Is your child interested in learning some easy kids’ yoga poses? If so, we’ve put together some playful and interactive tips for both parents and kids to learn yoga poses together. Be sure to check out the video below for more information.
Are you looking to introduce yoga to your kids, but unsure how? At first glance, it might seem like kids and yoga aren’t the best combination.
However, introducing your kids to yoga at an early age is a great way to promote mindfulness and a healthy lifestyle. Of course, getting them on board with these exercises and activities may prove somewhat challenging. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Today’s adventure revolves around our fun and creative yoga class!
We’ll take you step-by-step through 14 different beginner yoga poses that you can do from the comfort of your own home with the rest of the family. Join Wiley and his friends on their latest tale of adventure at the lodge and introduce your pack to some of the best yoga poses for kids.
Before we begin, let’s go over a few different ways adults can get the kids ready for their yoga adventure.
How to Teach Kids Yoga Poses
1. Set Up Your Space and Find Your Chi
If you’ve ever taken a yoga class before, you’ve probably been introduced to the concept of “Chi.” While it might sound a little “woo-woo”, it never hurts to create a good ambiance before you get started. Here are a few different ways you and the kids can make that happen:
a) Find a comfortable place to be seated or to lie down – This will help you maintain your focus and concentrate on your breathing. Finding the right space will also come in handy when entertaining positions that require a good amount of movement.
b) Arrange mats (or a comfy blanket or pad) near your laptop, tablet or TV – We’ll be guiding you through each and every yoga pose your kids will be doing, so make sure the sound is up, and you have a great view of Wiley and his friends!
c) Set the mood: Dim the lights, light candles, prepare a cold scented towel for when you are done – We like to do this to help your children focus. A lot of yoga revolves around meditation, and it’s hard to meditate when you let your mind wander. It’s important to create an environment to help keep your children focused and relaxed, even after the exercise is complete.
2. Practice the Poses
We’ve all heard it before; “practice makes perfect.” As cliche as this advice may sound, it really does hold water. The more your children practice their poses, the more familiar their body becomes with the movements and the easier they will be to perform.
a) Use this guide to learn and practice the poses in advance – There are a lot of yoga poses for kids and we don’t expect you to memorize them all! Don’t hesitate to use this guide as a resource.
3. Do the poses to the video
Visual instruction goes a long way when it comes to teaching your children yoga poses. A lot of kids find watching exercise routines more helpful than reading about them! Check out the video below for a step-by-step demonstration on different yoga poses for your kids.
4. Make Yoga a Tradition
It’s important to maintain an exercise routine. Yoga provides a low-impact way of strengthening our bodies, which makes it a great practice for people of all ages — especially kids! But it also revolves around breathing patterns, meditative techniques, positive thinking and other procedures that are important to pepper into everyday life.
5. Most of all, have fun
Giving your kids a familiarity with yoga now is a wonderful way to encourage interest in a healthy lifestyle.
6. Namaste
You may have heard this term before. Most yoga instructors will end their classes by saying it, pressing their hands together and bowing their head. The gesture is meant to help you communicate respect and connect to those around you.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s review some of the best yoga poses for kids. We’ve even provided some illustrations to help you follow along with the instructions!
14 Easy Yoga Poses for Kids
1. Happy Baby Pose
Lie on your back and hug your knees into your chest. Grab the outer part of your feet with both hands and rock like a happy baby.
2. Standing Forward Bend
From Mountain Pose, bend your upper body and reach for your toes. Sway your arms gently.
3. Eagle Pose
Wrap one leg around the other and bend your knees slightly. Bring your bent arms out in front of you and wrap them together in opposite directions.
4. Butterfly Pose
From a sitting position, bend your legs together so that the soles of your feet touch together. Place your hands at your heart. Gently flutter your legs.
5. Downward Facing Dog Pose
Starting on your hands and knees, press your hands into the ground and straighten your legs as you lift your hips into the air. Relax your head and neck. This is a great way to strengthen your wrists and forearms.
6. Dancing Shiva Pose
Raise your arms up to your sides, bending them at the elbow. In the air, cross one leg over the other and bend at the knee like you are sitting in a chair.
