Here in the northern hemisphere, we are stepping deeper into the autumn season. The temperature changes, the colors change and the daylight changes all affect our children in obvious and subtle ways. Let's help them embrace the inevitability of change and the beauty...
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....
Pumpkin Patch Party
When you think of October, chances are you think of pumpkins! Whether as a fall-specific spice, a fun Jack O'Lantern craft, a tasty pie, or a festive decoration, pumpkins are synonymous with fall. So take that seasonal energy to your yoga mat with some...
Spooky Brew Halloween Yoga
I always begin my classes by having the kids lay face down on their mats in Crocodile pose with their foreheads resting on their hands. Whenever your forehead touches something, it automatically sends a signal to your brain to calm down. I find that most children can...
Dealing With Homework Tension
Homework tension? “Never heard of it”….said no one sadly ever. I know we are not alone and this blog is here to help. Homework tension can be different for every child and can vary depending on the subject and the time of day. Read on for some ideas to try out and...
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...
Brain Breaks for the Classroom
Are you looking for a way to re-focus your classroom? Here are some postures for kids (and teachers) to try while seated in a chair. Make these practices part of your daily classroom routine! Listen to the bell: You can use any type of bell for this activity. I prefer...
Yoga Class Theme: Transportation
Are your little yogis fans of Thomas the Tank Engine? How about the movie Cars? Do they dream of flying planes or exploring the ocean in a submarine? Capture their imaginations and attention with a whole yoga class based on transportation! Feet: Our basic mode of...
Why Should Children Practice Yoga?
“For real change to take place, the body needs to learn that the danger has passed and to live in the reality of the present.” -Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. from The Body Keeps the Score The basic elements of a yoga practice (movement, breath work, and meditation) help...
Explaining the Yamas and Niyamas
As Kids Yoga teachers, we have the amazing responsibility to introduce children to the ideas in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. About 1600 years ago in India, Patanjali condensed two different traditions (Ashtanga Yoga and Karma Yoga) to compose the Yoga Sutras, the...
How to Assess Your Yoga Class
We all know that yoga works. Here’s your chance to prove it! It’s helpful to have research from other yoga programs. It’s even more beneficial if you have your own research from your teaching. Program evaluation is vital to convincing schools, parents, teachers, and...
My Public School Yoga Classroom
What does yoga class look like in my public school? Before Class The children walk in two straight lines giggling and smiling, trying to keep in their excitement. We stop right in front of the “yoga room” and I ask them, “What do we do when we walk into the yoga...
10 Breathing Practices for Kids
Swami Vidyananda said breath control is "your most portable form of stress management." In a yoga practice, the art of controlling your breath is known as pranayama. "Prana" is your energy and life force. "Ayama" simply means control. So Prana +Ayama = controlling our...