Easy Ways to Introduce Yoga to Your Kids
A Healthier Michigan
| 3 min read
Yoga is known for its health benefits, including increased flexibility, increased strength, improved sleep and the ability to help with chronic pain and inflammation. Many of these benefits apply to kids as well. Learn how to introduce yoga to kids with these tips.
Start with easy yoga poses
Remember that kids are still learning how to inhabit their bodies and gaining motor skills and strength. Don’t try anything too advanced, strenuous or confusing when you’re teaching yoga to kids. Here are a few starting yoga poses that can be easy and fun for kids to learn.
Tree pose
This pose focuses on balance and core strength.
Stand on one foot. Bring the other foot up to rest on the inside of the other leg at the ankle or knee. Extend arms upward and stretch up. Repeat on the other leg.
Downward-facing dog pose
This is a well-known yoga pose that stretches the legs and the back.
Start with hands and knees on the mat. Raise hips up to the sky, extending your legs. This can also be done with one leg at a time– known as a “three-legged” downward dog pose.
Happy baby pose
This pose stretches the hips, legs and back and can be a great cool-down pose.
Lie on your back. Bending your knees, grab your feet or ankles and rock side to side.
Keep it fun and playful
Remember that kids aren’t likely to be coming to yoga with the sense of serenity or calm that adults might. When doing yoga poses such as the downward-facing dog or other animal-named poses, have the kids mimic animal noises to match. For the happy baby pose, have them mimic a happy baby’s giggles or coos.
Teach kids how yoga is healthy and helpful
It’s important for kids to understand the purpose behind yoga and each pose. It’s easy to explain to kids what part of their body they are stretching or what benefits they get from each pose. You can use yoga to teach kids how to check in with their body or manage aches, soreness and flexibility. The mental benefits or calming effects of yoga can be explained to kids as well. Removing the mystery can help engage kids in yoga.
Remember to take breaks
Kids might need more breaks between poses than adults to maintain focus, shake out their limbs and receive direction on the next pose. Go at a pace kids can keep up with and keep sessions short so they don’t get too tired as they build strength. It can also help to intersperse other types of stretching or exercises in between yoga poses, such as basic stretching or simple breathing exercises.
