Yoga for preschoolers helps relieve stress

Popularity catches on in central Indiana

FISHERS, Ind. - Preschool yoga is helping some youngsters unwind by allowing them to learn to control their breathing and body.

Angie Cast teaches yoga to preschoolers ages 3 to 5 in Indiana.

“You have to keep the attention of the 3 to 5-year-old, so just doing yoga on your mat is not going to work,” Cast said.

What does work are games that incorporate yoga techniques, animal poses and acting out children’s stories.

With each move, the children learn how to be balanced, calm and breathe.

“I always encourage them to practice the breathing when they’re mad or sad, just take a big breath in through your nose and out through your nose and you might make a better decision,” Cast said.

Chantel Brinley said the preschool yoga classes have worked wonders for her son, Ethan.

“He’s very on the go, in the moment, and I was hoping it would teach him that you can slow down a little bit and kind of relax and enjoy things going on around you and not have to be full speed all the time,” Brinley said.

The preschoolers do a lot of what adults do in yoga, but the kids don’t hold poses as long, and it’s less complicated and more fun.

The kids also benefit by learning to take care of their bodies, which is something they can apply throughout their life.

“So I hope they take this and expand on it and they can use yoga when they find that they want to be a football player or a gymnast, they can take that yoga and expand on it,” Cast said.

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