Yoga can provide many of the same benefits to children as it does adults--reduced stress; greater strength, endurance and flexibility; and increased self and body awareness. However, most children will find a better connection to yoga if they are in a class specifically geared to their age group. For those under 10 years old, classes that incorporate stories and games into the practice tend to be the most appealing and effective.
Step 1
Make the students feel welcome. Introduce yourself to everyone, then have them put their mats in a circle or lines so that everyone is part of the group.
Step 2
Begin class with everyone sitting quietly. Your first story can be of a balloon. Have the children imagine their body like a balloon, slowly filling with air and then just as slowly emptying it out. As the story progresses, the children can change the shapes of the their body, making it taller and longer or rounder as you describe the balloon. Have them focus on their breath, noticing the different sensations in their body.
Step 3
Get the class moving. Kids have lots of energy and will need to expel some of it. Do a simple sun salutation a few times. The first time through, go slowly, holding each pose for several breaths, making sure everyone has proper form. Then increase the speed to one pose for each inhale and exhale, allowing them to move and go through it on their own.
Step 4
Play a yoga story game with the class. For example, have each child think of an animal. All of the students will take turns telling the class their animal. After each turn, help everyone create the pose that is most like that animal. The children can share a short story about their animal. Spend 30 seconds to a minute as each animal. Students can be on their mat or moving across the room. Some example of animal poses are downward facing dog for a bear, cobra for a snake, mountain pose for a giraffe and forward fold with fingers interlaced into a trunk for an elephant.
Step 5
Play another active game. Fast, slow, freeze is a good one. Have all the kids stand on their mats and instruct them that this is their special area. Have them create yoga poses of their choosing in their area. They can switch poses quickly, slowly or have to freeze in a pose, depending on what the leader instructs.
Step 6
Explain the life cycle of a tree. Have the children come to embryo pose and pretend they are a seed getting ready to be planted. Lead everyone to standing on your knees as they turn into little sampling, followed by forward fold, to slowly rolling up to standing. Eventually, have everyone come into a full tree pose. Repeat the same sequence for the other side, pretending to be a different type of tree.
Step 7
End in savasana, corpse pose. Have the children close their eyes and imagine they are lying at the beach or in the clouds. Create a story surrounding this environment to help their bodies relax and be still for a few moments as you conclude. On the beach, they can feel the warmth of the sand and their bodies sink a little deeper with each exhale. The water can lap at their toes, removing a little of the sand from under them helping them relax. The warm sun shines down on their skin making them feel cozy until they are almost ready to fall asleep.
Tips and Warnings
- Be flexible. Have more planned for the class than you can get through. That way, you can gauge the energy level and needs of the class that day and do the activities, games and stories that are most appropriate. As you become familiar with the children's imaginations, create your own games and stories that incorporate poses. For example you could tell a story of warriors as you go though a warrior 1, 2 and 3 pose sequence.
Things You'll Need
- Yoga mat for each student
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