Kids love partner yoga poses! Partner yoga poses help teach children the importance of teamwork and working together plus they are fun to do. They build trust and community with one another within the group. These partner poses can be done at home, school, camp, yoga class or anywhere you have kids ready to try something new and have fun.
I incorporate partner or group poses in every kids yoga class. It is a great team-building activity and gives everyone a common goal to work toward. I love the confidence built when mastered.
I kept this in mind when I created the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards, I purposely incorporated partner poses for some of the yoga challenge poses. The partner poses are built on progression and gives the children a goal to work toward.
Have kids partner up with those of similar size. All partner poses can be modified, but it is a good idea to start this way.
Have the partners get to know one another before practicing the poses. Take a moment for them to introduce themselves to one another and pose a few questions that they need to answer as something they are good at or a favorite game to play. I sometimes have the pair come up with a team name together. That builds community and teamwork for sure!
Have one pair of partners demonstrate the Partner Pose before everyone tries it. As the partner pair is demonstrating, this is a good time to talk about proper form and any safety concerns. Although yoga partner poses are safe and fun, it is still a good idea to remind kids to take it slow. They will naturally be excited to get right into the pose so this will help them remember.
After the partners have practiced the featured yoga pose for 1-2 minutes, have each group demonstrate their pose. Kids love to show off the poses with their partners.
See Saw Partner Pose
Kids Yoga Partner Class Lesson Plan
First, have the students get into pairs. It is helpful to have a partner of similar size, but not necessary. Modifications can be made for any of the partner poses.
Have the partner pair get to know one another (if they don’t already) and think up a Team Name. They love doing this. Refer to their team name throughout class. They LOVE this and it will absolutely motivate them.
Explain to the students that they will be working through a series of partner poses. Talk about how being safe is the number one priority and how they need to look out for their teammate.
l used the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards for this kids yoga class because these yoga cards include leveled partner poses. It is important to begin with the easier “one-starred” levels and work your way up to level 5. 5.
5. I began with See Saw Partner Pose and showed the students an example pose card. This Partner Pose is perfect to begin with because it warms up your legs and allows the children to work together. I invited a pair to come and demonstrate it to the group. I had them model how you begin slowly in a see-saw fashion. Legs can be made into a diamond shape or bent if you have some children that are taller or different heights.
6. I allowed a few moments for the children to practice this first partner pose before moving on to the next pose with the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards. Each time, have a pair model the partner pose as you explain to the students about how to safely get in and out of it. You could also use the Kids Yoga Challenge App for pose visuals, but keep in mind that the poses are randomized for fun with the app.
It is so important to think not just about physical health, but also our emotional and mental health. This is true not only for adults, but especially the kids that we love and care about.
One easy and fun way to increase the well being of kids is through simple art and mindfulness art therapy.
In our popular book; Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities, we share our favorite kids yoga crafts and activities. These crafts and activities are perfect for home, school, camps and clubs.
In our super fast-paced world today, it is more important than ever to help our kids find ways to relax and stay physically active. Yoga will help with movement, mindfulness, and deep breathing and is an excellent way to find this balance. By adding a few moments of yoga into your kids’ daily routine can have many benefits, including flexibility, focus, and an overall sense ofwell-being.
5 Easy Ways to Include Yoga in Your Child’s Day:
Morning Yoga Stretch: Start the day right with so simple stretches like Cat Post to Cow Pose or with Sun Salutations. Do this with your kids and encourage them to match their breath with their movements. This can help wake up their bodies, improve circulation, and set a calm and focused tone for the day ahead.
Take a Yoga Break: Just as adults benefit from taking breaks during the day, kids can also benefit from mini yoga sessions. Encourage your children to take short yoga breaks If feeling overwhelmed. Do a few quick and easy stretches or balance poses. Use the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards to help make selecting different poses engaging and fun.
Go on a Yoga Adventure: Create an adventure story that incorporates various yoga poses. For example, if the story is about a journey through the jungle, each animal encountered could correspond to a different pose such as Tree Pose, Gorilla Pose and Cobra Pose. This not only keeps kids engaged but also helps them remember and enjoy the poses in a creative context.
Family Yoga Time: Try some partner poses from The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards to help with teamwork and togetherness. This shared experience not only promotes physical well-being but also strengthens family bonds.
Bedtime Yoga: Yoga is a great relaxing and soothing activity before bedtime. Help your kids transition from the busyness of the day to a calm and relaxed state by guiding them through gentle stretches and calming breathing exercises. My favorite restorative yoga poses are Legs-Up-the-Wall and Reclining Butterfly Pose. This is a wonderful way to wind down and release any stress from the day.
