You know that yoga is a beneficial practice for you, but did you know it can also be a great activity for kids? When you think about the skill and discipline involved to master some of the more advanced poses, it’s easy to relegate yoga to an adults-only activity in your mind. But as this infographic from Mom Loves Best demonstrates, there are lots of reasons to introduce your child to yoga.

Here are five.

It Builds Healthy Habits. Obesity and its related diseases have reached epidemic levels in our country. Both adults and children are more sedentary than ever before, and at increasingly greater health risks. Introducing your child to yoga not only helps them build a fitness activity into their regular routine to instill healthy habits early, but also shows them that their exercise options go beyond the traditional gym or cardio workouts.

It Improves Sleep. Sleep is critical for both mental and physical health, and kids today are struggling with sleep more than ever before. Yoga can help your child relax and calm down to improve the quality of their sleep, which will in turn boost both their immune system and their mood. It’s a win-win-win.

It Boosts Mental Health. Kids are under a lot of pressure these days, and yoga can help them develop coping skills to deal with it in a healthy way. These skills can not only help them calm down in the middle of a stressful period, but can even help ward off anxiety and depression.

It Fights Hyperactivity. Some studies have shown yoga to be effective for children who struggle with ADHD. A regular yoga practice can help them decompress, de-stress, and reduce the overstimulation they feel. If your child struggles with ADHD or hyperactivity, it may be worth it to introduce a regular yoga practice into their routine to help them deal with some of the symptoms, and to also help them develop new coping mechanisms that will serve them throughout their life.

It Improves Balance and Coordination. Kids grow rapidly, and many have a difficult time adjusting to their new bodies. This is evidenced by clumsiness, awkwardness, or a lack of balance and poor coordination – especially during or immediately after a growth spurt. Yoga can help your child regain these skills and feel more comfortable in their body. This awareness will also benefit them if they go on to play team or individual sports that require good coordination.

Your child’s yoga practice is likely to look much different than your own. But their poses don’t have to be perfect to reap the benefits, and their yoga practice – much like them – will mature over time. So keep it light and fun, and start out with poses they can easily master to encourage them to stick with it.

About the Author

Jenny Silverstone is an avid fitness enthusiast, coffee connoisseur, and a mommy blogger for MomLovesBest.com – where she writes about her journey through motherhood and gives tips for new parents.