Yoga facts for kids

Statue of Shiva doing Yogic meditation. This statue is in Bangalore, India.

Yoga is an ancient practice that comes from India. It helps both your mind and body. Yoga uses special breathing exercises, physical movements, and meditation. It can make you feel healthier and happier. The word Yoga comes from Sanskrit and means union. Patanjali, an important yoga teacher, said that yoga is about "stopping your mind from changing all the time."

When you do yoga, you move from one special pose, called an asana, to another. For example, the "sun-salutation" has 12 different poses. Doing these poses one after another is said to help balance your body and soul. This sequence is also known as "Suryanamaskar."

The History of Yoga

Yoga was first taught by Indian ascetics, who were people who lived simple, disciplined lives. Early writings from India, called the Brāhmaṇas (from about 900 to 500 BC), talk about these practices.

Scientists have found old seals from the Indus Valley civilization (around 3300–1700 BC) in Pakistan. These seals show people in poses that look like yoga or meditation. This suggests that some form of yoga might have existed a very long time ago. Experts believe there's a link between these ancient poses and the yoga we know today.

• One expert, Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, described a figure on a seal as "seated in yogic position."
• Another scholar, Karel Werner, wrote that old discoveries make us think that many yoga activities were known to people in India even before a group called the Aryans arrived.

Important Yoga Words (Ashtanga Yoga)

Ashtanga yoga has eight important parts, like steps on a path. They help you understand and practice yoga more deeply.

• Yama: These are positive rules for how you act towards others and the world.
• Niyama: These are rules for how you act towards yourself, like being clean and happy.
• Asanas: These are the physical poses and movements you do in yoga.
• Pranayama: These are special breathing techniques that help control your energy.
• Pratyahara: This means learning to control your senses and focus your mind inward.
• Dharana: This is about focusing your mind on one thing, like a sound or an object.
• Dhyana: This is meditation where you focus on something specific.
• Samadhi: This is a deep state of meditation where your mind feels completely calm and united.

Different Kinds of Yoga

There are many ways to practice yoga. Here are some main types:

Yoga for Mind and Body

• Rajayoga: This type of yoga focuses a lot on meditation. It helps you understand yourself better.
• Hathayoga: This is the most common type of yoga. It uses physical poses (asanas) to help you change and grow.

Yoga for Your Spiritual Path

• Gyanyoga: This is known as the "way of knowledge." It's about learning and understanding deep truths.
• Karmayoga: This is the "way of work." It teaches you to do good actions without expecting anything in return.
• Bhaktiyoga: This is the "way of worship." It's about showing love and devotion to a higher power.

Other Yoga Styles

• Swaryoga: This style focuses most on different breathing techniques.
• Kriyayoga: This style combines parts of Karmayoga (self-discipline), Gyanyoga (self-study), and Bhaktiyoga (devotion).

Popular Yoga Poses (Yogasanas)

Pawanmuktasana (gas release pose) helps release gas in the stomach.

Ushtrasana, also known as the Camel Pose.

A yogasana is a pose where a person can sit or hold their body. The main goal of yogasanas is to exercise your body. They help make your body strong and free from aches and pains.

A Yogi is someone who has become very good at yoga. They can hold any asana for a long time. Yogasanas are also simply called Asana (singular) or Asanas (plural).

Pawanmuktasana

This yoga pose is often used to help release gas from your stomach. It can make your tummy feel better.

Ushtrasana

This yoga pose, also known as the Camel Pose, helps to make your spine more flexible and relaxed.

Images for kids

• 

  Statue of Shiva performing yogic meditation in Padmasana.

• 

  A statue of Patañjali, who wrote important yoga texts, meditating in Padmasana.

• 

  Prince Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) becomes a wandering seeker. Borobudur, 8th century.

• 

  Krishna telling the Gita story to Arjuna.

• 

  A traditional Hindu picture of Patanjali as a divine serpent.

• 

  Asanga, a scholar from the 4th century CE who helped start a Buddhist yoga school.

• 

  A sculpture of Gorakshanath, an important yogi who taught Hatha yoga.

• 

  Swami Vivekananda in London in 1896.

• 

  Sakyamuni Buddha in seated meditation. Gal Vihara, Sri Lanka.

• 

  Viparītakaraṇī, a pose used in both asana and mudra practices.

See also

In Spanish: Yoga para niños