Top 4 Tips for Teaching Yoga Outside

Updated: July 14, 2023

By Robyn Parets, Founder of Pretzel Kids

Ahhh, it’s summer! I don’t know about you, but summer is my favorite time of year. Yes, it may be hot outside, but as a Bostonian, I love that I can at least be outside – without freezing, of course!

One of the things I love most about summer is that I can take my yoga practice and kids yoga classes outdoors. This offers up a great opportunity to practice yoga to the sounds of summer, without music. It also gives you a chance to truly feel the earth beneath your feet and find balance on uneven ground. Better yet, simply being outside can improve your state of mind and overall well-being.

Get Outside!

According to a research study from Glasgow University, those who walked, biked, or ran in nature had a lower risk of poor mental health than people who worked out indoors.

Unless you live someplace where it’s too hot (like Arizona), summer is the perfect time to teach kids yoga classes in a park or even in a backyard. In fact, I recently taught a Pretzel Kids yoga class in a front yard and the kids loved it! 

So, are you ready to teach kids yoga classes outside? We thought so.

To help you run a successful kids yoga business in the great outdoors, take a look at our 4 best practices for teaching yoga outside.

1. pick the best time of day for the ideal temperature

Depending on where you live, the middle of the day may simply be too hot to hold an outdoor class. If this is the case, try teaching your kids yoga class on a Saturday morning or perhaps on an early evening during the week.

And, remember to make sure the kids wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water to stay hydrated.

2. Pick a shady area when teaching yoga Outside

The sun can be strong, even early in the morning or at the end of the day. Even if all the kids are wearing sunscreen and the day is overcast, children can still get sunburned.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to pick a nice shady spot to teach your kids yoga class. We recommend scouting out the park, backyard or even lakefront area ahead of time. Look for a tree with a nice big canopy of leaves or perhaps a spot where there is plenty of shade from a nearby structure.

3. Clear the Area

Practicing yoga outside often means the ground will be uneven. There may also be sticks and rocks in the area. You may even have to clear away brush or pieces of glass. 

Also, make sure the children bring mats (or you can provide them). Once the ground is cleared, you can put down the mats to give the kids a cleared surface to practice.

In Pretzel Kids yoga classes, our yoga games are generally played both on and off the mats. This means kids may be using a large area to play more active games using various yoga poses. It’s your job as the teacher to keep them safe. So, make sure you scout out the entire space ahead of time to make sure there are no sharp objects lying around.

4. Welcome the sights and sounds

When you teach kids yoga outside, you will undoubtedly hear sounds all around you. Perhaps you’ll hear traffic. Or birds chirping. Or the stereo down the street. Or people talking as they walk by.

You may also see joggers. Or squirrels. Or the baseball league practicing next door. This is your opportunity to invite the kids to pay attention to their own bodies and breath, as well as guide them to let go of distractions.

All of our Pretzel Kids yoga games and activities help children achieve a sense of positive well-being and self-esteem. Being outside simply helps reinforce all of this!

Ready, set, go (outside)!

With these 4 great summertime kids yoga tips, you’ll hopefully be on your way to running successful Pretzel Kids yoga classes outside! Are you ready? We’d love to see your pictures!