How to Teach Yoga to Toddlers: Poses, Benefits and Training
Updated: August 18, 2023
By Thena Franssen, contributing writer
Have you ever wanted to teach yoga to toddlers?
Did you know that learning how to teach yoga to toddlers has many great benefits and positively affects the lives of young kids? Not only that, but yoga poses for toddlers are so much fun!
Plus, if you’re looking for great yoga for toddler benefits, take a peek at some of the information shown below. After further educating yourself on how to do yoga with a toddler, you’ll have no reason not to jump in!
Read on to learn more about How to teach yoga to toddlers: poses, benefits and training.
What is The Minimum Age for Yoga?
While there isn’t a set number exactly, it’s important to remember that a toddler needs to be at a good age to sit still and follow directions. Since yoga is all about relaxing and stretching, a child needs to be able to pay attention to some degree, and participate in the class while learning simple yoga poses.
It’s also important to note that if you want to have your toddler do yoga, there are a lot of great yoga classes for kids to choose from. And if your child needs a more inclusive class, make sure you look for a skilled yoga teacher.
As far as age goes, anywhere from three plus seems to be a great age for toddlers to start participating in yoga. Younger kids – ages 18 months to 2.5 – might do well in a yoga class as well, but preschoolers often have a better experience.
Yoga for Toddlers: Benefits
The great thing about yoga is that it’s beneficial for a wide variety of ages. Children and adults can also participate together and reap the benefits of yoga poses!
Below are some of the best benefits for toddlers doing yoga.
Improved Focus
Since it takes focus and quiet to participate in yoga, this is a great skill that your toddler can learn. And while this will help them out during yoga, they can also use this tool for their schoolwork and later on in their lives.
Confidence
It’s no secret that doing a workout as part of a daily routine is a great way to help yourself feel better fast. That same thought and approach is true for toddlers, too. They’ll feel happy and proud of themselves if they have the chance to workout and fuel their body in a healthy and positive way.
Stress Reduction
Toddlers have stress, just like adults. And if yoga is great for reducing stress in adults, why wouldn’t it have the same effect on toddlers as well? Stress reduction alone is enough of a reason to practice yoga. But it’s an added plus when it helps toddlers calm down and have fun at the same time!
Flexibility
When kids are young, they tend to go through a bit of a clumsy and awkward stage that can sometimes cause issues. But if young kids practice yoga, this might help them have more self-confidence as they get older. The point of doing yoga is to give kids a way to stretch their bodies and learn how to move their bodies in a way that feels good to them.
Plus, it’s possible for yoga to help them break out of that clumsy aspect of life and find out how to be graceful in their bodies instead.
How to Teach Yoga to Toddlers or Young Kids
If you’re worried about being able to teach yoga poses for kids, don’t be! This is because yoga poses for kids are fun to teach. They love to be bendy and flexible, and try to feel as though they’re tying themselves up like a pretzel!
One of the easiest ways to teach kids yoga and breathing exercises is to just have them join in on the fun. Parents or instructors who are actually doing the moves and activities with them will motivate them to get up and join in!
You can also use yoga printables to show them examples. Kids are typically visual learners and this can be a great way for them to learn about yoga poses.
Training programs to become a children’s yoga instructor
If you’re interested in taking the next steps and becoming a children’s yoga instructor, there are great online training programs that you can enroll in.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that you’ll want to make certain that you’re committed to teaching kids how to be healthy, move their bodies and calm their minds.
Find out more information here on how to become a registered children’s yoga instructor. It’s a great way to help children and earn a decent side hustle, too!
The Best Yoga Poses for Toddlers
One of the best parts about teaching yoga to kids is that you get to show them all the cutest and most fun yoga poses! And let’s face it – yoga poses tend to have some really fun names, so there’s no doubt that the kids are going to appreciate learning about these postures.
Below you’ll find some of the best yoga poses for toddlers. These are also a lot of fun for adults and kids to practice together!
Cat Pose
It’s more than likely that the kids have been doing this pose all their lives! Now you get to tell them that they’re already yoga experts with cat pose, and maybe they can even show YOU how it’s done.
To start: Have them get down on their hands and knees, and arch their back like a hissing cat. You can even ask them to ‘meow’ here and there to really give the pose the full effect. They can then drop their bellies toward the floor and look up (this is cow pose, often in conjunction with cat pose!)
Breath in, breath out, and have them work on pushing their backs up in the air and then leveling them out while they breath.
Boat Pose
Boat pose is one that can be a bit tough for little kids. This is because it works on core muscles and concentration, all at once. But for toddlers, they’ll love the challenge and just might get the giggles as well.
Have them start seated on the floor with their legs stretched out. From there, they’ll lift their legs and arms up in a V-like shape. They can practice balancing on their bottoms and lifting up their legs in the air. They can even reach out and try to touch their legs. This means they’ll have to rely on their balance and their core strength to stay strong.
Downward Dog
Downward dog is probably the most well-known yoga pose for kids and adults. Everyone who is intrigued about yoga tends to know all about downward dog.
Have the kids start by keeping their feet on the ground and then bending over and putting their hands on the ground as well. This will create a teepee sort of look and is great for stretching their legs, backs, and bodies. (and if they have a dog, the dog might just come over and want to join in on the fun, too!)
To learn more about all the kids yoga poses above and see pictures, head over here!
You Can Benefit from Teaching Yoga to Toddlers Too!
The truth of the matter is that there are so many benefits of teaching yoga to kids. Not only do the kids get stronger and stretch their bodies, but you – as the yoga teacher – will reap the rewards as well! Are you ready to give teaching yoga to toddlers a try?
