Help your kids learn how to stay healthy with this guidebook's easy yoga asanas

So whatrsquos the deal with yoga anyway ldquoAny time of the day any situation you can get control of yourself by sitting quietly and turning off from the external noise I can go inside myself where itrsquos always calm and peacefulrdquo These arenrsquot our words They arenrsquot yoga instructor Anahita Sanjanarsquos either though her new book tells a similar story That was George Harrison the quiet Beatle answering your question in a 1970 BBC interview shortly after his transformative trip to Rishikesh IndiaStudents perform yoga ballet an expressive hybrid of the two practicesIn her new book Yoga for Young Minds AuroPublications Sanjana draws from over two decades of teaching experience at the JB Petit High School to introduce teenagers to the practice The book clears up common misconceptions explains key ideas from yogic philosophy in simple terms and offers practical guidance on asanas While it is based on the Class 10 ICSE yoga curriculum a quick read reveals that you donrsquot need to be a student to find something valuable in itAnahita Sanjana Pics CourtesyYoga for young minds on YoutubeThe book opens with an introduction to Rishi Patanjalirsquos Yoga Sutras considered one of the earliest documentations of yoga Contrary to what common knowledge had us believe wersquore surprised to learn that hardly three of the 196 sutras relate to the Internetrsquos favourite buzzword mdash asanas ldquoThe yoga sutras guide young minds in grounding their thoughts the root causes of a distracted mind and virtues that help them deal with emotions of jealousy angst and inadequacy Theyrsquore a peek into the psychology of the mindrdquo says SanjanaWe had one of our own myths busted children arenrsquot difficult to engage in yoga In fact they often look forward to it says Sanjana ldquoThese days kids are constantly rushing between tuitions They barely have time to play or exercise Many end up with poor posture back and neck pain Through breathwork and movement I try to help bring their minds to a place of ease Once they see that it helps them relax they look forward to itrdquo she reveals The book covers philosophies from schools like Vedanta Buddhism and Jainism and introduces key figures such as Sri Aurobindo and Ramana Maharshi But before all that it focuses on asanas clearly divided into sitting standing and inversion poses each with illustrations and noted benefits For those who learn better by watching the book includes a QR code that links to video tutorials for each asanaAVAILABLE Leading estoresLog on to Yoga for Young Minds on YouTube for guided videosWhile we suggest you tune into the guided video here are the first four asanas that you can try at home1 Uttanasana1 Stand straight raise your hands up stretch and bend forward2 Touch the floor or the back of your calf depending on your flexibility3 Use a bolster for support if your hands cannot reach the floor2 Parshva Uttanasana1 Spread your legs four feet apart measured by your footrsquos length Turn your right foot to the right followed by the left foot in the same direction2 Form a namaste folded hands behind your back or hold your elbows to open your shoulders3 Arch your back and exhale as you bend towards your right thigh and hold the pose for six breaths3 Parivritta Trikonasana1 Face the wall with your legs four feet apart2 Twist your body to a side with your palms facing forward3 Hold and exhale before bending to one side to touch the floor4 Ardha Chandrasana1 With your legs four feet apart bend your right knee2 Touch your right palm to the floor to create a right angle between your arm and the floor3 Slowly lift your left foot off the ground till it is parallel to the groundatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params