One of the best aspects of wanting to teach children yoga is that you can see it from their perspectives and have fun! Whether you want to become an official teacher, or are looking for a new activity to enjoy with your family, we have some helpful tips for you in this article.

About Kids Yoga

Introducing kids to yoga is a wonderful way to encourage them along a path of wellness. Adding a few postures into regular play or exercise activity helps children become more familiar with the idea of yoga and makes it a part of everyday life. Even a minute in the appropriately named Child's Pose can help a youngster calm down and feel more relaxed. Or, you and the children can dissolve into giggles as you all try to balance in Tree Pose!

Researchers are curious about the effects of yoga on children. For example, the yoga lifestyle company Gaiam funded a study by California State University about how students who perform yoga might have better grades and reduced behavioral problems. Another study at Seattle Children's Hospital examined how yoga might help adolescents with eating disorders. There are other cases that evaluate yoga's benefits for children with autism, ADD or ADHD, scoliosis, and other conditions.

Your teaching style and the intent and length of the class will have to be designed with a number of factors in mind, including:

Maturity of the child or group
Physical health
Setting
If you want to instruct a child or group on the classical aspects of yoga, you'll have to decide on whether or not to call postures by the common names, use Sanskrit terminology, or both. There aren't any set rules on this - again, once you've defined the intent of the class, you'll be able to decide on language.

If you'd like to teach children yoga professionally, or simply have a better understanding of how yoga may enhance your child's life, we have some guidelines for you.

Become Certified to Teach Children Yoga

If you plan to teach children yoga in a school, camp, religious institution, playgroup, or an after-school program, your best option is to become a certified instructor. This ensures parents and guardians that you have the necessary training, as well as the required safety qualifications.

There are a number of kids' yoga teacher training classes available for learning yoga instruction for all ages of children.

Child Light Yoga requires at least one year of yoga experience, but not teaching experience.
Rainbow Kids does not have a prerequisite of yoga instruction or even yoga experience, but current yoga instructors will receive continuing education credits through the Yoga Alliance.
YogaKids is by far the most comprehensive certification program to teach children yoga, lasting up to six months.
Is it worth the trouble to become certified? Read our interview with kids' yoga instructor Mary Kaye Chryssicas for inspiration.

Teach Children Yoga for Fun

If you want to teach children yoga in your family, you have a bit more leniency as far as your approach. However, you'll still have to take into consideration the child's attention span and ability to follow direction. As a parent or family member, you don't want to make it seem like you're ordering the children to do yoga. Let them play with postures as long as they want, guiding them gently to make sure they avoid injury.

Depending on the age of the child, start off with a 5-20 minute routine that includes a brief breathing exercise, some standing postures, some sitting postures, a bit of quiet reflection or meditation, and finally, savasana, or relaxation, to complete the session.

Review our articles Yoga and Pilates Moves for Kids and Fun Yoga Asanas for Middle School Students for posture and sequencing ideas.