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Why You Should Teach Yoga to Kids

Why You Should Teach Yoga to Kids

You can do this! I don’t want you to look at this as you should do, but instead, something that you can do! Think of it as Why Kids Need Yoga Now and what you can do to help introduce it to them. The good news is that it is easier to teach yoga to children now more than ever! There is something very satisfying about teaching children and helping to instill lifelong skills and benefits. I promise teaching yoga to children isn’t hard. We have a step by step proven format. It is something that you can do! I am here to help you.

Why You Should Teach Yoga to Kids

# 1. Kids Need Yoga Now

Our world is changing, and our kids face different challenges and commitments then they have in the past. There are many demands on kids’ time and pressure to do kids yoga teacher trainingwell and be successful at what they are involved in. This includes school, family, friends, sports, quickly changing technology, and other interests. That leaves us with kids who have a lot going on as they try to figure out a way to balance it all.

Kids need to learn how to be able to work through these demands in healthy and responsible ways.  Yoga is a skill that can benefit all kids no matter what activities they are involved in or what their interests and abilities are. Yoga meets everyone at any stage and provides incredible extrinsic and intrinsic benefits. Discover the Super 7 Benefits of Yoga for Children here. 

Kids that practice yoga are getting stronger mentally and physically. They are healthy, strong, and more confident. Not only this, but it can help them in school, in their extracurricular activities and absolutely their day to day lives.

#2 It is Easier to Teach Yoga to Children Now More Than Ever

When I first started teaching yoga to children there were not a lot of resources available about the best ways to teach children yoga.   Since children learn and respond differently than adults I knew yoga had to be taught in a different way than an adult class. 

I used my background in Early Childhood and my Master’s Degree in Education as I reviewed and researched kids yoga classchild development and the best ways that children learn. I had to figure it out and spent hours and hours researching, writing kids yoga lesson plans, trying them out with kids, and modifying to know exactly what works for teaching yoga to children.

I wanted these kids yoga lesson plans and classes to be engaging, beneficial, and memorable for kids.

Go Go Yoga for Kids prides itself on making yoga for children doable and FUN for the kids AND you to teach. I want you to succeed in teaching yoga to children. 

I am excited to share 20+ years of teaching kids compiled for you into 6 hours in our online Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training.  I spent years figuring out what works and what doesn’t work for teaching kids yoga. I researched, tried, and tested during hundreds of kids yoga classes until I figured out what really worked! Stop wasting your time trying to piece random things into something that works.

I want to make this easy for you. I want you to be able to completely go into any kids environment (studios, camps, clubs, classes, at home) and confidently introduce children to yoga. I know you can give those children quality and inspiring classes. It is so exciting and truly makes such a positive difference.

#3 It is About Making a Difference

There is nothing like seeing the kids faces full of contentment at the end of SaKids yoga trainingvasana. It is about watching the kids master a pose after working on it for weeks. It is about seeing a child take a few deep breaths before starting a test or before a soccer game. These kids are in tune with what their bodies need and that is so important. It is all about giving children the tools that they will have for life. 

Our online Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training will help with this. You can make a difference.  I will show you exactly how to do this every step of the way.

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Go Go Yoga for Kids LIVE on the I am a Lovable Me Show!

Go Go Yoga for Kids LIVE on the I am a Lovable Me Show!

It was so much FUN to be invited LIVE on the I AM a Lovable Me Show. Take a look if you have children in your life that you love and care about and truly want to make a positive difference in their lives! There is so much goodness to share!

Listen and Discover on the Lovable Me Show:
  • Why kids need yoga NOW in our world today
  • The benefits of yoga for children
  • Secrets on getting kids started with yoga
  • How to introduce children to yoga and mindfulness in fun and engaging ways
  • Plus learn the shocking truth about what happens to all children after they turn 7

Take a peek at some of the show’s highlights below:

  • How do children benefit from practicing yoga?
  •  What ages can children begin yoga?
  • How it adult yoga different than kids yoga?
  • What are some ways of introducing mindfulness and yoga at home? It doesn’t need to take long. It is really about introducing children to some exercises and helping them discover how they feel and when they could use them. Establishing routines: Poses/stretches you can do in the AM and in the Evening Settling down.
  • How to model mindfulness yourself
  • What ages can children begin yoga? Yoga is a lifelong practice. There is no so such thing as yoga perfection.  By introducing yoga to toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged kids you are setting them up for lifelong skills.
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Limited Time! Teaching Kids Yoga Guides for only $.99 on Amazon

Limited Time! Teaching Kids Yoga Guides for only $.99 on Amazon

Do Not Miss This Incredible Offer!

