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Building Friendships through Yoga

Yoga is a practice where you can have your own space, it is like Me timeBut even if it´s an individual practice, it could help you a lot in being a more social person. One of the best things about yoga is that the practice invites you to be a part of a community. Here’s how:

If kids take class at a yoga studio, the park, the school, etc. they have the chance to meet other kids that have the same interests, and create their on community of mini yogis.

 I remember my first yoga class was when I was living in a different country and a friend of mine invited me. It was a great and unique experience! I loved it! So if it wasn´t for her  invitation, I don´t know how long would it have taken me to start being a yogi! And now, not only we are best friends, we are also yoga teachers! Awesome right?

Fast forward years later, I came back to my country and started taking yoga classes here, too. And after a while I noticed that all the people that attended classes together created a very united group. We celebrated birthdays, special events, and we shared a lot of things.

 And there I learned that that´s really what yoga is. Yes, yoga is a union in your mind, body and spirit. But also creates a connection to other people in very harmonious way!

This can be a very important theme to teach in a kids’ yoga class. Children should attend class not just because it is very active and fun, but also because it is a way to show them the importance of being a tolerant, friendly person in this world.

This idea of friendship through yoga could be demonstrated through partner poses such as Tree Pose, Boat pose, Flower pose, or maybe some acroyoga for kids. (Nothing too extreme.) We can also play games, and maybe make a craft in pairs or teams, painting a mandala together or making a chakra bracelet. For the last one you just need color beads and a elastic so you can put the colors of the chakras in the bracelet and that´s all! It can be like a special type of friendship bracelet.

It is quite interesting that even kids that are very competitive in sports and games, can work naturally in a team, too. For example when someone gets scared or cries, their teammates and classmates tend to be supportive and patient. So we should encourage them to always be like that, to always be a good friend. In the end, we all are friends anyway! Don´t you think?

Making and keeping friends helps us feel more confident and have a better self – esteem and a stronger inmune system. It reduces stress and that helps us be healthier and happier! And good news! We don´t necessarily need thirty friends for the health benefits to kick in! The number is not the important thing. What truly matters is that you have a close relationship with your friends, even if it is just one person!

So if we can encourage kids to create childhood friendships with others, they will be healthier and happier today and in the future. They will learn to be more trusting and kind. And of course this is true for adults, too! It is never too late to get out there, go to a new yoga class and meet new people! The result always will be a very positive experience.

Listen to the Mindful Conversations with KAY podcast about relations skills in the CASEL framework: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/Cip9SzpJQub

Learn more about building relationships with these KAY blogs:

The Intimacy of Family Relationships: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/yoga-intimacy-family-relationships/

Building Relationships Through Yoga Stories: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/yoga-stories-relationships-creativity/

Like what you read here? There’s so much MORE to explore and learn with Kidding Around Yoga. Check out our website for our live and online teacher trainings, Yoga Alliance-approved 95-hour RCYT trainings, specialty online courses, original music, merchandise, podcast, and beyond! KAY even offers a 6-hour workshop designed to teach school educators and homeschool families how to bring yoga and meditation right into their classrooms (EduKAYand an online course specifically for families to incorporate these practices in their family’s routine (Mindful Parenting)

FREE WORKSHOP RECORDING:

Bringing Mindfulness into the Classroom

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FREE WORKSHOP RECORDING:

Relaxation & Meditation for Kids

Watch at your leisure!