Children Are Sicker—Here’s How Yoga Can Help Them Heal

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A new study published in JAMA confirms what many parents, educators, and pediatric professionals have long suspected: kids in the U.S. are facing a significant rise in chronic conditions—from depression and anxiety to obesity, sleep apnea, and behavioral disorders. Between 2011 and 2023, children became 15–20% more likely to experience chronic health issues. And the numbers are even worse for children of color, who receive less equitable care across the board. So, what can we do?

🧘‍♀️ Yoga as Preventative Care & Daily Medicine

While yoga won’t replace traditional medical treatment, it does serve as a proven and accessible tool to reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, support physical health, and build self-awareness in kids. These are vital skills for preventing and managing many of the chronic conditions on the rise.

Yoga helps children:

• Calm the nervous system to counteract anxiety and depression
• Build strength and flexibility, which supports better sleep and overall fitness
• Develop focus and self-control to manage attention and behavioral challenges
• Cultivate confidence, compassion, and connection—especially important during times of trauma or adversity

💼 Empowering the Adults Who Support Them

Getting trained in kids yoga isn’t just good for children—it’s transformational for the adults who lead them. Educators, therapists, coaches, and caregivers all benefit from the tools yoga provides. Through It’s Yoga Kids® teacher training, professionals gain the knowledge and confidence to:

• Deliver age-appropriate, trauma-informed yoga practices
• Support social-emotional development in any setting
• Lead with calm, compassion, and cultural awareness
• Foster inclusion and equity in wellness education

The health of our children is not just a personal issue—it’s a public one. And yoga can be part of the solution. In a world where kids are getting sicker, let’s give them tools to feel stronger, calmer, and more in control of their own well-being.

Explore IYK® Training and become a force for healing in your community. Together, we can change the future—one breath, one pose, one child at a time.