Kid’s Yoga has so many positive effects on children’s physical and mental well being. Research from Harvard and the National Institute for Health has shown that yoga, meditation, and mindfulness in children can improve focus, memory, and self-esteem as well as reduce anxiety and stress. While we’re all cooped up let’s create a space to let our favorite little people seek and find the benefits that we receive from practicing.
The key to a successful kids’ yoga space and practice is to make it fun and playful! Yoga and meditation can be done anywhere; inside, outside, in a tent, in a fort! Get creative! Have your kiddos grab a yoga mat, blanket or beach towel. This gives them guided space where they can maneuver and express each pose or cardio burst to the fullest (get the sillies out!) without getting into someone else’s space.
I love to have kids start off with a Sun Salutation. Begin by letting them know what a salutation is, saying hello to something. It can be simple down dog, forward fold, Mountain pose, forward fold, down dog. Have them do it at least three times. If kids are older (7+) make it a little more advanced.
Let your children use their imagination. Maybe each day you go on a “fieldtrip” to a different spot. Think beach, zoo, the mountains, the Olympics etc. You can create postures that go with each “theme” (i.e. for zoo- low cobra for a snake at the zoo). You can then try tying multiple postures together.
Tie in a game that gets their bodies moving. I love to add in Yogi/Simon says or Red Light, Green Light. Kids love to get silly in these games and let them, especially on their space.
After a game come back to a breathing exercise. One of my favorites if 5 finger breathing that they can take with them anywhere. Follow your hand with your finger. Trace your finger up and breath in, trace your finger down and breath out.
End with a simple meditation/mindfulness activity. Make it simple and something they can come back to. Have your kiddos spread out on their space. Instruct them to close down their eyes, think of a person that they love. Imagine their face, how tall they are, how their voice sounds. What does their smile look like? Take a big breath in and exhale imagine giving them a ghost hug.
After this mediation they could draw a picture or write about the person they love and send it to them via mail, e-mail, or slide it under their door if they live in your house!
Check out our Kids Yoga classes on YouTube at Power Life LIVE.
