Back To School

By Toni Greene, Owner

Happy Hour Yoga Center

. http://happyhouryoga-reiki.vpweb.com

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Back To School

The time of year is upon us where children are returning to school. For many, the new year is the opportunity for a fresh start, to see old friends and make new ones, exciting activities and a time to grow.
Children who have had an extremely busy summer involving summer camps, sports and other activities may find it much easier to get back to school. Children who have spent their vacation sitting on the couch watching television, playing video games or engaging in some not-so-wholesome activities may find it a bit more difficult to return to the routine of going to school daily.
In many households anxiety, stress and even sadness are often experienced. The lazy days of summer are no more and parents often will need to bribe their children with new clothes, school supplies and lunch boxes to ease the transition back into school mode.
In addition to the stress of going back to school, family time is often much more limited. Between work schedules, children being at school, extracurricular activities and the errands of day-to-day life it becomes increasingly more difficult to spend time as a family, and when it is possible to find the time children and parents alike are often too stressed to enjoy the time together.
Parents, it is important to find time in our busy lives to devote to our children. It is also important to help alleviate some of the stressors that are created by the start of the new school year. To help relieve stress and help your child relax consider participating in a Yoga class with your child or practicing Yoga at home.
Yoga can help children to counter the pressures of the hustle-bustle world that we live in including pressure from school, competitive sports, music lessons, and other activities. Children can gain enormous benefits from yoga. It enhances flexibility, strength, coordination and body awareness. Yoga also helps aid concentration as well as a sense of calmness and improved relaxation.
The techniques for self-health, relaxation and inner fulfillment can help children to negotiate lifes challenges with more ease. Depending on the age of your child, it may be tricky to hold their attention long enough to teach them the benefits of yoga focus, peace, grace, health, well-being, stillness and balance.
Benefits of Yoga included it increases body awareness; relieves chronic stress patterns in the body; refreshes the body by relieving muscle strain; relaxes the mind and body; centers attention; sharpens concentration; and frees the spirit.
Consider looking into to Yoga for you and your child. The physical and mental benefits of Yoga are wonderful and it will be a way to spend quality time together while helping your child relax and de-stress from the pressures of the newly started school year.