Set The Scene For A Successful Family Yoga Class
Oct 20, 2017
Yesterday I taught a family Yoga class for families with children 5 years old and up. I always expect a few younger kids to sneak in and since my intention is to support family wellness, of course I let them join. The one caveat is that if this younger child cannot settle into quiet during the final rest, a parent will sit out in the lobby with them during this time. Parents are agreeable to this arrangement and glad to have the whole gang enjoy most of the class together. This class yesterday had children from 3 years old up through teens. It can be a tremendous challenge to engage such a wide age range but the experience a family shares together in a class like this makes it well worth the effort.
To begin, I briefly described the content of the class and invited each person to take care of him or herself and listen to the teacher within. Family Yoga classes often include first-time students and in this class of about 45 participants, two dads were attending their very first Yoga class. I talked with one after class to see how it was for him. He liked it. I jokingly warned that now any adult class he takes is going to seem boring by comparison. Throughout the class I saw him smiling and engaged with his kids and wife – the set intention of the class.
The initial set up is important. Parents are told they don’t need to focus on or adjust their kids in poses. It distracts the parent from his or her own practice and the side-talking adds a lot of noise to the room, making it difficult for others to hear the instructions. Many parents still feel compelled to do this. I reminded them several times during this class that they don’t need to be giving additional instructions to their child but the din of parent whispers prevailed throughout the class. The invitation to make animal sounds in poses and interact in partner poses seems to open the door for additional conversation in an otherwise silent setting. This is where the “Magic Listening Bells” come in. I use Tibetan cymbals known as Tingshas to get everyone’s attention and re-establish quiet as needed throughout the class – most often after partner poses or a game.
At the start of class, I also let the older kids know that because there are so many young kids in class, we will be doing some things that may feel silly or “immature” to them. I invite them to just roll with it and notice how much the younger kids enjoy it. I also promise to challenge them with poses that will meet their level of interest. Many older children – ages 11 and up, roll their eyes and complain that a family class is “too babyish”. If I’ve already addressed this with them, it helps manage expectations. Before class even started, I had a conversation with one 11-year-old boy. He was there with his mom and 6-year-old sister. I got to know him a bit so I could offer something that interested him during class (in this case it was Crow pose). As I was giving directions in class, I would look at him directly and share a knowing glance. It’s important that the older kids know that we know they are mature! When we were playing Wind In The Trees – a game where the adults are in Tree pose and the children run through the trees as wind, I flew by him as wind and he asked me, “Do I have to run around?” I told him that he could stay in Tree pose and he was visibly relieved. The two teens in class were there with their mom – a kids Yoga teacher herself. They were used to the extra sound and movement and had a great time.
For me, the ultimate goal of a family Yoga class is to introduce all members of a family to the life-affirming, stress-relieving benefits of this practice in a playful and approachable way. There is much a teacher needs to do to create an experience where this can happen in a way that meets a huge variety of needs and interests. But as I reflect after class, I feel great knowing that these families now have strategies they can use at home to self-regulate, self-soothe and connect at a deeper level to themselves - and each other.
