Know how to set up e propose a yoga class for children is very important if you want the session to be for them meaningful e helpful in the growth process.
As you continue reading you will be able to discover how to structure a lesson that meets the needs e learning abilities of the youngest children… but not only!
We will also provide you with some practical examples for setting up a yoga class following the Educational Yoga (recognized by MIUR!).
Here is what you will find in this article.
Table of Contents
The importance of yoga for babies
In today’s increasingly hectic e complex, the yoga stands out as a valuable tool for helping boys and girls find their their place in the world.
But why is yoga so important for the little ones? First of all, it can help them develop a greater self-awareness, of one’s own emotions and of the world that surrounds them.
Through exercises of relaxation, movements conscious e techniques of breathing, children can find their own their own inner “calm sea”, a place of reflection e tranquility.
In addition, it helps develop the “life skills”, defined by theWorld Health Organization as the skills that enable people to cope with and manage the challenges of life.
They include the ability to take decisions, of solve problems, the thinking critic e creative, the management of emotions, etc. (for more details, read What are life skills and how to develop them?).
How to introduce yoga to children?
Before we look at how to set up a children’s yoga class, it is essential to understand how to introduce little ones to this practice.
You should know that children learn through thedirect experience e through interaction. This is deeply rooted in their nature and plays a crucial role in how they assimilate new information e skills: for this reason, their first approach to yoga should be engaging and fun!
In this way, the children will not start out prejudiced, but they will be curious e open toward the new experience!
Let’s look at some small tricks for presenting yoga to children effectively.
Uses age-appropriate language
Using age-appropriate language for children is critical to ensuring effective effective communication and the maximum understanding.
Children, in fact, respond better to terms and concepts that they can visualize o relate with their experience daily.
For example, instead of talking about “centering” or “internal balance,” you could refer to “feeling like a tree, anchored to the ground” o “being as calm as the waters of a lake at sunset”!
Uses stories and metaphors
The stories and the metaphors are essential to the success of a children’s yoga class.
Tell stories that incorporate the yoga postures: children love storytelling and can easily imagine being a brave lion or a towering mountain.
By identifying with the characters and situations described, they will not only perform the positions with greater enthusiasm, but they will also have an understanding more depth of their meaning and purpose.
Incorporate the game
Incorporate the game in yoga for children transforms the practice into an experience fun and engaging, eliminating any barriers resulting from intimidation o boredom.
For example, with the “frog game,” children will not only learn a specific position, but they will have will have fun imitating the animal.
This approach stimulates their curiosity, encourages participation active and helps to internalize the movements in a natural way, making learning yoga a much more stimulating experience.
Respect their rhythm
Every child has a unique learning rhythm. Some might want to observe for a while before joining in, while others may want to take direct action.
Ignoring these rhythms can cause frustration and disinterest, eventually jeopardize their “initiation” to yoga and negatively affect their self-esteem.
Creating a learning environment flexible, where each child feels valued and understood, it promotes a positive, inclusive e enriching for all.
Engage the senses
Engaging the senses during yoga classes amplifies the learning experience of children. The immersion multisensory, in fact, not only makes the practice more deep e engaging, but it also facilitates a more intimate connection with oneself and thesurrounding environment.
For example, of the music relaxing can calm them down and guide them into a meditative flow; the essential oils, through their scent, can stimulate olfactory memory and create an atmosphere of tranquility; the tactile objects offer a tangible point of reference, helping children to focus and ground themselves in the present moment.
Yoga exercises for children
As we have already explained to you, in organizing a children’s yoga class there are several aspects to take into consideration. Naturally, the most important element is the exercises you will propose!
In the article Yoga postures for children we covered this topic in depth.
It is essential to select exercises that are age-appropriate, but at the same time are fun, engaging and able to offer the benefits of yoga (discover also the benefits of online yoga!).
Here are some yoga exercises suitable for children:
- vrikshasana: this exercise strengthens balance and concentration. Children can imagine being sturdy trees, with deep roots and branches extending to the sky;
- simhasana: an energetic posture that allows children to vent, helping them release tension and feel empowered;
- baddha konasana: sitting with the soles of the feet together, children can “wave” their knees like the wings of a butterfly, promoting hip opening and relaxation.
