May 2016 - Page 2 of 3 - Go Go Yoga For Kids

Back to the Beginning of Go Go Yoga for Kids

by sara | May 22, 2016 | Presenting

Three boys. That was the total number of participants for the very first kids yoga classes that I ever taught. I was fresh out the gate with my kids yoga training and was ready and eager to introduce kids to the fun and love of yoga.

After all, I loved yoga AND kids and was sure that I could get these three unsuspecting boys on board. After all, one was a fitness instructor’s son (who pretty much had to be there) and the other two were not native English speaking students. Their mom hoped they would pick up some more words and understanding by taking a yoga class.

I poured my heart into these boys for our first 8-week session. I spent hours researching and creating active yoga themes and games that I knew would get their bodies moving and their interests piqued. We were superheroes, jungle animals, warriors, and Lego enthusiasts. I wrote up informative parent notes for each session so the parents would know our theme and poses we worked on each week as well as yoga games we played and illustrations and tips so the students could work on poses at home.

I would try out my lessons and ideas on my own children before my kids yoga classes. If my kids weren’t available, I would sit on my living room floor and run through my lessons out loud. By myself. I know this may sound completely overboard, but I really wanted to be prepared, and I truly wanted to help them learn and grow. I wanted to give these boys the best yoga experience I could.

After my first session ended the boys all signed up for my next session as well as twelve other kids. This quadrupled my roster! I was ecstatic. I had learned so much that first go round and was complexly hooked on the combination of teaching, yoga and kids.

Now hundreds of kids, yoga lessons and games later, I feel like I truly know what works for introducing and

Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga With Kids

engaging kids through yoga. I am excited to share the knowledge I gained with you so you are able to empower the kids around you with all of the benefits and fun that yoga provides.

Go Go Yoga for Kids is on the move! Stick around, I am so thankful for you being a part of it!

Don’t Miss These Fab Four Benefits of Yoga for Kids

by sara | May 20, 2016 | Benefits, Mindfulness

Yoga for kids is on the rise! According to a recent study by NBC NEWS, more adults and children are practicing yoga and meditation. That is good news for our future in so many ways. Read about the benefits of yoga for kids.

1. Increases Flexibility and Strength

Picture a toddler and all of the flexibility they have to bend, squat, and move in all sorts of positions that adults suddenly sometimes find themselves unable to do. Children are naturally flexible, but somewhere around ages of 6 or 7, their flexibility begins to diminish. The good news is that practicing yoga will help you maintain flexibility. Yoga also builds strength as muscles are worked in new ways. Whether a pose is done standing, sitting, or lying down each pose has its own benefits and can challenge various muscle groups. Being flexible also allows fewer and less severe injuries. That is good news for kids involved in many activities outside of school.

2. Improves Balance

Similar to flexibility, balance is another skill that decreases as we age. Everything from navigating icy sidewalks in winter to holding a tree pose benefits balance skills. Balance can be improved with practice and many yoga poses and postures incorporate different elements of balance. Your body’s balance naturally improves while practicing yoga without realizing it. As children work to improve their balance in poses, they are filled with self-confidence and can almost feel their bodies getting stronger as they hold these poses.

3. Enhances Concentration and Focus

Kids are part of a rapidly changing world with young minds easily overstimulated with technology and electronics. They are used to getting immediate feedback with their video games, tablets, and phones. This can make it very difficult for children to actually sit, focus, and complete a task in school. Yoga helps children to practice concentration and self-control which then enhances their focus and awareness.

4. Practice Being Present and Mindful

As parents and kids rush from activity to activity, it is difficult to be still and appreciate the moment that we are in. It doesn’t start like this for kids — think of a preschooler noticing the shape of a leaf or color of the sky as they dawdle home from the park.

Sadly many kids become accustomed to a faster pace lifestyle until they suddenly do not know any different way. There is much benefit to slowing down, unplugging, and being away from it all for a bit. Good kids yoga classes can provide that. They begin with settling into the moment and focusing on their breath and body. Kids can practice engaging poses with games and end with a savasana or quiet time. The end of class usually becomes the students’ favorite part while they lie still and “do nothing”. They know they worked their body hard and this is a time to give back, be still, and reap the benefits of strengthening their body. Being involved in a yoga class keeps the kids present, aware, and in the moment. Learn more about the proven benefits of yoga for adults and children.

