Components of a Healthy Self Esteem: Kindness, Resilience, Confidence
A healthy self image in children takes into account others, healthy self esteem should not be egotistic or take anything away from others.
There are many ways that yoga can facilitate a healthy self image in children, let ‘s cover Teamwork, Resilience and Confidence
Children Yoga is very much a group activity when we learn from each other and respect each other. From the word Go, in this case Namaste, children are taught to listen to each other, and to practice control in their posture, gaze and intention. Many sections of the class includes group work, whether synching actions to breath within a known set sequence such as the sun salutations, practising a group pose, or playing a yoga group game, all of which includes observing and taking in each others capability non judgmentally.
During the class compassion and kindness can help children interact well in social groups. It is no wonder that most schools include Kindness as one of their core values. In fact ‘Connection’ is now recognised as the one critical vital need that human beings have with impact on the nervous system (Co-regulation) on longevity, directly affecting our mental health and with this life expectancy, seeing that Mind and Body and their respective health are very much inter-twinned.
Building Resilience can take multiple forms during a Yoga class, whether physical or mental. For Instance practising a Balance pose takes patience, physical hard-work but also diligence, and mental focus. And yet I may wobble or fall on a poor balance day: this shows that irrespective of the hard work, and doing my best, some factors are still out of the equation, and I can only get back at it without judgment and must keep trying. My attitude of trying again without thinking I am rubbish or I am amazing builds a healthy self esteem.
Another example comes from focusing our attention and focusing our gaze to instil calm and facilitate stillness. A quote I use in class us ‘Where your attention goes it what grows’. I become aware of what my gaze is doing, where my attention is placed and therefore of the likely outcome of this behaviour/posture/focus (or lack of). I am become aware that I am empowered: my demeanour, bear the fruit of the outcome. And similarly through meditation: my thoughts also bear the fruit of my intentions and then actions.
This is incredibly empowering, and freeing but also calls for being brave because we become Accountable. This sense of accountability and empowerment can only but result in good self esteem and self reliance.
Finally Confidence in ourselves is both an outcome of developing physical strength but also a side-effect of ongoing practice (and resilience!). Many Poses in Yoga help develop strength in Legs, and Core as well as grounding and stability, or posture, an intrinsic component of standing assure. Mind and Body being connected closely, posture soon affect how we see ourselves and therefore intention and behaviour too. Becoming more in control, having more body awareness, and seeing improvements as a result of practice is also truly encouraging and confidence building.
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