- breathing conscious: Teaching children to breathe deeply and mindfully is essential;
- marjariasana: By alternating the arch of the back, children can move between cat and cow posture (Bitilasana), stimulating the flexibility of the spine;
- savasana: This relaxation pose helps children calm down and integrate the benefits of the practice.
Examples for setting up a yoga class for children
Here are some examples for structuring a class yoga class for children so that it is acomprehensive experience e enriching, both for you and for them!
Dynamic and static breathing
The breath represents the beating heart of yoga. Begin the class by introducing children to dynamic breathing techniques. This will help them feel their “energy flow” e release tensions.
When they are familiar with the practice, it is essential to Guide them toward static breathing. The latter, more meditative e controlled, will teach them to tune in to their own breath, a find inner calm and to establish an emotional balance.
Through these breathing exercises, children can learn to confront their emotions and to reconnect with themselves in every moment of the day..
Visualization techniques
Children’s minds, naturally playful e curious, when guided through imaginary landscapes is lights up.
Imagine taking them on a journey through the forest: every step, every sound, every creature they encounter can be linked to a specific location. As they go through a stream, they could perform the position of the bridge; standing in front of a tree, they might imitate it, feeling strong e stable.
The visualization techniques will not only make the session lively e engaging, but they will help the children create a deep connection between mind and body.
In addition to making the session fun, they will help children to internalize e understand to the fullest extent the yoga practice, making each class an unforgettable adventure.
Asana
The asana, in this case the yoga postures for children, are the heart pulsing of each class. As already emphasized several times, for children it is essential that these positions be presented in a way that capture their attention e stimulate their imagination.
The key is to turn each asana into anopportunity to explore one’s own body and one’s mind, while having fun.
This approach will not only make the practice more engaging, but also much more effective, given the importance of asanas for the development of increased body awareness, of concentration andbalance.
Game phase
The phase of the game, l’playful element, è crucial for the success of a yoga class for children. It is well known, in fact, how important play for young children.
Offering them a break from the traditional structure of the class, allowing them to explore yoga in a more free e spontaneous, children will be encouraged a experiment, a move without constraints and to connect with the asanas in unique and personal ways.
In addition, they will create apositive association between yoga and the moments of joy e fun that will encourage them to continue the practice over the years.
Meditation or mindfulness for children
The meditation and mindfulness are practices that can offer children valuable tools for navigating the turmoil of their emotions and in the chaos of contemporary society.
Conclude the lesson with a moment devoted to these techniques helps little ones to relax, a reflect and to internalize what they learned during the session.
If introduced properly, the meditation and mindfulness can become safe havens for children, where they can find peace, clarity e understanding.
Teaching children to focus on the here and now, to listen to surrounding sounds or to perceive body sensations, helps them develop a greater awareness of themselves and the environment, promoting a deeper and more authentic connection with the world that surrounds them.
Bottom line.
A yoga class for children, if well structured, can become a journey full of discovery and fun, perfect for their growth, both physical and personal.
Through practice, children not only develop physical skills, but also a greater self-awareness, of their own emotions and of the world around them.
If this topic interests you, learn about the benefits of yoga in school and how to become an Educational Yoga teacher!
Contact us, we will be happy to help you!
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Send an email to the National Projects Coordinator [email protected]
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Get to know the authors!
A certified instructor of Oki do Yoga, with a master’s degree in “Yoga Studies” from the University of Venice, she is an adjunct lecturer of the advanced training course “Educational Yoga at School” at the University of Padua.
Co-Founder and President of Ssd “Educational Yoga.”
Holding a Ph.D. in Pedagogical, Educational and Training Sciences from the University of Padua. The doctoral thesis focused on the training of trainers in Educational Yoga.
Docent of the advanced training course “Yoga Educativo a scuola.” the Advanced Training Course at UniPd was conceived by the founders of Yoga Educativo, together with Director Prof. Luca Agostinetto.
Co-founder and vice president of Ssd “Educational Yoga.”
