When I teach kids yoga classes I always start with these five simple, yet effective yoga poses as a good solid introduction to yoga.
When it comes to teaching yoga to children, we need to simply focus on teaching the foundations and encouraging alignment, integrity and awareness whilst in a pose. Of course this is always taught with much fun and laughter!
I always go over these five yoga poses before we try more advanced poses and head on out on a fun yoga story/adventure. Once they are familiar, we move on to something new, but we always come back to these poses in games and warm up sessions.
With this familiarity comes confidence, giving a child a chance to breathe and become present in the moment, especially if they feel strong and confident within the pose.
These five poses give all the basic yoga benefits your child needs to grow and develop.
Kids Yoga Poses
Warrior Pose
Warrior is a good, strong yoga pose that can help to strengthen the arms and legs, build core muscles, open the heart and chest. It develops coordination through balance and spacial awareness, while it builds a strong concept of the self in a way that only a superhero action stance can! It is our power pose giving us inner strength and courage.
Tree Pose
Tree Pose can strengthen the legs and ankles, reduces flat feet whilst lengthening the spine and opening the hips, heart and shoulders. Tree pose is great for developing balance through focus and concentration. It encourages kids to be still and peaceful in the mind. A beautiful pose to help your little ones feel grounded and present, yet strong and wise like a tree.
Cobra Pose
Cobra Pose is a great gentle back bend that helps develop those back muscles for future, more advanced back bending poses. It stretches the neck, shoulders, arms and stomach whilst opening the heart, lungs and chest. It helps develop the buttock muscles, which is more important for preventing back injuries. Cobra Pose is also good as a stress and anxiety relieving pose.
Downward Facing Dog
Downward Dog is an energising pose. It strengthens the arms and legs whilst lengthening the spine. Downward Dog is great for helping to calm the mind and relieve headaches, stress and anxiety. A nice strong pose and a great introduction to inversions.
Butterfly Pose
Butterfly Pose is a peaceful pose that relaxes and stretches the legs, thighs and knees. Butterfly Pose opens the hips and is good for relieving the effects of fatigue and anxiety.
So there you have it! Five basic kids yoga poses covering balance, strength, openers, flexibility, alignment and a long list of mental benefits. I hope they give your little yogis a great introduction to the foundations of yoga and everything they need to start out on their yoga journey.
I love to hear from our Kids Yoga Tribe! Please leave me a comment, and share your yoga experiences on your favourite social platform with the hashtag #kidsyogatribe – and don’t forget to tag me @rainbowpammyyoga