Get your kids yoga poses, lesson plans, games, breathing exercises, partner poses and much more!

yoga for kids

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

Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga with Kids AND Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children teaching kids yoga guides are available on Amazon for download beginning on April 2nd for only $.99!

This offer is good for both Amazon.com and Amazon UK! Get all your kids yoga lesson plans, breathing exercises, mindfulness activities, and yoga games galore for less than a dollar.

Grab your copies of these kids yoga books now. Share with a friend. They will thank you!

If you already have your copies, please follow the links below and leave a review. It takes only a minute and truly helps others find and learn about these resources. It is so very appreciated!

Amazon.com Shoppers yoga lessons

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

Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children

Amazon.uk Shoppers

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

Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children

Why the Go Go Yoga for Kids E-Store Matters to You:

  • Now you are able to easily download your Go Go Yoga for Kids books on any device. This means your iphone, computer, tablet, kindle, ipad. Any of these places!
  • You can also easily transfer your Go Go Yoga for Kids books from device to device.
  • This is also extra exciting because you are able to easily print out sections that are important to you. You know how much I love writing and putting together kids yoga lesson plans. Now you can easily find which lesson plan you want to use and print it out for your personal use. This is also true for our lesson plan templates, guides and games that are found in our books!
  • Another great reason to purchase your e-books directly from the author is that it does help me out. You know how kids yoga is my passion and I love being able to get resources and ideas straight to you. When you purchase directly from the author this allows a great connection and helps small businesses such as Go Go Yoga for Kids.

This includes all of our great resources, including our newest #1 New Release Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children.

Wondering which Go Go Yoga for Kids Book is right for you? This video breaks down the difference between the books.

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How to Keep Your Kids Yoga Students Engaged Throughout Class

How to Keep Your Kids Yoga Students Engaged Throughout Class

“He will not sit still!”

“How can I get everyone to participate?”

“She is constantly disrupting the flow of the class.”

These are just a few of the statements that I hear from many of you time and time again. I hear you! I understand. Teaching children is all about how to keep kids interested, engaged, challenged, and motivated. This means they are not acting up and spoiling it for the other kids. I get that. I have been there!

After 20 years of teaching in the school classroom and leading thousands of kids yoga classes, I have a pretty good idea what works for keeping your class running seamlessly.

How to  Keep Children Engaged in Yoga Class

Keep the Energy Level Varied

When I teach yoga to children, my lesson plans include activities for varied energy levels. That is a good thing! I promise! I like to begin my classes at a low energy level which means settling into class, focusing on our breath and being calm and mindful.

Next, I move into the next parts of my kids yoga lesson plans which include Active Movement, Themed Yoga Poses, Yoga Games, and Yoga Challenge which require a mid- to high-energy level. Finally, I like to bring the level back down with our Community Building, Mindfulness, Savasana. Kids do really well with this type of pacing in a yoga class and this helps quite a bit with any classroom management issues. If you want to know more about the exact breakdown of my Kids Yoga Lesson Plan, our bestselling Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga with Kids takes you through the exact step by step lesson planning breakdown and no-fail formula.

Keep Things Moving

I cannot stress this one enough. There is a reason that there are 9 components in the Go Go Yoga for Kids yoga class plan. That may seem like a lot, but each component only lasts a few minutes each. Each part is done specifically with a purpose. It begins with welcoming the children to class, introducing the themed yoga poses, and community building. Each part is important to the overall structure and flow of class and this definitely helps engage students. Plus familiarity and routine help build confidence with kids. That is what we want…confident kids!

Continue moving forward.  I know class management can be the number one challenge in working with kids, but always continue learning and revamping. By having a plan in the place will help you stay on track, but remember to be in the moment and have fun with the kids as well. Stick with it. Keep coming back and learning and growing. Just think of the difference you are making in the lives of the children you know and love.

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Indoor Recess Survival Guide With Yoga Stations

Indoor Recess Survival Guide With Yoga Stations

Cold weather is keeping kids inside during school recess this winter. With recess and PE time already being decreased in schools, this definitely is a growing concern. Kids need to have the opportunity to move and be active during an otherwise mostly sedentary school day. Instead of turning on a movie or staring at an Ipad try some fun Yoga Stations.

