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How to Begin Your Kids Yoga Class

How to Begin Your Kids Yoga Class

Congratulations on taking the time to truly gain an understanding of why each part of a kids yoga class is important. By following our everything will easily fall into place for you and your students. A well-thought-out and organized lesson plan will create more opportunities for learning, engagement and create lasting memories.

You can get all caught up with our first Kids Yoga Lesson Planning 101 Training Video Here.

kids yoga class

The Welcome is the very first part of your kids yoga class and it is the first real class interaction you will have together. The Welcome helps set the tone for how your class will go and helps explain to your students what they will be doing and learning as well as what you expect of them.

When you establish and make a connection with your students right from the start, it makes such a difference throughout your class as you introduce and teach breathing exercises, yoga poses, games, challenges, relaxation, and more.

I think about this in my school classroom as well. Children need to know that they are safe and cared for. When you have a connection and a trust established, then you can truly teach the content, relax, and have fun teaching.

A well thought out and organized kids yoga lesson plan will also create more lasting memories and help with explaining yoga to a child.

In the beginning of my kids’ yoga classes, I like to gather the students in a circle and welcome them warmly while having them introduce themselves. This will help you get an overall sense of their mood and abilities from the start. It is also the ideal time to reinforce their names with their faces which comes in handy with the management of the class.

I like to have my students share their name and answer a question.

For example:

  • Sharing something that they are good at
  • What do you already know about yoga?
  • Share why yoga is good for you
  • Demonstrate any yoga poses that they already know
  • Ask a theme-related question (in relation to the yoga theme of class) such as “Which superhero would you be and why?”
A well thought out and organized kids yoga lesson plan will also create more lasting memories and help with explaining yoga to a child.

I also like to briefly go over my 3 No-Fail Rules at this time.  You only need these three rules to keep your class running seamlessly which is a big deal for the success and involvement of your classes. These 3 No-Fail Rules and many classroom teaching videos are all included in our online Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training course. Enroll now and work through at your own pace and time with our support throughout.

A well thought out and organized kids yoga lesson plan will also create more lasting memories and help with explaining yoga to a child.

Remember, you only get one chance to make that first impression. The Welcome does not need to be long, but it is the best opportunity to let kids know how excited you are that they are there and to introduce them to the theme and format for the class.

Continue to Part 2: Breathing Exercises for Kids

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The Ultimate Guide to Plan your Fall Kids Yoga Class

The Ultimate Guide to Plan your Fall Kids Yoga Class

Free Fall Kids Yoga Lesson Plan. Welcome Fall!

Fall is in the air! One of the things that I love about living in the Midwest is the change of seasons. I truly do appreciate the changing trees and landscape that each new season brings. As soon as you get tired of the heat, snow, or rain, then the season begins to magically transform into a new one.

I love incorporating the change of seasons with my kids yoga classes. Kids enjoy the seasonal themes with the poses, breathing exercises, and yoga games. By having a theme, it truly helps the children connect with and retain with what they are learning.

Get your free Kids Yoga Fall Fun Lesson Plan below. Learn many Fall themed yoga poses, play yoga games, practice mindfulness, complete group challenges and much more!

For this kids yoga lesson plan, I use the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose CardsThese pose cards provide a great visual for the yoga poses as well as the partner yoga poses.

Free Fall Kids Yoga Lesson Plan
Check out our Partner Bats

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Have you ever seen such a lovely Fall leaf? (Partner Pose)

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It is much more fun to try to balance with a pumpkin on your head!

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Interested in more kids yoga lesson plans? Our bestselling Go Go Yoga for Kids resources includes hundreds of kids yoga lesson plans, games, poses, mindfulness exercises and much more. Click to learn more.

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How to Play Summer Beach Ball Yoga

How to Play Summer Beach Ball Yoga

Summer is here! Get ready to play a favorite Summer Yoga Game!.

One of my favorite things about teaching yoga for kids is that there are so many fun and creative ways to introduce poses. I love creating a yoga game for kids and Beach Ball Yoga is one of my favorite summer games to play wiht kids. This yoga game can be played with any size group of any ages. Family-friendly and fun! All you need is a beach ball to get started!

HOW TO PLAY BEACH BALL YOGA

1. Find a blow-up beach ball. I got mine here.

2. With different colored permanent markers write a variety of summer words on the beachball. (See the examples below)

3. I like to make my poses summer and ocean theme related. Below are some examples. Note: I only write the bold-faced word on the beach ball.

Summer Yoga Poses

Dolphin (Dolphin Pose)

Shark (Shark Pose)

Iguana (Plank)

Swimmer (Superman 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 kicks)

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)

Find a free list of your summer beach yoga poses here. These words and poses can be written on your beach ball.

 

kids yoga lesson plans

Get the best Kids Yoga Games & Activities instantly with our Go Go Yoga for Kids E-Store

 

Beach Ball Yoga with A Twist

Get ready for yoga beach ball! This yoga game can be played with any size group of any ages. All you need is a beach ball to get started!