Beach Ball Yoga Game for Kids

by sara | May 16, 2016 | Games, Kids Yoga Lesson Plan

What is one of my favorite things about teaching yoga for kids? There are so many fun and creative ways to introduce poses! Beachball Yoga is one of my favorite games to use with all ages of children… especially in the summer.

Buy an inexpensive blow-up beach ball. I got mine from the Dollar Store. With different colored permanent markers write a variety of yoga poses on the beachball. I like to make my poses summer and ocean theme related.

Pose Examples to Write on the Beach Ball:

Shark (Shark Pose)

Iguana (Plank)

Swimmer (Superman Pose)

Dolphin (Dolphin Pose)

Mermaid (up dog)

Sunflower (bend at waist, hold opposite elbow, and circle up and around while holding elbows)

Beach chair (Chair Pose)

Crab (Crab walks)

Sand castle (Down Dog)

Palm tree (Tree Pose)

Surfer (Warrior 2)

Fish (Fish Pose)

Jellyfish (bend at waist and let arms hang down)

Turtle (Turtle Pose)

Starfish (Savasana)

How to Play

Toss the beach ball around the circle. When a child catches it, have them read the pose nearest their thumb. Introduce that pose to the class and everyone can practice it. Then have the ball be tossed again to another student and go again. This is such a fun way to learn lots of different poses!

Check out our recommended kids yoga resources.

Need more Beach Ball Yoga ideas?

Fun Partner Yoga Poses for Kids to Show Off!

by sara | May 12, 2016 | Games, Kids Yoga Lesson Plan, Yoga Poses

Kids love partner poses! They are fun to do and equally impressive to watch. Partner yoga poses for kids and working together as a group to accomplish a goal is fun and rewarding. It builds trust and community while building confidence. It is helpful to have someone near similar size for some of the partner poses, but partner poses can definitely be modified.

Fun partner yoga poses for kids that can be done anywhere and anytime:

Double Boat: This partner pose looks absolutely stunning and impressive when done correctly. Have each partner sit facing each other, knees bent and touching toes. Have them hold hands and lift legs. The bottoms of their feet should be touching as this helps with balance. Then the partners, if able, straighten their legs and lean back slightly as if in a “V” shape.

Raindrop: Each partner lays on their back with their heads touching. With their arms at their sides, they raise their feet above their heads to touch to make a giant raindrop.

I also like to call this pose a Fall Leaf or Hershey Kiss for Valentines Day kids yoga classes.

Double Down Dog:

Kids love try the Double Down Dog Partner Pose, but it is one that must be demonstrated and taken slow. I like to have the students practice their own Down Dogs quite a bit before moving into this partner pose.

Double Down Dog

I like to use the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards to help demonstrate the partner yoga poses. It is a great way to provide a visual while talking about the partner pose.

The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards include 40 yoga poses, partner poses, and an additional set of 10 yoga games to play with the cards. Learn more here.

You can also find partner yoga poses with our Kids Yoga Challenge App found in the App store.

Just Breathe! How to Calm Yourself in 30 Seconds

by sara | May 9, 2016 | Kids Yoga Lesson Plan

There are several ways to practice breath and being mindful with your kids, but the main goal is to make children aware of how they are feeling while slowing down their bodies and noticing their calming breath. Does their breath become short, shallow and fast when they are getting worked up or nervous about something?

The following is a simple sequence that allows children to practice becoming aware of their breath and it helps them focus and calm their nerves before a test, presentation, game, recital or anything that they are feeling anxiety or stress over.

How to do Calming Breath (and Teach Your Kids)

Find a seated position comfortably with your hands resting open on your lap.
Sit up tall, close your eyes.
Breathe in for a count of five and out for a count of three through your nose.
Repeat for five to seven rounds.
Open your eyes and see how you feel. More peaceful and ready to take on the world?!

Help your kids practice this simple calming breath technique and it will become a tool that they will always have with them to use and find success with.