Comments on: Teaching Kids Yoga Not Your Typical Yoga Class

By: The PranaMama

The PranaMama — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:16:48 +0000

I once attended ChildLight Yoga’s free Yoga in the Park, and the same thing happened. Because it was part of an ongoing, weekly series of free yoga classes, many adults showed up with their mats and their “serious yogi” faces on. It was cool to see their faces slowly break from meditation mode to playful child mode, as they followed along with dozens of children and their parents singing songs, making animal sounds as we practiced familiar poses and played games with partners.

I think many yogis got a different lesson that week – that practicing can be playful, and we can allow ourselves to let go of our expectations and inner critic. I recently wrote an article about a yoga teacher who taught in this style – telling the class to “just play with it.” Find it at http://thepranamama.com/?p=464.

Thanks to all who bring yoga to children and childhood to yoga!

By: Jennifer Hess

Jennifer Hess — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:25:43 +0000

I will be teaching my first family yoga class in October and have been trying to figure out what to include. I once taught a class for friends and had them laughing whenever I mentioned starfish hands or when we got into dead bug pose. There will be a lot more yoga play after reading your post and the other comments. Thanks for the reassurance that adults can get down and bark with the best of them!

By: Aruna

Aruna — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:05:19 +0000

I agree – I taught a kids class at a Yoga Conference once and it was full of adults barking and mooing along. They loved it. It surprises some adults when they first see kids yoga, they think it will be like adult yoga.

I can’t resist sharing a story on this topic based on one adult asking me, “Isn’t yoga supposed to be quiet?”

http://youngyogamasters.blogspot.com/2009/04/isnt-yoga-supposed-to-be-quiet.html

Based on the response you got – maybe adult classes should be noisier.

By: Childlight Yoga

Childlight Yoga — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:19:07 +0000

So fun to see adults come out themselves a bit when introduced to kids yoga! The differences between the classes are astounding, and I’ve been asked, “Do the kids really benefit from ‘playing yoga?” The answer of course is YES! Children learn best through play.

Boat Pose, for example, can be pretty tough for kids. But add a song and make it a game and suddenly, the children are laughing and holding the pose much longer than if we just say ‘Now we’re going to do Boat Pose.’ As you say, turning class into adventure and incorporating themes is a great way to encourage that. As an example, see our thoughts on teaching Boat Pose here: http://childlightyoga.blogspot.com/2009/08/boat-pose.html

By: Diane

Diane — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:57:08 +0000

making the connection of environment and yoga is very cool! and a wonderful concept to view it through child’s eyes.