Yoga with Children

Integrated Yoga
by Nicole Cuomo
(Jessica Kingsley)
Subtitled Yoga with a Sensory Integrative Approach, this highly readable, practical and helpful book is written by a school-based paediatric occupational therapist who is also yoga practitioner and teacher. Thus it is based on a wealth of experience, which as the author says, is intended to enhance, rather than take the place of, work with a qualified professional therapist. It is aimed primarily at educators and parents who care for or have, children with sensory processing difficulties. Having said that the book could also be very useful for any teacher or parent who wants to share yoga with a group of children or an individual child.
   There are six parts, the longest being that concerned with detailing breathing exercises (pranayama)and the basic postures (asanas). Each physical posture is further broken down into adaptations for different age groups: 3-5 year olds, 5-8year olds and 8-11 year olds and where appropriate, age-specific instructions are given for breathing exercises. There are also numerous black and white photographs.
   Other sections discuss what yoga actually is, provide a brief overview of sensory integration including how it may manifest in individuals, explain the synergistic effects of yoga and sensory integration, and provide information on timing, surfaces, age guidelines and different ways to use the postures.
(reviewed by Jill Bennett)
Buy from Amazon

Sleepy Little Yoga
by Rebecca Whitford & Martina Selway
(Hutchinson)
Aimed at parents and toddlers, this small hardcover book contains a yoga sequence comprising poses, eye palming and breathing and finally, total relaxation (Savasana). Each bright attractive double spread introduces and illustrates one part of the sequence with a child (‘Yoga Baby…) on one page facing a night-time animal on the opposite side along with the completion of the simile. For example ‘Yoga Baby … flops down like a tired bunny’. Then follows an illustration of Savasana, a double spread with helpful tips for parents new to yoga and explanatory notes on the asanas and a final photographic spread of children enjoying their yoga.
    As the author says, gentle yoga is an excellent way of helping children relax at whatever time, and as she rightly says yoga with young children needs to have a strong element of fun, not be prescriptive and the adult needs to give plenty of encouragement. It’s never too soon to introduce children to the benefits of yoga and here is one delightful starting point. (reviewed by Jill Bennett)
Buy from Amazon