Beach Ball Yoga with a twist in Boat Pose

Looking for a little beach ball challenge? Have everyone sit in the circle and pass it around the circle again, but not with their hands – with their feet!

I like to explain how this is similar to a group Boat Pose. It is a good core workout as well especially with holding that pose and all the laughter.

 

 

 

Need hundreds of complete kids yoga lesson plans, games, and resources?

 

go go yoga for kids books

Check out our bestselling kids yoga lesson plans books:

Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga with Kids,

 Yoga Lessons for Children

Yoga Games & Activities for Children

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St. Patrick’s Day Kids Yoga Fun for All Ages

St. Patrick’s Day Kids Yoga Fun for All Ages

 St. Patrick’s Day Yoga Lesson Plan

Get ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with these lucky and fun poses for St. Patrick’s Day yoga, games, breathing exercises and more.

These yoga poses and games are perfect for home, school, and studio. Get the full lesson plan in our bestselling book Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children.

Breathing deeply with purpose during yoga lets you hold the pose longer. However breathing excercises for kids need to look a little differentGo Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children

Begin with Rainbow Breath:

1.Place your index fingers together.

2. On the inhale reach your arms to one side of your body.

3. On the exhale, raise your arms overhead and lower to the other side.

St. Patrick’s Day Themed Yoga Poses:

Pot of Gold: Full Boat Pose

Leprechaun: Chair Pose or Warrior 2 Pose

4 Leaf Clover: Star Pose

Horseshoe: Horse Pose

Rainbow: Wheel Pose, Bridge Pose, Reverse Plank

Visuals for all of these yoga poses can be found in the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards

More St. Paddy’s Kids Yoga Ideas:

Balance Practice: Use plastic gold coins to work on balancing them on your hand, head, knee, etc. The children will have lots of ideas on where they can balance their gold coins. You can also use these gold coins for balance relays which the kids think are lots of fun.

gold coin

Find the complete Lucky Leprechaun Kids Yoga Lesson Plan in our bestselling Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children book.

Get your free Kids St. Patrick’s Day yoga Mandala here.

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5 Yoga Poses That Will Open Your Heart & Mind

5 Yoga Poses That Will Open Your Heart & Mind

Try these five heart-opening yoga valentine poses with children this Valentine holiday. These heart-opening exercises are especially beneficial for kids and adults who spend the majority of their day slouched in desks at school and work or with their heads bent over screens and books.

These exercises take only minutes and will help improve posture and release back and neck tension as well as create openness in your body and mind.

All of these heart-opening yoga poses can be found in our Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards that are available for immediate download and on Amazon.

5 Heart Opening Yoga Poses

  1. Cat to Cow Pose: Begin on your hands and knees. Next round your back and tuck your chin into your chest as if you are a cat. Then look up, arch your back and open your chest into Cow Pose. This is a great way to strengthen your spine and begin to feel your heart-opening.
  2. Updog Pose: Lie on your tummy. Place the palms of your hands next to your shoulders and lookup. Slowly straighten your arms and open your chest. It is okay to keep arms bent as well.

  3. Bridge or Wheel Pose: Kids love trying to get into Wheel Pose, but this huge heart opener is not easily accessible for all. For an easier but still effective heart opener, try Bridge Pose. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Rest your arms alongside your body, tuck your chin into your chest, and lift your back to create a bridge.
  4. Camel Pose: Take this pose slowly and feel your heart open. Get on your knees, lean back slowly, and place your hands on your lower back or ankles. Tilt your head back, open your chest, and breathe.
  5. Bow Pose: Lie on your tummy, bend your knees, and lift your chest. Reach your arms back toward your toes and hold onto your feet. Let your heart shine!

bow pose yoga

Bow Pose becomes easier to try after practicing with The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose

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The Best of Kids Yoga

The Best of Kids Yoga

Happy New Year! It has been a wonderful year for Go Go Yoga for Kids. We have loved bringing the joy and fun of yoga to thousands of others through our Kids Yoga Lesson Plan Books, Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards, App, and most importantly our online Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training. We have now certified over 3500 people from all over the world and are sharing the love and joy of kids yoga with others.

I have always loved reflecting on the year and thinking about how we can help even more others in the next year. I am also such a fan of “Year-End Reviews” and “Best of” Lists. So without much further ado…

Here are your Top Kids Yoga Favorite Posts from this year:

5. Kids Need Yoga! Don’t Miss These 7 Super Benefits of Yoga for Children

4. Simple Ways to Get Children to Listen (that you haven’t tried)

3. Mini Yoga Brain Breaks for Kids

kids yoga class
“The Light in Me Sees the Light in You. Namaste” at a recent kids yoga class

2. How to Create an Epic Kids Yoga Obstacle Course

1.The Top 5 Secrets to Teaching Yoga to Kids

yoga game
Children Love Practicing Their Poses with Yoga Games

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