yoga for kids

Fairy Yoga Play for Kids – Fairy Activities #14

Each year at the start of summer it’s International Yoga Day but yoga can happen any time. Let’s try some fairy yoga play for kids—and grownups too.

Some of these yoga poses are from mom Giselle in a Fairy Yoga post on KidsYogaStories.com. The kids and I have done yoga a few times. Needless to say, they bend their bodies much easier than I do mine.

Not all fantasy creatures fly unless they have wings. This flying pose is usually called Warrior Pose 3, but instead of arms stretched in front, they are at the sides. Balance on one leg, lift the other behind you. Change to the other side and leg.yoga play

The butterfly pose also has wings but this time, legs are wings instead of arms. Sit tall and bend legs down with the bottoms of feet together. Move knees up and down to fly. Who might use their leg to fly?butterfly yoga pose kids

Some fairy beings swim, like water sprints and nymphs. Lie down on the floor or a mat on your tummy. Lift up the top part of your body, including arms. This little one has part of it but we caught the photo before she got her arms up. Move arms to swim.

yoga play for kids

Fairies, elves, dwarves, gnomes, sprites, imps,  and other beings are often found in forests. What are forests made of? Trees, so we did a tree pose. Stand tall and stretch arms high into the sky. Bend and lift one leg soit rests on the other knee.

yoga play for kids

Have you ever seen one of these beings? They can be very still and quiet. Practice lying on your back with arms and legs a little spread out. Breathe in and out softly and slowly. Big Sister is showing us this one. yoga for kids

Yoga benefits us on different levels. Increased strength, coordination, balance, body awareness, and flexibility are some physical ones. The brain builds mind-body connections and practices focus and concentration. Emotionally, yoga increases self-regulation and relaxation, and decreases anxiety and stress. We all know kids absolutely need to move. Yoga can help meet that need.  Can your child’s day include some fairy yoga play?

 

P.S. Just like our other fairy activities, this can be done by both girls and boys. There will be more plays-of-the-day  on the blog tomorrow.

 

Kids Christmas Yoga Poses – Fun and Calming (also for Grownups)

Excitement growing at your house? Here are a few kids Christmas yoga poses shared from last year that are both fun and calming. Hmmm…maybe adults need them too.

holiday yoga for kids

Catch a Snowflake: Go down on all fours, kneeling on your knees. (This is the table pose.) Lift your head up, tilt it back, and open your mouth to catch snowflakes on your tongue.kids Christmas yoga

A Holiday Heart: This time of year touches our heart. Lie all the way down on a mat, press down with your hands and lift up your heart (upper body).kids Christmas yoga
The Candy Cane: Your body will almost look like one. Stand on two feet and stretch high over the head with two hands together. Curve the upper body over to the right and take a deep breath. Let it out and come back to the middle. Now curve over to the left, deep  breath, and back to the middle.

Christmas yoga for kids

The Snowball: Curl down, down, into a ball on the floor.

space yoga for kids

The Star: Stand with your two feet wide apart. Then stretch your arms out to each side. Your body will be like a big X or a star.

yoga for kids

The Christmas Tree: This is the tree pose. Put the palms of hands together and stretch over the head to make a star. Stand on one foot and put the other foot on the knee to make a triangle. It’s hard to balance on one foot and easy to fall over. That’s okay because it takes practice to stand on just one foot.

Yoga works on different levels. Physically, it promotes strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, concentration, and body awareness. On a mental level, the movements build important connections in the brain. This creates pathways that are also used for math and language. Social and emotional skills like cooperation, confidence, and self-regulation  are enhanced with yoga. Yoga helps increase confidence and decrease stress and anxiety.

All of us can use these kids Christmas yoga poses. Do you and your child do any yoga?

 

Autumn Activities and Movement Fun #5: Fall Yoga for Kids

Today’s play-of-the-day is some fall yoga for kids. No matter the season, kids absolutely need to move, not only for bodies but for brains too.

