Childrens & Teens Yoga Classes at The Ananta Yoga Studios – 
Ananta’s childrens & teens yoga classes are back in September 2017 for the third successive year delivering all the benefits that this ancient life science has to offer to the next generation.
Just like the adult version, yoga will enhances a child’s flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. Yoga promotes physical strength because kids learn to use all of their muscles in new ways. Whether a pose is done standing, sitting, or lying down, each one can challenge various muscle groups while helping a child become aware of his body and how it efficiently functions Yoga refines Balance and Coordination and balance is a key element of yoga. The balancing poses were created to promote mental and physical poise, as mental clarity and stability emerge from the effort of trying the poses. Even if a child has difficulty standing on one foot, she learns mental and physical balance if she can stay calm when she falls and when she gets up to try again. As children learn to improve their physical balance, they
will be filled with a sense of accomplishment. Coordination is also closely tied to balance and promotes overall dexterity.
In addition, your child’s sense of calm and ability to relax will noticeably improve. It develops focus and concentration. The act of practicing poses encourages children to clear their mind and focus on the effort in a mindful manner. Teaching our children to become more aware of their body, and what it feels like to stretch and relax, will help them create a positive relationship towards their physical fitness for the rest of their life. Concentrating on the breath or feeling a stretch teaches children to keep their minds settled and focused, preventing negative thought
processes and distractions.
Yoga teaches compassion and awareness of others. A child’s social-emotional development depends on a harmonious learning environment, which yoga creates. A lot of adults associate their school PE lessons with feelings of inadequacy and competition. Today, more children are turning away from competitive sports and moving towards ‘fun’ activities like yoga which help provide them with both a physical and mental outlet. Yoga offers a whole range of therapeutic
benefits to children. It’s excellent at helping the younger generation move through difficult feelings helping them find a sense of calm and understanding. These are invaluable tools to equip our children and teens with as they cope with all the demands of 21st century living. Start them early. Yoga helps to develop your child’s emotional creativity. All yoga poses are related to the natural world in some way and perfect to stimulate the imagination and when a
child masters a pose, it gives them confidence and self-esteem.
As parents – boosting our children’s self-esteem and confidence is our responsibility, to also help develop our children’s sense of wonder and to give them a strong sense of self so they know where they belong in this world and can contribute to making their community a better place. Yoga helps kids achieve a sound mind in a sound body by exercising the physical body and calming the mental spirit.
As parents we want our children to act and behave with mindfulness and with compassion, to be brave, to know love and happiness, and to find inner peace, Since the modern world moves very, very fast for children, it’s not long before they feel all kinds of pressure (personal, parental, social) to keep up with everyone around them. Yoga functions as
a release valve that alleviates pressure and as a foundation to nurture and develop a resilient and resourceful body, mind, and spirit.
THERAPEUTIC YOGA CLASSES FOR CHILDREN WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS
Maxine Bonus – Ananta’s kid’s & Teens yoga teacher has trained in teaching yoga to children
with additional needs including ASD, ADD/ADHD, DCD, CP, Down Syndrome, SPD and
children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties.
Using yoga therapeutically and specifically for children with additional needs, has shown to have
great benefits for many groups of children with specific symptoms or diagnosis.
HOW YOGA CAN HELP: As yoga is sensory based it can be both calming and stimulating to
the sensory system, by learning about the breath and utilising it as a tool to calm down a child’s
central nervous system it helps enormously with self-regulation. Studies have shown increased
ability to attend, participate and learn, increased independence in functional skills, improved
social skills and positive interactions, decreased anxiety, fear and less stress, enhanced
listening skills and expressing of needs, increased ability to adjust to changes, more
experiences of joy and fun, improved gross motor skills.
Combining an occupational therapy approach with the wisdom of yoga and its many benefits via
one to one sessions or in small classes which are designed to tailor the child’s needs, the
classes are taught with positive affirmations to increase self-esteem and they allow
opportunities for creativity and choice and most importantly to have fun.
Please contact Maxine Bonus on 086 8052486 or maxinebonusyoga@gmail.com to find out
more and register your interest.
Schedule of Classes for Kids & Teens from September 2017 as follows –
NEW AUTUMN SCHEDULE
WITH MAXINE BONUS
AT – The Ananta Yoga Studios, 5, Wentworth Place, Wicklow Town
BOOKINGS
Booking is essential – Call/Text Maxine 086 8052486
We encourage all students to enrol for a full block if possible. This ensures continuity and consistent class numbers and allows the groups to progress together. However it is possible – if there is space – for your child/teen to join in at any time. We will be delighted to welcome them.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Friday Kids/Teens Yoga Classes
6 weeks block – From 15th September – €45
Age 8 -12yrs – 4pm to 5pm
Age 13+yrs – 5.15pm to 6.15pm
Saturday Kids Yoga Class
6 week block – From 16th September – €45
Kids Yoga for Physical Disabilities – 12.15pm -1.00pm
Little Kids Yoga Age 4-7yrs – 1.00pm to 1.45pm
Tuesday Kids Yoga Classes
6 week block – From 19th September – €45
Age 4-7yrs – 3.15pm to 4.00pm
Age 8-12yrs – 4.00pm to 5.00pm
www.anantayogastudio.com