To establish girls in yoga class, you need only to remember that the purpose is to improve the entire being - mind, body, and spirit. Unlike other forms of exercise that may focus solely on exterior improvement, starting girls in yoga early in life will help them understand the connection of all three factors make them who they are.
Reduce Anxiety, Build Self-Awareness, Improve Health

There are a number of benefits for girls interested in yoga. In 2005, the Dove Self-Esteem Fund released a study with some amazing findings. Approximately 90 percent of women polled around the world ages 15-64 want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance. More than 60 percent of those same women refuse to participate in "life-engaging activities" because they feel badly about their looks.

Unfortunately, much of popular media focuses intensely on a girl's face and body. Rarely do you see magazine headlines with the bolded words, "Memorize the U.S. Presidents in One Hour!" Without proper encouragement and diverse activities accentuating various abilities, it's easy for young women to doubt themselves.

Many experts believe the step-by-step teachings of yoga enable young women to:

Develop a better sense of self
Understand how to build a healthy body
Improve confidence
Avoid deep depression
Enhance their ability to listen to their intuition to reach a place of calm and acceptance
There are a number of organizations that support introducing girls to yoga. For example, the non-profit organization Girls, Inc. promotes yoga as a way to improve concentration, create a stronger sense of well-being, and build muscle tone and increase circulation. Child and teen yoga DVD producer BeeTwixt cautions that as many as 20 percent of America's children are overweight. However, with proper nutrition, yoga and Pilates, girls can take control of their health.

Postures for Girls in Yoga Class

Hatha Yoga is the foundation for many other yoga styles. Teachers certified in yoga for kids have a variety of methods for making class interesting and safe. If there's a studio or fitness center that offers kid's yoga, ask to observe a session or two before committing to a regular class.

Even if you can't find a yoga studio in your area that allows girls in yoga class, you can start with easy postures that ensure safe practice. Make sure to check with the youngster's health practitioner first.

In our article, Fun Yoga Asanas for Middle School Students, we outline some basic postures such as Mountain Yoga Pose, Child's Pose, Wide-Legged Forward Bend, and Lotus Pose. Each of these postures has particular benefits:

Mountain Pose helps an individual center themselves. If too many thoughts are rushing through their brain, standing in Mountain while taking deep breaths will help them regain composure.
Child's Pose is great for when someone just a little freaked out or has been sitting at the computer too long. The arms can be positioned in whatever way is comfortable for the individual. She can hold the pose for as long as necessary until tension subsides.
Wide-Legged Forward Bend is an energy booster. Use blocks or stacked books to bend down without causing strain in the lower back. This posture will release tight hamstrings and increase circulation, stimulating the brain.
Lotus Pose allows someone to sit quietly and reflect. Keep the back straight, but relax the body. Take deep breaths with the eyes closed. Doing this a few minutes before bed will clear the mind of the day's worries.
Take a look at our slideshow of yoga poses for kids and see if advancing yoga practice is of interest. You might be able to arrange a private session with a yoga instructor to learn the proper alignment of these poses.

Additional Resources

If you know of a young girl or teenager interested in yoga, there are a number of different books to introduce her to the practice.

The Girls' Yoga Book: Stretch Your Body, Open Your Mind, and Have Fun! by Micheala Caldwell and Claudia Davila is perfect for girls in grades four through six. It focuses on helping girls learn about yoga and how to use yoga a technique to relieve stress.
Um, Like... OM: A Girl Goddess's Guide to Yoga by instructor Evan Cooper also explains different yoga asanas and how the practice of yoga can help improve relationships and inner perspective. Good for those in grades six through eleven.
Breathe: Yoga for Teens by Mary Kaye Chryssicas is a guide for using yoga to improve physical and mental health. This author has also produced a yoga book for younger girls, I Love Yoga - Yoga for Kids.
Yoga media pioneer Gaiam has created numerous yoga for kids DVDs that are especially helpful for introducing pre-school kids to the practice. Also review the LoveToKnow Yoga articles Kids Free Downloadable Yoga Videos and Kid's Yoga for additional DVD and online video resources for girls in yoga class or at home.