Hi, My Name is Georgia Polden and I am a Yoga and Mindfulness teacher for children, specialising in KS1 & 2.
In 2017 I began to study mindfulness for adults, through the teaching of Ven. Lama Shri Sadhu Dharmavira, until I decided I would like to direct my path in helping children. I noticed a pattern that most adults who seek mindfulness or some form of therapy are looking to heal trauma. They hold beliefs and stress that stem from childhood. This is when I trained with WiggleBums and Calm for Kids.
I create the classes which are designed to be inclusive for children with all different backgrounds and abilities, which enables them to find calm and balance in all aspects of their lives. There have been many studies on the benefits of yoga and how it can have a fantastic impact on young children's lives.
Here are some of the benefits of yoga for children and for anyone who wishes to start practising;
Managing emotions- Learning breathing and mindfulness techniques which calm and relax. Gentle movement moves tension held in the body, yoga is proving to have a positive effect on those dealing with anxiety and stress.
Focus and concentration- Yoga postures involve maintaining balance and focus for periods of time. This builds strength in the body and also the mind, bringing more focus when studying and learning during school time.
Balance- Postures help with balancing and also bring balance to the mind so that we are able to make clear and healthy life choices.
Gross motor skills/ cognitive development- Along with the balancing poses, yoga involves twisting and crossing over of the limbs, which send signals to the left and right side of the brain, creating coherence. We also like to play games during our sessions which encourages cognitive development. if your child has a diagnosis of dyslexia and dyspraxia this would be highly recommended.
Behaviour- When we are feeling stressed, anxious or have various things going on in our lives, this can have an impact on our behaviour. Yoga brings peace of mind and tools to encourage positive behaviour and also learn that it's ok not to be perfect all the time. There is no good or bad, we just need to learn how to express ourselves appropriately.
Sleep and routine- Yoga encourages better sleep and the routine of getting up and going to bed will be improved. When we practice yoga regularly, we calm the nervous signal response, which tells us it's safe to sleep and relax.
Body health- practising yoga helps keep the body moving and the muscles stretched to relieve tension and strain. When a child is developing, it is crucial that they maintain good spinal health, this is done through the postures, building core strength. Hypermobility is very common in children and would need the support of yoga to build strength in those areas to avoid injury or overexertion.
Internal body- breathing and gentle body movement sends signals to our nervous system that it is time to relax. When we relax we are able to sleep, learn and function fully. Our hormones are also releasing endorphins and serotonin to the brain. When our bodies are overstressed, this is fight or flight, releasing cortisol, which over time, if not addressed can have a serious impact on our body.
State of mind- Learning to be positive, kind and loving to ourselves and others will build self-esteem and improve mental health. Over time if we neglect our emotional wellbeing, bury feelings and thoughts and allow others to treat us badly, then this can create mental illnesses like depression. When we have an understanding of who we are in the world and how to let go of negative or traumatic situations we are able to be more confident, have better relationships with others and ourselves.
Classes are fun, enjoyable and allow children to put the mental load down and find inner peace. Each class is divided into sections of breathing techniques, yoga story, yoga and mindfulness games and relaxation. If you are looking for solutions for your child's mental, physical or emotional health or just want them to do something for self-care, then give yoga a go.
I am available to contact for any further questions and advice on how a class will work for your child.
Join the facebook group for loads of insightful posts and info on classes.
Join patreon for online yoga classes and pre-recorded sessions.
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