Yoga for you and your little one

Share this guidance with your families

We all know that movement and exercise are important at each stage of life, but did you know that intentional movement – such as yoga – has a range of benefits that extend beyond the basics of fitness?

Encouraging your child to practise yoga with you offers a wealth of advantages, so, in this article, we take a look at some of these benefits while also suggesting tips to help you introduce yoga to your child! 

Physical fitness 

Yoga poses and movements help children develop strength, flexibility and coordination. Regular practice can improve balance and posture, enhance motor skills and promote overall physical health.

Focus 

Yoga encourages children to be present in the moment and pay attention to their bodies and breath. This mindfulness practice can enhance concentration, focus, and attention span, which can, in turn, benefit their learning.

Emotional regulation

Yoga develops emotional awareness and self-regulation skills in children. By connecting with their breath and body, children can learn to recognise and manage their emotions in healthy ways, leading to greater emotional resilience and wellbeing.

Confidence

Through yoga practice, children develop a sense of accomplishment as they master new poses and challenges. This sense of achievement can help boost your little one’s self-esteem and confidence!

Trying yoga with your little one

Start with simple poses

Begin with basic yoga poses that are easy for children to understand and recreate. Poses like cat, cow, downward facing dog, tree pose, and child’s pose are a good place to start – you'll be able to find these in the diagram below.

Use YouTube videos

There are lots of free yoga class videos available on YouTube that are specifically designed for children. If you have space, put one of these on your TV and follow along with your little one. 

Make it playful

Imaginative play in your yoga session will keep your child entertained and engaged. You could even ask your little one to come up with their own animal-themed yoga pose!

Try animal poses 

Children tend to enjoy pretending to be animals, so incorporate some animal-themed yoga poses into your session. Cobra pose, camel pose and downward-facing dog are a few that you could try – you’ll be able to find these in the diagram below.

Lead by example 

Children will often imitate the behaviours of adults around them, so if you have a go at yoga, you might inspire them to join in! Make some space, put some music or a tutorial on, and let them see you enjoying yoga.

More ideas for yoga at home:
bit.ly/CosmicKidsYoga-U5
bit.ly/YogaForToddlers-U5