How to Practice Yoga with Your Children

A mountain, a frog, a bird, a snake and a tree all are poses a child can learn when beginning yoga. Starting out, children (ages three to ten) should have a different experience than a young adult. Children have natural curiosity and energy levels that can be released through yoga poses structured for their age. With these steps, parents can create their own educational yoga experience by leading their child through animal poses and aerobic exercises all designed for adventure and fun. It is helpful and fun for your child if you participate in the poses.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Yoga mat or towel
• Open space to move freely
• Water

Yoga Poses for Kids

1. BIRD POSE. Come sitting on your heels. Stretch the arms out to the side (hold them straight), now with your eyes closed, start gently flapping your bird wings. Invite your child to image what type of color of bird they want to be and get that imagination going!

2. 

   FROG POSE. Stand straight up. Now bend your knees and place your hands on the ground. Begin to jump up and down like a frog. Let me hear a "RIBBIT"! Keep going. See if your child can jump 10 times, how about 20? Do your best then rest!

3. MOUNTAIN POSE. Imagine that we are in the middle of the mountains and are inspired by the beauty that we decide to enter mountain pose. From a standing position bring your hands to the floor and walk them out in front of you. You will have both hands and feet on the floor while you are holding the pose; This will look like an upside-down "V". Be sure to keep breathing. Invite your child to describe their type of mountain.

4. TREE POSE. Stand straight up and pretend you are growing like a tree. What kind of tree would your child like to be? An oak, a willow, a pine tree? Begin this pose by lifting up your right leg and place your right foot inside the left thigh. Once you achieve a sense of balance, lift up your arms to the sky. Now try balancing with your arms slightly wider than your shoulders. Place the right leg on the floor and try the left side. Lift up the left leg and place the left foot inside the right thigh and repeat arm balance movements. Do you feel the sun shining on your tree?

5. SNAKE POSE. Come lying on the floor on your belly. Place your hands on the floor even with and slightly wider than your shoulders and lift up the torso. What kind of snake did you choose? While holding the pose, breathe in and breathe out through your teeth like a snake. Let me hear you hissssssss. Continue this for five breaths. If you need a rest, bring the head down to the ground then come up again when you are ready.

Tips & Warnings

• All of these poses can be held for 30 seconds for the younger children. Older children (eight to ten years) could hold poses longer.
• If you want to make the interval between poses more active, try running in place for 30 seconds. Pretend you are running to the mountains for the mountain pose.
• Your child is more likely to participate if you take them on the yoga adventure.
• Children's yoga is all about fun! Make your adventure animated, be creative and encourage your child to come up with a new animal pose.
• If you want a longer activity, repeat the poses or consider purchasing a child focused yoga DVD for the home.
• Be sure to practice these poses with your child.
• Ensure that the child does not overdo the poses.
• Consult your physician and/or pediatrician before engaging in any exercise routine.
• Remove any furniture or obstacles to create a safe activity space.
• Hydrate your body during the adventure.
• Focus on breathing during poses.

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