How to Practice Yoga with Your Child

Children have boundless energy. Yoga can provide a way for children to use their energy in a constructive manner, while still having fun. Yoga Pretend is a mix of traditional yoga poses, or asanas, and imaginary play. Any parent can take simple yoga poses and turn them into opportunities to explore their creative side with their child. Use the examples below to begin a Yoga Pretend session.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Comfortable clothing
• Yoga mat

1. Bound Angle Pose for Parent (Baddha Konasana) - Butterfly for Child
   You can’t eat yoga, but you can turn into a butterfly, fluttering through the sky. Touch the bottom of your feet together and pull them close to your body. Bring your head down to your toes and become a cocoon. Breathe deeply while you change into a beautiful butterfly. Now raise your head and stretch your butterfly wings. Ask your child what color butterfly they are, or what they see as they fly.

2. Tree Pose for Parent (Vrksasana) – Tree for Child
   You can be a tree standing tall in the forest. Reach up high and feel the sun on your trunk. Bring one foot up to your knee, a new branch is growing. Touch your hands together and raise them high above your head. Take slow deep breaths and feel the wind blow through your leaves. Ask your child what color leaves they have, or what king of animals live in their branches.

3. Cobra Pose for Parent (Bujangasana) – Snake for Child
   You can be a snake, slithering through the grass. Lay down on your tummy, as still as you can. Bring your hands next to your shoulders and take a deep breath. Gently push your head up to smell the air, breathing in and out. Lay your head back down and slither back through the grass. Ask your child what kind of snake they are and where they live.

4. Cat Pose for Parent (Marjaryasana) – Kitty for Child
   You can be a kitty cat stretching its back. Get down on your hands and knees and feel the carpet under your paws. Arch your back and stretch up as high as you can. Maybe someone will come and scratch your furry back for you. Now let your back come down and look up at the world. Now you’re ready for adventure. Ask your child what color cat they are and what they like to play with.

5. Downward Facing Dog for Parent (Adho Mukha Svanasana) – Puppy for Child
   You can be a puppy dog, looking for a good place to bury his bone. Start on your hands and knees, ready to search for the right spot. Tuck your toes under and push your hips into the air. Bring your super sniffing nose close to the ground and take a deep breath. Stop and decide whether this is the right place for your bone. Come back down to your hands and knees and hide your bone away. Ask your child what type of dog they are and what their favorite toy is.

6. Child’s Pose for Parent (Balasana) – Seed for Child
   You can be a seed planted deep in the earth. Sit down on your knees and bring you head down to the floor. Stretch your arms in front of you and wait for your seed to sprout. Take deep breaths as you feel the sun warm you and the water help you grow. When you’re ready to sprout, bring your body up slowly to see the big world around you.

Tips & Warnings

• Expand on these prompts and explore you and your child’s creative side while you exercise your bodies.
• Consult you helthcare professional before beginning a new exercise routine.