Craft a Compelling Yoga Class for Children

May 01, 2024

Like a good story, a children’s yoga class has a beginning, a middle and an end. Like an adult yoga class, it includes a variety of yoga techniques combined in a certain order to create an experience that integrates and regulates the mind and body. 

If you’ve ever taught yoga to children, you’ve likely had the experience of walking into class with a well-thought-out plan…and watched it fall apart before your eyes. This is because there’s an extra element in a children’s yoga class that adult yoga teachers don’t get to experience, and that’s the enthusiastic children in the class!

Children benefit from yoga in the same ways adults do, and we use many of the same techniques - modified to be safe and engaging. But to keep the kids engaged requires some unique components that allow them to benefit from the wonderful techniques of yoga.

Sequencing and timing can make or break your class. They are the backbone of an effective and engaging experience. When children are engaged, they’re less likely to be distracted or distracting. Over 20 years of teaching kids’ yoga classes and training kids yoga teachers, we’ve developed a signature system that provides a structure to each class.

If you find yourself spending hours planning your classes, and wonder how to start, what to include, and how to wrap it up, these insights will save you time and put you at ease.

To start a kids yoga class, have some kind of opening ritual. This is traditionally chanting “OM”. It’s a unifying sound that literally gets everyone on the same wavelength. You can create your own starting ritual, but it’s important to have one to get the room synched. 

The same is true for the end. Again, we typically seal the class with a round of “OM”. Some teachers choose to say, “peace, peace peace.” Some ring a chime or bell. Whatever you choose to do, when you have these consistent bookends to your class, the kids feel a sense of predictability and can relax. 

Now, for the rest of the class…this is a huge topic, but these tips can help you make some modifications to your class plan that will facilitate greater engagement and provide maximum benefit. 

When it comes to games, I recommend they are played after the sequence of yoga postures you’ll be teaching. There are two reasons for this. One is that you can teach some of the poses that will be used in the games so the kids are familiar with them. Practicing the poses before the games will also increase body awareness and a regulated nervous system, making the game itself more peaceful and fun. The second reason to teach games towards the end of class is so the kids have something to look forward to and are motivated to stay engaged. It’s kind of like having dessert after dinner! 

Another component of class that is non-negotiable is guided rest at the end. This is where timing is critical. If the kids need to be at their next class or parents are waiting impatiently outside the classroom, you don’t have the option to extend the class by 5 or 10 minutes. You want to be sure that when there are 10 minutes left in class, kids are getting ready to relax. 

Turn-taking and game-playing are two areas in the class where there’s a lot of time flexibility. A game can be played in 3 minutes or extended to 20 minutes. So keep an eye on the clock as you begin the games, do some quick math and be sure there’s time to settle into relaxation before sending them back out into the world. It’s one of the most important elements of the class! (Check out our free Magic Carpet Ride guided relaxation.) 

Kids have a high need for mental and emotional regulation skills. Yoga is incredibly beneficial for this. A well-timed class with an engaging sequence can give kids valuable insights and tools to manage their mind and moods for years to come.