Yoga is an activity that doesn’t discriminate against the young, old, injured, or disabled. Everyone can find a way to succeed while practicing yoga. While there are always necessary precautions to avoid injury, there are no “right” or “wrong” ways to perform yoga poses. As each person finds what feels best for them, they will begin to realize yoga’s wonderful benefits. Sometimes when we practice yoga, we must look at the bigger picture to find an overall sense of peace and wellness, increased strength and flexibility, and reduced stress. How we get to those end results isn’t as important as actually getting there.
It’s helpful to keep this bigger picture in mind when teaching kids’ yoga classes. Instructors can expect an entirely different atmosphere than an adult yoga class. Kids are vibrant, noisy, and full of curiosity. When you are teaching a class full of kids, you will have to modify things a bit to get them engaged, and to give them a positive experience with yoga.
Be flexible with the yoga class format while teaching kids. Let the kids have as much fun as they are willing to have. Yoga teachers should keep the class loosely structured, allowing it to flow in any direction the kids take it. For example, if they are super engaged in a silly story, tell another one, even if it doesn’t quite follow your plan.