7. Extended Mountain Pose
Place your feet on the mat, keeping them hip-width apart. Maintain this standing position and reach your arms up to the sky meeting your palms together above your head.
8. Upward Facing Dog Pose
Lie on your tummy and press your outstretched legs into the ground. Place your palms flat under your shoulders and draw your shoulder blades together.
9. Warrior 3 Pose
Stand on one leg and extend your other leg behind you. Bend your upper body forward and reach both arms out in front of you.
10. Tree Pose
Standing on one leg, bend the opposite knee and place the sole of your foot on your inner ankle or thigh (never on your knee).
11. Table Top Pose
Rest comfortably on your hands and knees, with your arms under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Your back and neck should be in a straight neutral position.
12. Flower Pose
From a sitting position, lift up your legs and weave your arms under your legs so that the soles of your feet touch together.
13. Child’s Pose
From a kneeling position, sit back on your heels and gently drop your forehead down to rest.
14. Sun Salutation
Stand tall. Bring your arms up over your head and place your palms together. Bring your palms down to the center of your chest.
15. EASY POSE
Settle into a cross-legged position, making sure the buttocks are touching the floor and your feet are positioned directly below your knees. Bring your hands together in front of your heart. Be sure to keep your gaze soft and elevate the pelvis as well.
16. BOAT POSE
Sit down and lean back slightly. Stretch your arms out directly in front of you. Lift your legs out in front of you while keeping your belly tight. Try to keep your balance as your body maintains a v-shape position. This one is great for exercising those core muscles!
17. COW POSE
Get onto your hands and knees. Look up to the ceiling while dropping your belly to the floor.
18. LIONS POSE
Sit back on your heels. Press your palms into your knees, spreading your fingers out as if they were claws. Breath in through your nose, and let it out through your mouth. Open wide, stretch your tongue to your chin and let out a roar!
19. CAT POSE
Kneel on all fours, with your hands positioned under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Round your back towards the ceiling while keeping your eyes on your bellow. Relax your muscles and slide into cow pose for a gentle yoga flow.
20. ELEPHANT POSE
Stand tall with your knees hip-width apart and feet flat on the mat. Bend your upper body down towards the floor. Clasp your hands together and sway your arms like the trump of an elephant. This one is great for expanding your flexibility!
21. COBRA POSE
Lay on your stomach with your legs stretched out behind you. Place your palms down on the mat beside your shoulder.s Keep your legs together and inhale deeply. Gently push your head, chest, and shoulders off the ground. Keep going until your arms are straight. Take a deep breath in and let out a hiss just like a cobra!
22. CORPSE POSE
Also known as “Savasana,” corpse pose is where you lay flat on the floor, with your face up and legs straight out on the mat. This yoga pose is reserved for the end of your class as a way to help your body and mind relax and reflect on what you’ve accomplished!
Mental Health Benefits of Starting Your Kids on Yoga
In addition to the physical benefits it provides, yoga can introduce some amazing tools to help improve mental health.
These kid-friendly yoga exercises can help your little ones develop important concentration skills and expand their ability to focus. It’s also a great way to teach control and self-discipline.
Kids need to learn how to make good choices and take accountability for their actions. Something as simple as a yoga routine can provide them with the structure needed to regulate poor behavior. Studies suggest that yoga can help control the impulses that surround anger, with certain poses believed to be most effective.
The ability to grow and develop can also help kids develop feelings of accomplishment and pride.
Yogis also pay close attention to the way we breathe. Breathing exercises have been shown to help calm the brain and body. Deep breaths and meditation can reduce tension, manage anxiety, and even promote better sleep. Some techniques have even been shown to mitigate factors contributing to headaches and other forms of pain.
It’s Not Just About Yoga, It’s About Bringing Families Together
Thanks for tuning in! At Great Wolf Lodge, we create family traditions, one family at a time. These days, we’re looking to take that mission out of the lodge and into your home.
Check-in each week to see what Wiley and the rest of the Great Wolf Kids are up to. Don’t forget to share your experience on Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok. Tag a friend to tell them about your favorite position!
Pingback: Hamilton Middle School » February Activity Calendar