Al-Marsad newspaper: Self-awareness and quality of life guide, Manal Al-Sadhan, revealed the benefits of practicing yoga for children, explaining that it treats many problems and helps them in different stages of development.
She explained that yoga helps children on a physical level, in movement, flexibility, balance, and physical fitness, while mentally it helps increase the level of concentration, thus improving the level of study for the child.
Emotionally, the quality of life counselor indicated during her meeting with the “MBC in a week” program, that yoga helps children who suffer from anger, anxiety and tension, in alleviating these negative feelings, and also helps them to have a more emotional balance, She added: “It works on different sides, not just on the physical side.”
She explained that practicing yoga from 45 minutes to an hour a day is enough time for a child to benefit from this sport, and it is possible to practice it 3 times a week.
As for autistic children, Al-Sadhan indicated that there are many schools for these children around the world that use yoga as an essential part of their activities with people with autism, and this is what made them continue, because it has proven its effectiveness.
She also noted the effectiveness of yoga for people with Down syndrome, saying: “Children with Down syndrome are social and love life, and yoga helps them develop this aspect more.”
She reported that Saudi Arabia has many initiatives for children with Down syndrome, and Saudi yoga instructors have provided classes for people with this syndrome, and saw their effectiveness with them.
She addressed a word to families in Saudi Arabia who are apprehensive and conservative, or who are ignorant of the benefits of yoga for their children, saying: “Some are afraid of yoga due to its association with other cultures, and linking it to Buddhism,” stressing that yoga existed 3500 years before Buddhism.