Kids have so much energy….until they don’t. When little ones complain that they’re too tired, sometimes they really are tired and other times, it might be their way of saying, “I’m bored,” “I don’t want to do that,” or “I’m sad.” At this point in the year, as we...
There Was an Old Monster – Kids Yoga and Literature
Have you heard the story There Was an Old Monster by Rebecca Emberly? It's written in the same pattern as the old classic, There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly, but in this version, the monster swallows a tick which starts a cascade of problems for him. With its...
Kids’ Yoga Halloween Party
Hey you, with the pumpkin latte! Looking for some new ideas for your Kids Yoga class? With a few props and lots of imagination, you can turn your everyday class into a scary (but mostly fun and silly) Halloween adventure. Grab a witch’s hat and some black and orange...
Halloween Yoga
*Most of these activities can be modified easily for virtual classes.* Halloween is often a very exciting time of year for children. Between the spooky decorations, the piles of candy, and the pressure of choosing the perfect costume, kids can get pretty wound up....
Kids’ Yoga Props: Neckties
Teaching Kids Yoga is not usually a formal affair, but neckties are certainly encouraged in my classes! I love using props in both my children and adult yoga classes, and neckties are a fun, creative prop that naturally leads to a fun, creative practice. I started...
Hula Hoops and Kids’ Yoga
Hula hoops are a natural symbol of yoga: circles represent unity, inclusiveness, and a hole you can jump through, into, and around in creative and fun ways! I also use hula hoops when teaching kids gymnastics and creative movement as they provide a clear, external...
The Yoga Olympics
The Olympics in Japan may be for the athletes, but the Olympic spirit can still be alive and well in your Kids Yoga class. With a mat, some music, and a lot of imagination, your students can all be Olympic medal winners. Musical Mats: Played just like Musical Chairs,...
Baby, You’re a Firework!
Celebrating holidays and special events with fireworks is a common practice worldwide. Bright colors, loud pops and bangs, excitement, and awe accompany a fireworks display. We can incorporate the fun and festive feelings of fireworks in our children's yoga practices....
What is a Hoberman Sphere?
A Hoberman Sphere: lights up children and adults’ eyes alike is a great teacher’s assistant catches your student’s attention (especially when nothing else can) shows how our lungs expand and contract (and showing always works better than telling, doesn’t it?) was...
My Favorite Prop: Pinwheels
Yoga classes do not need props, but boy are they fun! There are so many props to choose from that it is hard to narrow down my favorite. After teaching for a few years, I have a better idea of which I tend to use the most and why it is my favorite. Maybe that will...
Sound: More Than Meets the Ear
When you hear a bell ringing, you are listening to energy making a journey. -Sarah Schain Sound is an important part of the human experience. Just think about how music makes you feel! Songs, their melodies and rhythm, their patterns and harmonies can make us get up...
Reflecting on What We Learned
How often have you asked a child what they did that day, only to hear the answer, “I don’t know” or "Nothing"? This is something I have often come across in teaching kids. After class, they run to put their shoes on and line up for a stamp or sticker. When I say,...
Teaching Ahimsa
The first time your child rolls out her mat in a yoga class, she is exposed to many new words, which shouldn’t be surprising, really. The practice of yoga is from ancient times, for many of us it is from a foreign culture, and utilizes an unfamiliar language...
Growing Up as a Yogi’s Kid
*Today's blog article was written by Whitney, a third year student at Elon University and lifelong yogi's kid* My mom has practiced yoga for as long as I can remember. When my brother and I were very young, my parents would sneak off to yoga class, leaving us in the...
Breathing Activities for Kids
Breathing is the bridge between our mind and body. It is a very powerful force to heal and to be more aware. In yoga, we call breathing practices pranayama and it is a big part of a yoga practice. In Sanskrit prana means breath or vital energy and yama is the control...