Today is World Asthma Day. First Aid for Life report that approximately 5.4 million people are currently receiving treatment for Asthma, with 10% of all children suffering from Asthma.
For young children suffering from Asthma, sport and physical activity can be very difficult and this can make some children lose confidence as they may not have opportunities to play with friends or be ‘successful’ at sport.
YogaBugs provide a great form of physical activity for children with asthma and the use of breathing and relaxation techniques can help manage their condition. By performing a non-competitive sport, children can work and develop at their own pace, allowing them to boost their confidence levels and reduce anxiety or stress. This gives them a positive experience of sport and physical activity, making them more likely to participate in the future.
Through the use of different yoga poses and breathing techniques, children focus their breathing by taking deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth to increase their lung capacity. By increasing lung capacity, children’s general wellbeing improves and breathing issues such as asthma are controlled.
YogaBugs recommends some of the following poses to help with breathing issues such as asthma. The poses; butterfly, fish and bridge all open up the chest area increasing lung capacity and managing asthma problems whilst also decreasing anxiety.
Fish – Start on your back, bringing hands towards your tummy and bending elbows so head is lifted off the floor and chest is pointed upwards.
Bridge – Sitting down, place hands behind yourself with fingers pointing forward. Press down into your hands and feet, lifting bottom off the floor and tummy and chest towards the ceiling.
Butterfly – Sit on your bottom, bend your knees together and bring your feet together to touch each other.
Butterfly
YogaBugs work within schools and nurseries delivering classes taught through imagination and storytelling, as well as community classes. To find your nearest class click here.
