WHEN YOGA TEACHER Tasha Lalvani instructs her students to adopt the Lotus position, they cross their legs immediately, placing the soles of their feet on their thighs quickly and effortlessly. There is a bit of wobbling when it comes to the Eagle pose but after Lalvani tells them to focus their minds on what they are trying to achieve, they barely move a muscle. It doesn't sound any different from any other yoga class - and it isn't. Except that Lalvani's pupils range in age from five to 10.
There was a time when children were ushered into the garden and expected to amuse themselves. They might have had the odd piano or ballet lesson if they were lucky but nothing like the wealth of activities they have at their disposal today. Able to take part in everything from swimming lessons aged dot to 'master chef' cookery at kindergarten and open-water diving when they reach double figures, modern tots, toddlers, tweenies and teenagers tend to have more hobbies - and even a better social life - than their parents.
With yoga experiencing a renaissance among adults, it was only a matter of time before their children would be literally following in their footsteps.
'Kids like copying their parents and when they see their mothers and fathers practising yoga at home, they want to do it too,' says Lalvani. 'It promotes a huge range of benefits such as flexibility, good posture, mind-body fitness and increased self-esteem - and can be a great way for families to bond.'
It teaches children how to relax and concentrate - feedback from parents indicates that homework is done more efficiently following yoga classes - and helps to alleviate breathing problems such as asthma, hyperactivity and difficulties with sleeping. In the United States, where yoga for kids has taken off in a big way, research has shown that it can prevent exam stress and improve class performance and has eased psychological tension following the events of September 11. It has also helped children with special needs, including Down's Syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism, to develop bodily strength and become calmer and more focused.
Lalvani, who hails from Los Angeles, started doing yoga when she was 10, imitating her mother, who practised regularly at home, because there weren't any specific yoga sessions for children then. She subsequently studied various disciplines including hatha, iyengar, ashtanga and bikram yoga, and started her Yoga for Youth classes a year ago after moving to Hong Kong and needing something to fill her time.