Movement activities can include vigorous whole body ones like going to the playground, racing around in the yard, jumping on a mat in the living room, or running up and down the hallway. They can also be ones that help kids slow down, stretch, and balance. Yoga is super for this. These fall yoga for kids ideas help boost energy and relax.

yoga for kids

This time of year, trees are losing their leaves. Little Sister loves to do the tree pose. To be a tree, stand with feet together. Next, balance on the left leg and lift up the right foot. Slide it up the straight leg and point the right knee out to the side. Balancing on one foot is pretty tricky for little ones and they may only get their foot up a little way. It’s okay if the tree is wobbly. Trees have high branches so slowly lift arms into the sky. Slowly lift the arms high over the head until hands touch so high the hands touch together.

Yoga also helps us tune in to the power of our breath. Because the weather is getting cooler and food is getting harder to find, many birds are flying south for the winter. The website, Kids Yoga Stories, has a flying bird breath suggestion. Start by standing with feet together and arms down by the sides.

“Imagine being a bird flying through the sky. On your next inhale, lift your arms over your head, touching your palms together. Then on an exhale, bring your arms back down to your sides, touching your palms to your outer thighs. Continue this flow for a few minutes: arms up as you inhale, arms down as you exhale.”

This is so energizing, it almost feels like we could fly. In the autumn, lots of garden vegetables and fruits rest on the ground. Pumpkins, acorns, and apples are some we might see. To be a pumpkin on the ground, kneel down on knees and sit back on your heels.

fall yoga for kids

Kneel down and lower your body to sit back on your heels. Slowly bring forehead down to the floor in front of knees, arms beside legs. Some kids like to bend their elbows and have arms beside the chest. Take a few deep breaths. This is a restful pose when kids need to regroup. Stretch arms along the floor until your head is all the way down. Some kids like to rest with arms out in front, and some bring their arms back by their sides. This is usually called the child’s pose. Big Sister is doing this one.

Fall yoga for kids is another great way to move and have fun. Would you and your child like to try?

Space Activities #19: Space Yoga for Kids

Space yoga for kids combines yoga and imagination to give both young, developing bodies and brains some stimulation. Together, it’s out of this world. Outer space is full of stars. Our sun is a giant star. An easy yoga pose is the star pose. Kids stand with legs apart and arms outstretched. Two hands, two … Continue reading Space Activities #19: Space Yoga for Kids

Transportation Activities #17: Transportation Yoga

Yesterday was International Yoga Day  which inspired a transportation yoga play-of-the-day for kids. Even if neither of you have done yoga before. These are some simple yoga poses suggested by a yoga teacher and preschool educator.: Car: Kids sit on the floor with their legs straight out in front of them. Before driving, they buckle … Continue reading Transportation Activities #17: Transportation Yoga

Holiday and Christmas Yoga for Kids

The recent Google Doodle of yoga teacher B.K.S. lyengar inspired today’s play-of-the-day, some holiday and Christmas yoga for kids. Bending and stretching is good for all of us. With the excitement of the holidays, yoga can help kids regroup and find a calm feeling inside. Try some of these poses for holiday and Christmas yoga … Continue reading Holiday and Christmas Yoga for Kids

Dinosaurs and Yoga for Universal Children’s Day

Dinosaurs and yoga are a rather unique way to celebrate Universal Children’s Day. In 1954 the UN established this day to promote children’s welfare. I know, we tend to think every day is children’s day, but in many places on the planet, children’s life is a struggle. But no matter where children live and their … Continue reading Dinosaurs and Yoga for Universal Children’s Day

10 New Year’s Resolutions with Young Kids: #4 Yoga Fun & Fit

Are fitness and exercise new year’s resolutions for you? How about for your child? Both of these are possible with yoga for kids, plus lots of fun. Yoga has tremendous health and wellness benefits for children and adults. You do not need to be a yoga instructor to do yoga with your child. There are … Continue reading 10 New Year’s Resolutions with Young Kids: #4 Yoga Fun & Fit