

We all know that yoga has numerous health benefits to body, mind and spirit. And, of course, what is good for the goose is also good for the gosling, right? But did you know that yoga also helps children achieve academic success? In a study of kindergarten through eighth-grade students in an inner-city school, researchers from California State University examined the correlation between yoga and academic performance, discipline, attendance and self-esteem.

The study showed...
• 20-percent increase in the number of students who felt good about themselves

• 6-percent increase in classroom discipline scores

• a marked decrease in discipline problems

• a statistically significant link between yoga participation and better grades

Other studies indicate yoga improves gross and fine motor coordination, eye-hand and eye-foot coordination and stimulates something referred to by sensory motor specialists as “neurological crossfire.” Neurological crossfire is recognized as physical activity that accesses and stimulates areas of the brain receptive to math, reading and learning. Children, from developmentally challenged to gifted, can all benefit from such improvement in brain function and activity. The Mill Valley, California, public school district felt so strongly about the benefits of yoga, they offered it to all kindergarten students through second graders as a part of their sensor motor program.