4 Yoga Poses to Help Your Kids Stop Fighting With Each Other
I once read somewhere that this particular author’s mom was able to teach sibling connection through the worst of sibling showdowns by forcing the two parties to sit and look each other in the eye. That was it. They just looked into each other eyes. In that practice, they remembered that they were siblings, that they loved each other, and that there WAS connection. But here’s the thing: siblings FIGHT! And chances are, they’re fighting even more cooped up during this stay at home order. So before you try the “look in the eye” technique, you might want to exhaust the rage a little first:
Wanna Yell? Yell in Lion Pose.
Have them kneel on the ground with their bottom resting on their heels. Direct them to draw their hands up and then curl their fingers into claws; stick their tongue out and roll their eyes back to gaze up at their forehead: Inhale through the nose and on the exhale HAHHHH! the breath out. OR if they prefer ROAR the breath out. Repeat as needed….chances are they’ll either yell themselves out or they’ll be laughing from the silliness of the pose.
Wanna Compete? Who can hold plank pose the longest?
Have them start in tabletop position with their wrists under their shoulders. Direct them step their feet directly back and hover over the ground. They must keep their backs’ straight (no bum lifting) and hold until someone can’t hold anymore. **Added challenge: have them alternate between lifting and lowering their legs!
Can’t see the Other’s side? Flip it upside down with a wide legged forward fold.
Want to attempt to change perspective? Have both of them stand back to back, stretch their legs wider than shoulder distance apart (so they’re standing in a wide legged stance). Lower their hands down to the ground (now they’re in a wide legged forward fold). Maybe now try the look into each other’s eyes trick or talk to each other from this position… even if they keep fighting, it’ll be pretty hilarious!
Hug Yourself. Hug Them.
Fighting may be about them needing to validate the other. But it also might be about them needing to validate themselves: Have your child reach their hands out to their sides (parallel to the floor). Stretch the arms out as wide as possible then have them wiggle their right fingers to their left shoulder. PAUSE. Wiggle their left fingers to their right shoulder. Once each hand is on a shoulder (or as close to as they can manage), have them twist and give their right hand a little kiss. And then have them twist and give their left hand a little kiss. Give them a hug and maybe they’ll be ready to hug each other.