Legs Up the Wall is a Favorite Restorative Yoga Pose
I was honored to be a guest on the Mindful Moments for Families & Schools Podcast! We continued to crack the code on how to easily incorporate mindfulness and yoga into your children’s everyday routine.
Get Ready to Discover:
Recommendations on how to get started with a yoga & mindfulness practice yourself
How to get started teaching yoga to children
Create mini mindful moments with Kids
How the Go Go Yoga for Kids books & resources came to fruition
In today’s episode I chat with Sara Weis. Best-selling author Sara J. Weis is a creative and passionate teacher who has inspired children for over twenty years. In Go Go Yoga for Kids, Sara has combined her experience as a school teacher and a certified kid and adult yoga instructor to introduce children to yoga in engaging and child-friendly ways.
Sara holds a master’s degree in education as well as bachelor’s degrees in early childhood and elementary education. She is a teacher for West Des Moines Schools and leads kids yoga classes for a nationally-known health and fitness club. Her Go Go Go Yoga for Kids Teacher Training and books are found in over 200 health clubs, gyms and schools across the US.
The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards will challenge you and children with balance, flexibility, mindfulness, and more. This card deck includes 40 poses including partner poses, confidence building pose mantras, and fun games to play together using these cards.
The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards Include:
40 progressive yoga poses including partner poses
Empowering pose mantras for beginners and meditation
Poses rated from 1-5 stars based on difficulty
Easy to follow poses to create many original yoga flows
15 Bonus Games to play using these pose cards
Tested and proven yoga poses to bring most mental and physical benefit
Takes only minutes each day to gain lifelong skills and health benefits
Looking for simple mindfulness activities for kids that actually work?
The good news is that mindfulness doesn’t have to mean sitting quietly for long periods of time. In fact, some of the best mindfulness activities for children take less than five minutes and can be done anywhere.
Whether you’re a parent trying to create calmer mornings, a teacher looking for a quick brain break, or a camp counselor managing a group of energetic kids, these simple activities can help children improve focus, regulate emotions, and reduce stress.
Why Mindfulness Matters for Kids
Children today are growing up in a fast-paced world filled with constant stimulation. Mindfulness helps children slow down, pay attention to the present moment, and develop important self-regulation skills.
Research shows that mindfulness can help children:
• Improve focus and concentration
• Manage big emotions
• Reduce anxiety and stress
• Increase self-awareness
• Build resilience
The best part? It only takes a few minutes a day.
1. Five Finger Breathing
Spread one hand wide.
Using the pointer finger of the opposite hand, slowly trace up and down each finger.
Breathe in as you trace up.
Breathe out as you trace down.
This activity is perfect for calming anxious or frustrated children.
2. Rainbow Walk
Go outside and challenge children to find something red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
This simple activity encourages observation skills and helps children stay present.
3. Listening Challenge
Set a timer for one minute.
Ask children to close their eyes and count how many sounds they hear.
Lie down and place a small stuffed animal on the belly.
Watch the stuffed animal rise and fall with each breath.
Children love this activity because they can actually see their breathing.
5. Mindful Stretch Break
Reach high like a tree.
Fold forward like a waterfall.
Stretch wide like a starfish.
Move slowly and notice how the body feels.
6. Gratitude Toss
Toss a ball back and forth.
Each time someone catches the ball, they share one thing they are grateful for.
Simple. Fun. Powerful.
7. Freeze and Feel
Turn on music and dance.
When the music stops, freeze.
Ask:
How does your body feel?
How is your breathing?
What emotion are you feeling right now?
Yoga Freeze Dance
8. Five Senses Check-In
Name:
• 5 things you see
• 4 things you hear
• 3 things you feel
• 2 things you smell
• 1 thing you taste
This classic grounding activity works for children and adults alike.
9. Kindness Challenge
Challenge children to perform one act of kindness today.
Helping a sibling.
Holding a door.
Writing a note.
Kindness and mindfulness go hand in hand.
10. One Minute of Stillness
Can your child sit quietly for one minute?
No screens.
No talking.
Just breathing and noticing.
Sometimes the simplest activities are the most powerful.
Bringing Mindfulness Into Everyday Life
Mindfulness doesn’t require special equipment, expensive programs, or hours of practice. Small moments practiced consistently can make a big difference.
The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is helping children develop tools they can use throughout their lives to navigate stress, build confidence, and find calm in a busy world.
That’s a skill worth practicing.
Want more fun ways to teach yoga and mindfulness to children? Explore our Kids Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher Training and discover engaging games, activities, and lessons that kids love.
