Dominique De-Light                                                                 Kids Yoga Teacher

Dominique is a qualified children's yoga teacher and leadership coach trained in neuro linguistic programming, non violent communication and coaching techniques. By using these skills, and years of experience of working with people with complex mental and physical needs, she shows children how to build on their own resources, believe in themselves and learn the tools for long term positive mental and physical health. Dominique has been teaching children yoga since January 2018. She was the founder and Director of Well Balanced Kids CIO, teaching yoga to children in deprived areas and those with special needs, for six years. There are over 100 yoga videos created by Well Balanced Kids for children aged 4-12 and young adults with special needs on the Well Balanced Kids You Tube channel.  Contact Dominique by clicking this link.
 


Benefits of Yoga & Mindfulness

Physical benefits

  • Encourages balance, flexibility, muscle strength, massages organs, improving respiration and energy.
  • Encourages weight loss, good posture, improves circulatory health, helps digestion and improves the efficiency of the body’s organs.
  • Reduces cortisol levels. Excessive cortisol has been linked to major depression, compromised immunity, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and weight gain.
  • Studies have shown yoga lowers blood sugar and LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol and boosts HDL (‘good’) cholesterol.
  • The acts of twisting and stretching releases physical and mental tension which, if left untreated, can lead to chronic tension, muscle fatigue and stress.
  • Yoga focusses our attention on the body, encouraging us to listen to our bodies and be aware of our physical limits.


 Mental benefits - for succinct benefits of mindfulness & links to scientific proof see this great article here.

  • Reduces stress, encouraging the rewiring of the brain to increase emotional stability and reduce feelings of being overwhelmed/anxious.
  •  Encourages calmness, focus and concentration.
  • Improves creativity, self-esteem, compassion and empathy.
  • Make us more present, relaxed and give us a sense of perspective on our problems.
  • Provides a physical and mental release of tension, anger and frustration.
  • Can help resolve trauma, whether violent, sexual or grief related (The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van Der Kolk)


Emotional benefits

 

  • Teaches children that everyone has the resources within themselves that they can access at any time to heal themselves, to be calm and to be kind.
  •  Encourages children to think about what they are grateful for, what makes them happy and question what is most important in life.
  • That life does not have to be a competition with others. All bodies are different and we all have different abilities and that is ok. To not compare ourselves to others and not to judge ourselves, encouraging a positive body image.
  • Teaches the importance of listening and consulting one’s own body.
  • That everything is connected, in our bodies, our mind to our body, our actions to others and our impact on the world, encouraging compassion and empathy.
  • The importance of caring for oneself if one is to care for others.
  • That applied effort and hard work will bring its own rewards.
  • That being mindful can make us make the most of life, by being present and enjoying the moment.
  • Patience and perseverance reaps rewards.