Try these 5 easy to implement Yoga Stations for the next indoor recess to get your kids fit, focused and flexible. Yoga stations are perfect for school and home and require no materials. Set up your 3 Yoga Stations in your classroom or home, turn up some music and have kids rotate stations every five minutes.

Station 1: Plank Pose Challenge

In one corner of the room have students partner up and take turns holding the perfect plank position with a straight line from head to feet. Their partner can watch the clock for 15 or 30 seconds. Have them switch positions and slowly work up to one minute.

 

Station 2: Tree Pose

Balance needs to be practiced in order to be maintained. Tips on holding that can be ttree posericky tree pose is by focusing on a spot on the ground that is not moving. Bring your foot to your calf and hands at heart center. As you become more steady, try bringing your foot to your thigh and your hands overhead.

 

 

Station 3: Warrior 2 Jumps

Kids love this and is a great way to get the heart pumping and healthy. Stand strong in Warrior 2 with arms outstretched and front leg bent. Try jumping and switching directions and landing in Warrior 2. It is almost like snowboarding, but much warmer!

Station 4: Down Dog Push Ups 

We have all done push-ups and feel the effects in our arms. Down Dog push-ups work not only your arms, but also increase the length of hamstring muscles. While in Down Dog pose move your arms in a push-up form. You probably won’t be able to get as close to the floor, but students will work their arms and legs in a whole new way!

Station 5: Human Knot yoga game

This is a perfect opportunity for kids to work together in a small group to accomplish a goal. Stand in a circle and grasp one another’s hands across from you. Try to untangle yourselves without letting go of hands. This requires patience, communication and some flexibility. It is a great way to build teamwork in your home or classroom

With these simple exercises, kids are working together on balance, focus, core strength while getting their heart healthy and happy! Those are all good things for home or school!

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Got Props?! Find out Kids Yoga Teacher Favorite Resources

Got Props?! Find out Kids Yoga Teacher Favorite Resources

I love teaching yoga to kids. I appreciate how each class and interaction is so different. We are busy, active, engaging, and playful. Teaching yoga to children is definitely different than teaching yoga to adults for many reasons.

One of the biggest differences is the use of yoga accessories and props that you use in kids’ classes. Children are very visual and having a few surprising and fun items on hand while introducing yoga poses, breathing exercises, and mindfulness will really help keep your students engaged throughout your time together.

What Are Yoga Props?

breathing exercisesFirst of all, what exactly are yoga props that you would use with children? Yoga props are items that you introduce and use with children to help keep them engaged and interested.  Do not overthink this. Yoga accessories can be simple and inexpensive items. You probably already have several on hand that you haven’t even thought about.

I cannot wait to share with you some favorite yoga props to use with children!

Now, I need to let you in on a little secret. I am slightly obsessed with utilizing yoga accessories with children. There, I said it. You would definitely be able to tell this if you came to visit me and would see my office at my home. I have balls, hula hoops, read aloud books, puppets and more tucked in spaces throughout the room. Now please understand that I do not use all these props at once. I select 1-2 to use per class and rotate through them to help keep your yoga bag fresh.

In our online Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training, all participants are invited to be part of our private Facebook Group. In our group, we talk about all things kids yoga related. One of our topics a few weeks ago was favorite props that they love to use with children. Based on the response and discussion, I guess I am not the only one infatuated with yoga props!

Favorite Yoga Props to Use With Kids

  • Beanbags: These are a great tool for balance work and can be used for breathing exercises.
  • Pom Poms: These colorful little puff balls are the perfect lightweight size to practice controlled breathing as you breathe your puffball up and down your yoga mat or across the room.
  • Stuffed animals: These are wonderful to use with the younger ages when you are introducing a yoga pose such as Cat Pose, Cow Pose, Down Dog, etc. They also work well as breathing buddies and for getting the attention of your students.
  • Pose Cards: I use the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards for every kids yoga class that I teach. I select 4-6 poses that we will be focusing on and practicing. These visual cards help demonstrate the pose and they can be used for all of the favorite yoga games including Musical Mats.
  • Scarves: Scarves are wonderful to use in many different ways for breathing exercises, Freeze Yoga Dance, and for games.

To see more favorite Kids Yoga Props plus my Best Business Tips that I use daily take a peek.

Just for fun, if you want to see what I keep in my kids yoga teacher bag, check it out below.

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