Is parenting your excuse for not working out? Soha Ali Khan has a tip for you!

Parenting brings on a host of challenges. For a mother, especially, multi-tasking becomes a task in itself! And often, as we may have seen in our households, the woman puts her health and lifestyle on the backburner for the family’s sake. But, hello ladies! It’s time we change that, and instead of playing the blame game on the lack of workout time, try to make children a part of your fitness regime.

We all know the many benefits of physical activity and the negative consequences of inactivity. For instance, physical inactivity can increase the risk of several serious diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular and mental health issues. On the other hand, physical activity can help you build better mental and physical health. That’s why it is necessary not just for parents, but children too. 

And what can be better than trying yoga? Yoga is for all age groups.  Well ladies, performing yoga with your kids can be loads of fun yet very beneficial. When you do it together as a family, each of you gets to work out at your own pace no matter how big or small or how young or old you are. And this is what Soha Ali Khan recently did.

In her recent Instagram video, Soha made her daughter Inaaya her workout partner. Soha captioned the post, “Parenting can be all-consuming but don’t let it come in the way of your workout (sic)!”

In the video, Soha can be seen doing partner clap planks with lovely little Inaaya. In the second part of the video, she lifts Inaaya on her shoulders and does squats. Soha aptly plays the “Baby work” song in the background

This is why you should also try performing physical activities with your kids! For children and adults like you, yoga is a wonderful exercise that feels less like exercise and more like loving and respecting one’s body. 

Dr Jagdish Kathwate, Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician, Motherhood Hospital Kharadi, Pune, tells HealthShots, how yoga is beneficial for kids and how it plays an important role in the overall development of the child. 

• Yoga is essential to enhance the physical and mental well-being of children. 
• It improves one’s mind-body connection. 
• It can be helpful in relaxing children and enhancing their peace of mind. 
• It can make children agile, flexible, and strong. 
• It will improve their concentration, attention, and memory. 
• It is beneficial for the child’s cognitive development. 
• The children will be able to focus on their studies in a better way. 
• It improves body awareness and mindfulness. 
• Yoga will teach children to be disciplined. Thus, children will not be impulsive and learn to have patience.

Check out Soha’s Instagram post here:

How does performing yoga benefit you?

Dr Kathwate explains how:

1. Anxiety

Yoga can help your children and you to develop a positive mindset, and get rid of stress and anxiety. Yoga poses are known to calm you down and teach both of you to be composed. It is a good stress management technique.

2. Helps to boost immunity

You will be surprised to know that yoga will allow you to build a strong defence mechanism, and improve the body’s ability to fight various diseases and infections.

3. Entire body fitness

Yoga is a full-body workout. It enhances circulation throughout the body, especially to the heart, and helps children to keep heart problems at bay. It also corrects one’s breathing and tackles issues like indigestion, acidity, gas, and constipation. It helps to maintain a correct body posture. Children should do yoga under the guidance of a yoga instructor.

All in all, yoga can help you and your kids to learn to live in the moment and focus on what you are doing. This way you can also build a strong bond between you and your kids

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