All of our physical and mental actions have an influence on our breathing. By teaching kids to breathe in and out through their noses, they will learn how to calm themselves by focusing on their breath.
Furthermore, nose breathing keeps children focused, as opposed to shallow mouth breathing which can make them feel tense, irritable and anxious.
Try this simple breathing exercise with your child. I like to call it Take Five. Have them take a slow deep breath in through their nose for the count of 5, holding their breath for a second or two at the top, before slowing exhaling through their nose for a backwards count of 5,4,3,2,1.
Let them know that Yoga breathing is fun, and that they can Take Five any time during the day when they feel stressed or out of sorts.
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| Illustrated by Kathleen Rietz |
