Basic Yoga for Kids

Benefits
Stimulates posture awareness, improves breathing, calms the nervous system, increases physical and mental confidence, develops mindfulness.

Goal
The first priorities of a class are enjoyment and safety. We avoid the competitive spirit or perfectionist mentality. Our aim is to simply allow children to enjoy being in the moment.

Time
Classes can range from 30 minutes to 75, depending on the level of interest and age group.

A typical class structure
We start with a few minutes of quiet time where the thoughts are directed internally. The focus is on tuning into the senses. This is followed up by gentle spine stimulation and a general warm up. Then we’ll start on the yoga postures, which include animal games, using the body to express the self, and role play. Finally we conclude the class with a few minutes of breathing and relaxation.

General guidelines for maximizing the child’s participation
Relaxed loose clothing or leotard.
No shoes. Socks are optional
Ensure an empty bladder
No eating an hour before the class (fruit is ok)
Bring good humour


Ideas to make up a class

Be a
Tin soldier
Helicopter
Balloon (you are a balloon that is filled with air)
Troll (walk like a troll)
Elf
Snake
Dog
Racing Car
Kangaroo
Ball
Cat
Tarzan
Monkey
Tree blowing in the wind
Stomach dance
Man on the moon

Walking
Relaxed shoulders
Walk in one line
backwards
side ways
Scissors
Knees up
Legs back
Walk as tall as you can
Walk as small as you can
Slowly
Fast
Short steps
Long steps

Can you lie on your stomach and drag your body?

Jumping
Frog
Bend deeper in the knees and jump as high as you can
On foot
Tripple jump
Turn in the jump

Balance
One leg (change)
Hand stands (kicking horse)
Head stands
Stomach
Back

Dance
Listen to the music
On your stomach
Make a dance while you are on your bottom
Dance on all fours

Copy each other

Magician
Hockus pokus, you are now a .......

Obstacle course
star jumps
climb up ladder, across, and down
balance on the ball for ten seconds
3 forward rolls (look at your stomach when you roll. Can you jump up after you roll?)
jump over the mat

We’re going for a walk in a forrest.
We are walking.
We see a bear.
Its windy and the trees are moving.
We’ve come to a river! How do we get over?
We meet a hare.
We hear something that goes ’meow’.
Who else do we meet in the forrest?
We go home, but the gate is shut!
Let’s rest.

Circus

The bottle spins and turns to me!

Blind man’s buff