Practicing yoga allows kids to play while exercising and connecting with their inner selves, according to "Yoga Journal" magazine. If you enjoy yoga and working with children, this specialty may be a good match for you. When choosing a children's yoga certification program, consider several criteria, such as the type of certification, location, length of the program and the style of yoga you prefer to teach. Keep in mind where you plan to teach as well, since each facility has its own requirements for employment.
Significance
Many training organizations offer certification in yoga for kids. They follow guidelines set by the Yoga Alliance, which requires 95 hours of training for teachers who want to carry a "Registered Yoga Teacher" designation. This can be helpful in making you stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs. The Yoga Alliance breaks up the 95 hours into training on childhood development stages, teaching techniques, methodology, anatomy and philosophy.
Locations
Training programs for children's yoga exist in every state and around the world, in a wide range of styles. "Yoga Journal" lists more than 60 programs, with some taking place at yoga conferences. Others offer study-at-home options using DVDs or online training. The Yoga Alliance requires 87 hours of face-to-face training for their RYT designation, so decide whether you would like their seal of approval before selecting your program.
Style
Consider your personal approach when choosing the style of yoga that you plan to offer to kids. Some programs introduce Buddhist stories and philosophy, while others focus on getting kids moving and in touch with their bodies. You can also select programs that use games or train you to introduce kids to breathing methods, chanting, singing or meditation.
Population
Many yoga teachers work with specific age groups of kids, such as pre-school, primary grades, pre-teens or adolescents. Learning balance and focus as a young child can help in athletics later in life. Teenagers are looking for activities to help them make sense of their chaotic world and enjoy taking classes that feature pop music, according to the Yoga Chicago website.
Considerations
Be sure to allow extra time when proposing a new yoga for kids program at any publicly funded facility, like a school system or recreation department. These are logical prospects when the time comes to match your certification with a job, since the kids are already at these locations, but you may need to allow time for a finger print and background check as part of your job application.
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