The word “yoga” means “union”.  Yoga is an ancient science that helps to unify the body, mind and spirit thus creating a well-adjusted, responsible human being.  Yoga is a wonderfully balancing activity for children in today’s world.  Children are exposed to unique challenges with the increasing complexities of today’s lifestyles.  Focusing children’s yoga classes on each chakra or energy centre helps children to navigate through the joys and challenges of daily living and to integrate their body, mind and spirit into a unified whole.

Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning “wheel” or “disk”.  The seven major chakras are located along the spinal column.  Each chakra is linked to physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual development.  As such, the functioning of each chakra depends on and also influences physical and spiritual health.  Individual chakras may be balanced, under-active or overactive.  By practising yoga, children can shift any imbalances bringing their system into harmony, thus affecting their lives in a positive way.

Children love nature, colour, rhymes and songs which add fun to yoga and help to integrate concepts.   Each chakra resonates with a colour, an element and a main quality.  I’ve also included a short affirmation for each chakra.  

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE CHAKRAS 

FAMILY: Root Chakra (Red-Earth-Stability) 

Changes in family structures are happening at an increased rate in the modern world.  There are more single-parent families, divorces and blended families than there were in our time.  Yoga poses such as “mountain” can help children to feel strong and stable in their bodies during times of transition.  Yoga helps children to feel connected to the earth and helps them to balance their emotions.

I am Earth, I am Earth; Safe and sound, safe and sound

Strong and stable, strong and stable; Solid ground, solid ground

SPORTS: Sacral Chakra (Orange-Water-Movement) 

Yoga can provide balance for children who are involved in sports.  Sports provide outlets for physical energy and can raise self-confidence.  Often in team sports there is an element of competition which adds to a child’s stress load.  Yoga is non-competitive and promotes unity and acceptance of self and others thus providing balance to sports activities.  Sports can strengthen young bodies’ muscular systems and depending on the sport, one side of the body may be favoured.  Practising yoga can help balance and tone the muscular system since poses are repeated on both sides of the body.  Yoga also promotes flexibility and aids physical performance in sports.

I am Water, I am water; Flowing and free, flowing and free

Moving quickly, moving quickly; To the sea, to the sea.

JOY: Solar Plexus Chakra (Yellow-Fire-Transmutation)

Most children love to practice yoga.  It is fun!   Because many poses imitate nature & animals, yoga helps children get in touch with normal rhythms of life.  Regularly doing yoga poses helps children control and soothe emotions, letting them rest more easily and sleep soundly.  The joy of movement and accomplishment also increases self-acceptance and self-confidence.  Poses which strengthen the upper abdominals such as “boat”, stimulate and help to balance the solar plexus chakra.

I am Fire, I am fire; Warm and bright, warm and bright

Spreading joy, spreading joy; With my light, with my light.

WELL-BEING: Heart Chakra (Green-Air-Love) 

The most important chakra in the human energy system is the heart chakra because it is intrinsically connected with unconditional love and compassion.  It is located in the centre of the chakra energy system and through it, the upper and lower chakras are unified.  By nurturing qualities of love, compassion and patience, children can purify and balance emotions.

Yoga takes a holistic approach to maintaining children’s health & well-being that makes them feel good and aids their growing bodies.  Yoga poses that gently stretch and open the chest area can help to nourish and nurture the heart centre and awaken increased love, compassion and patience for self and others.  Gentle breathing exercises and increased awareness of breath can also help to release and soothe emotions. 

I am Air, I am air; Everywhere, everywhere

Spreading my wings, spreading my wings; With loving care, with loving care.

EXPRESSION: Throat Chakra (Blue-Ether-Sound) 

Today’s children are involved in more sedentary activities than ever before including watching TV, listening to music and playing computer games.   Yoga can increase metabolism and help to release toxins from the body.  Poses that stretch the neck area can help balance the throat chakra.  Chanting or singing positive words and songs also helps.

Furthermore, the messages children receive from the media are not always life affirming.  Yoga helps children to discover the truth of who they are and encourages them to express that truth in the world.

I am Space, I am space; I carry sound, I carry sound

Harmony flowing, harmony flowing; All around, all around.

SCHOOL: Third Eye Chakra (Indigo-Light-Intuition) 

Often schools will cut right-brain creative activities such as art, dance and physical education in favour of left-brain, logical activities such as reading, writing and math.  This leaves the left and right hemispheres of the brain somewhat unbalanced and paradoxically compromises comprehension in left-brain activities.  Studies have found that meditation, breathing techniques and exercise relax and unify the mind resulting in deeper assimilation of knowledge in the brain and an accelerated power of learning.  Most poses in yoga are repeated on both sides of the body thus unifying both hemispheres and helping children to reach their highest potential.

I am Light, I am light; focussed and clear, focussed and clear

Intuitively seeing, intuitively seeing; Far and near, far and near.

THE WHOLE CHILD: Crown Chakra (Violet-Spirit-Wholeness) 

Nurturing the whole child through yoga gives the child the building blocks to be a sociable, self-confident, joyful and well-adjusted human being.  Learning is enhanced if children are taught the joy of movement through all the senses including games and songs.

Children become aware of and accepting of their own unique qualities as well as those of others.  They learn to get along in the world and feel a sense of connection with others and with life in general.  Short relaxation exercises with gentle breathing and imaginative visualization help children connect with their spirit.

 I am Spirit, I am spirit; Flying high, flying high

Everything’s connected, everything’s connected; With the sky, with the sky.

Enzina DeAngelis (CCMP, Reiki Master), focuses on wellness & stress reduction for women and children through chair massage, reiki, yoga,  EMF protection and “healthy chocolate”. She currently teaches yoga classes at The Rising Sun and provides on-site relaxation chair massage in the workplace.  Contact: 416-731-0196.  Email: livingincolour@hotmail.com.