The Power of Yoga Breathing Exercises For Kids And Teens

Yoga breathing exercises for kids offer a multitude of benefits, not only for their physical health but also for effective emotion management.

Whether at home or in the classroom, the power of yoga breathing exercises, also known as pranayama, can positively impact the lives of kids and teens.

Encouraging your child to engage in breathing exercises can be a great way to support their overall well-being.

How can breathing exercises help children and teens?

Breathing exercises for kids offer a multitude of benefits, not only for their physical health but also for effective emotion management.

Here’s a closer look at the benefits of yoga breathing exercises for kids and teens.

• enhances concentration and attention span
• managing stress and anxiety
• empower to manage kids’ emotions
• contribute to overall physical health
• improve kids’ and teens’ sleep quality and duration
• promotes mindfulness of their body and its sensations
• control their breath and manage their emotions
• develops a sense of presence
• integrates them into social and emotional

5 Breathing Exercises for Kids

Parenting can be a challenging journey, especially when it comes to managing emotions, but turning to the practice of breath control is a wise and powerful choice.

So, to help parents and caregivers incorporate these techniques into their children’s lives, we’ve compiled a list of the five best mindful breathing exercises for kids.

Balloon Breathing

• Instruct your child to sit or lie down comfortably.
• Have them take a slow, deep breath through their nose, imagining they are inflating a balloon in their belly.
• Then, exhale slowly through their mouth, deflating the balloon.
• Repeat this process a few times, emphasizing the importance of slow and steady breaths.

Bee Breathing (Humming)

• Ask your child to take a deep breath in.
• As they exhale, have them make a humming sound like a bee.
• The vibrations created by humming can be soothing and help release tension.

4-7-8 Breathing

• Teach your child to inhale through their nose for a count of four seconds.
• Then, have them hold their breath for seven seconds.
• Finally, they should exhale slowly through their mouth for a count of eight seconds.
• Repeat this cycle a few times to promote relaxation.

Flower Breathing

• Have your child close their eyes and picture a beautiful flower garden or give your child a fragrant flower.
• Inhale gently through their nose while imagining they are smelling the sweet fragrance of flowers.
• Exhale slowly, as if they are blowing a gentle breeze over the flowers.
• Repeat this flower breathing, allowing them to explore different types of imaginary flowers and their scents.

Bunny Breathing

• Invite kids to imagine they are fluffy bunnies.
• Inhale slowly through their nose while pretending to sniff the air like a bunny.
• Exhale with a gentle “sniff” sound.
• Repeat this bunny breathing, encouraging deep breaths like a curious bunny.

Conclusion

Encourage your child to practice these breathing exercises whenever they feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed. Over time, these pranayama techniques can become valuable tools for managing emotions and promoting a sense of calm and control.