Here’s a glimpse into one of the exercises I developed for children’s breathing training. 🤩
The creation of these exercises was preceded by a great deal of deliberation, since in my opinion the original Buteyko method offers few exercises for children, and even those I wouldn’t call child-friendly from the perspective of a children’s yoga instructor.
As a trainer, I spent several years teaching my clients how to move correctly. Their difficulties were, one might say, typical, but the same explanation didn’t work for everyone. For teaching a single movement, I came up with dozens of different versions so that anyone wanting to move could learn the movements safely and steadily.
A good exercise is easy to understand for several age groups, scales well, meaning it can be made both harder and easier, and it includes the possibility of flexibility. The latter means it can easily be tailored to the individual with small modifications, so that every child enjoys doing it.
One very important consideration was also on my mind: as a movement-development children’s yoga instructor, I see just how much today’s children need special movements that support neurological maturation. That’s why this principle can also be found in some of them. My trainer’s eye also sees where today’s children need to get stronger, which is why you’ll also find movements with a strengthening effect. But there’s no need to worry about serious muscle soreness!
The exercise named “meatball and spaghetti” develops the nervous system’s vestibular (balance) system, which is the most common challenge for today’s children. It strengthens the neck muscles, since the head has to be held up against gravity. While rolling around as the “meatball,” we strengthen the core muscles. The “swimming spaghetti” strengthens the spinal erector muscles, and in fact the entire posterior muscle chain, which also helps correct poor posture. The swimming movements (opposite hand-foot movement) once again help coordinate the brain hemispheres and develop movement coordination, since it matters a great deal whether the hand and foot being moved can move together or move haphazardly. Finally, the prone-lying pose at the end aims to promote relaxation and regulate breathing.
We also use breathing exercises during these exercises, and if you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know why breath-holds are so important.
Although this exercise is public, I still recommend that we consult before you begin, since there may be certain conditions in which breath-holds are not recommended. And of course the amount matters too, how much of each and how many rounds. This is exactly what a thorough assessment is needed for.