Empowering Futures: The Impact of Kids Yoga Teachers on Child Development (read)

Alexis Espinoza | Feb 28, 2024

oga is a movement practice that can support relaxation, body awareness, flexibility, balance, and overall well-being through mindful connection with the body and breath. While yoga is commonly associated with adults, children can also enjoy age-appropriate yoga, breathing practices, guided relaxation, and mindfulness activities.

Introducing children to practices such as mindful movement, relaxation, body awareness, and self-care can give them opportunities to slow down, connect with themselves, and explore healthy ways to incorporate movement and mindfulness into everyday life.

Transforming Stress with Kids’ Yoga

A 2023 survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the On Our Sleeves Movement for Children’s Mental Health found that many parents reported challenges their children experienced during the previous school year. Children can experience stress related to school, home, friendships, transitions, and other everyday experiences.

Kids yoga can provide a welcoming space for children to move, breathe, play, and relax. Practices such as yoga, breathing exercises, guided relaxation, and mindfulness activities can give children simple opportunities to pause and become more aware of their bodies and surroundings.

Rather than focusing on changing a child’s emotional experience, kids yoga can offer age-appropriate practices that encourage relaxation, body awareness, focus, and connection. Yoga teachers can introduce these activities in schools, camps, libraries, community centers, and other settings where children gather.

Kids Yoga Teachers Can Encourage Body Awareness Amidst Digital Distractions

Children spend more time using technology at school and at home, making opportunities for movement and body awareness especially valuable.

Kids yoga offers children opportunities to move away from screens, explore different movements, practice balance and coordination, and notice how their bodies feel.

Activities such as stretching, balancing, mindful movement, and playful yoga can encourage body awareness, flexibility, coordination, and physical confidence while making movement enjoyable.

Tips for Kids Yoga Teachers and Aspiring Kids Yoga Teachers:

• Kids yoga teachers have opportunities to share movement and mindfulness activities in many settings, including schools, camps, libraries, community centers, nonprofit organizations, and other community spaces.
• When designing a yoga sequence for kids, consider their age, energy level, interests, and the setting. Incorporating games and activities that connect with the theme can make the experience engaging. It is also helpful to have a few additional activities available.
• When responding to children’s behavior, focus on the action rather than labeling the child. Avoid words such as “mean,” “bully,” “troublemaker,” or “unattentive.” The language adults use can influence how children experience themselves and others.