MD Yoga is a practice that can benefit both children and adults and enables families to enjoy quality time together while promoting wellness. Children are great at using their imaginations to delve deeply into the various yoga poses and it helps when the yoga instructor can weave stories of cobras, warriors, and old trees into the routine. Children can be encouraged to bark when they are in downward dog, moo when they are in cow pose, or pretend to be big and powerful while holding the lion pose. By tapping into the forces of imagination, kids easily integrate their bodies and their minds.

Yoga can be beneficial for children who have special health needs. It helps to strengthen muscles in children who have low muscle tone. Yoga helps children who have ADHD to improve their focus and concentration. Kids practice self-discipline by holding poses until they have recited the entire alphabet. Through yoga, children who suffer from depression learn how to calm themselves and the deep breathing in yoga teaches kids to cope with stress. Yoga helps to build confidence and self-esteem as children become more confident in their bodies and enables them to develop physical and emotional strength in a non -competitive environment.

Karen Conway, MD is a pediatrician at Riverbend Medical Group in Chicopee, Massachusetts. She attended medical school at University of Massachusetts and completed her pediatrics residency at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.

Stacey Munro, ND is a naturopathic physician in Windsor, Connecticut. She practices at Nature’s Helper Medical Clinic. She completed her naturopathic medical training at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona. www.NaturesHelperMedical.com.

ND I recently attended a yoga workshop. The teacher was Tias Little, the founder of Prajna Yoga School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I primarily do yoga for relaxation, strength building, and flexibility; however, Tias reminded me that yoga is not just about the Asanas, or physical poses, but is a holistic practice that encompasses diet, meditation, and self-discipline.

There are eight limbs of yogic practice. The first four refer to how we interact with the outer world and the second four have to do with our inner practice.

Yama is attitude towards the world and others. The practice of Yamas includes truthfulness, integrity, self-control, and non-violence.

Niyama is how you treat yourself. The practice of Niayamas includes self-examination, cleanliness, and self-disclipline.

Asanas are physical poses designed to release tension and bring harmony between body and mind.

Pranayama is the practice of breathing exercises to increase Life Force.
Prathayara is turning your focus inward. It is the first step in developing greater concentration during yoga practice.

Dharana is developing the ability to focus the mind without distraction. Dhyana or meditation occurs when the mind concentrates without distraction, resulting in a flow of increased awareness.

Samadhi is the goal of yoga practice. It is enlightenment and ecstasy. Tias said that he has not yet experienced this after 20 years of yoga practice, so it doesn’t come easily. Samadhi is the state where the mind drops away and there is no separateness between self and the Universe.

Yoga is a holistic practice that provides a path for greater peace, health, and healthy interactions with others.

Http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yoga-and-health/yogalifestyle.asp http://www.prajnayoga.net