Kids Yoga
Why Yoga for Kids?
- Yoga is beneficial and fun for children and can provide them with the necessary movement breaks needed throughout the school day. Yoga not only supports a child's physical development (balance, motor control, body awareness), but also supports their brain function (focus, determination, and stamina). Yoga has the ability to join the mind and body together and enables children to strengthen their prefrontal cortex (the decision making, planning and higher order thinking part of the brain).
- Whether you would like to include simple yoga poses into your daily routine or hold a kids yoga club at your school, here are some ideas that I have implemented and steps that have found effective.
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1. Set Clear Expectations
If you are wanting to include simple yoga breaks throughout your day, model what this will look like in your classroom and practice it with your students. Do you want them come to the rug for a quick yoga flow or to follow a video on Youtube/Alogives/Gonoodle? Will you have them stay at their desk and do simple chair yoga poses fora quick break? Will you be holding a kids yoga club after school once a week?
Whichever you choose to do, make sure you are very explicit with your students and explain that:
A. When we do yoga our body is calm and our voice is quiet so that we create a safe, calm place for all children.
B. It is optional so if you are not feeling like doing yoga you can stay in your seat or do simple stretches at your desk.
C. There are many benefits to doing yoga, such as relaxing our nervous system, getting our minds clear and focused and bodies ready to learn.
If you are wanting to include simple yoga breaks throughout your day, model what this will look like in your classroom and practice it with your students. Do you want them come to the rug for a quick yoga flow or to follow a video on Youtube/Alogives/Gonoodle? Will you have them stay at their desk and do simple chair yoga poses fora quick break? Will you be holding a kids yoga club after school once a week?
Whichever you choose to do, make sure you are very explicit with your students and explain that:
A. When we do yoga our body is calm and our voice is quiet so that we create a safe, calm place for all children.
B. It is optional so if you are not feeling like doing yoga you can stay in your seat or do simple stretches at your desk.
C. There are many benefits to doing yoga, such as relaxing our nervous system, getting our minds clear and focused and bodies ready to learn.
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2. Create a Routine or Schedule (and make it visible)
I have a very clear routine or schedule for my morning mindfulness, kids yoga club, and any yoga or breathing breaks I have throughout the day. Children need consistency and need to know what to expect. It can be simple, but provide children with a clear routine to help them feel more grounded. Once you know the routine, write it down and post it so they can refer to it as needed. Each time you practice, make sure you follow the routine and ensure you are consistent. Of course you can change it up a little, with different breathing techniques, yoga poses, partner poses and connection activities. I will be posting my kids yoga club lessons and templates on Teachers Pay Teachers soon, so look out for that!
I have a very clear routine or schedule for my morning mindfulness, kids yoga club, and any yoga or breathing breaks I have throughout the day. Children need consistency and need to know what to expect. It can be simple, but provide children with a clear routine to help them feel more grounded. Once you know the routine, write it down and post it so they can refer to it as needed. Each time you practice, make sure you follow the routine and ensure you are consistent. Of course you can change it up a little, with different breathing techniques, yoga poses, partner poses and connection activities. I will be posting my kids yoga club lessons and templates on Teachers Pay Teachers soon, so look out for that!
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3. Have Fun and Embrace the Wiggles
It can be scary when your students start moving and their voice levels go a little bit higher than a 'Level 1 inside voice'. You may want to control them and tell the class to quiet down or cancel the whole thing. Remember to do steps one and two and if you need to stop and discuss the expectations again, you can do that. But don't give up or make your students feel bad for enjoying yoga and having fun. Not speaking from personal experience or anything.. :) It took me a while to realize that it is okay to have fun, to let your students enjoy the yoga poses, and to embrace the 26 wiggly bodies in the tight space of your classroom. Use this as a way to teach personal space, respect of others, and body control. And once they are able to manage, allow them to have fun and connect with themselves and each other.
It can be scary when your students start moving and their voice levels go a little bit higher than a 'Level 1 inside voice'. You may want to control them and tell the class to quiet down or cancel the whole thing. Remember to do steps one and two and if you need to stop and discuss the expectations again, you can do that. But don't give up or make your students feel bad for enjoying yoga and having fun. Not speaking from personal experience or anything.. :) It took me a while to realize that it is okay to have fun, to let your students enjoy the yoga poses, and to embrace the 26 wiggly bodies in the tight space of your classroom. Use this as a way to teach personal space, respect of others, and body control. And once they are able to manage, allow them to have fun and connect with themselves and each other.