Why You Should Do Yoga with Kids

Updated: April 18, 2023

By Kim Bassan, Pretzel Kids contributing writer

Want to know why you should do yoga with kids? 

Because we said so! We’re kidding, well sort of!

Want to know how to do yoga with your child? Well, we’re here to help you get started as there are many reasons why yoga should be a family affair. 

Scroll down to learn more about why you should do yoga with kids – and how to get started!

Why Should You Do Yoga With Your Child?

The practice of yoga is playful but very deep. Practicing yoga with your child can help your relationship improve and become stronger. And, spending time practicing yoga with children forms a sense of trust and openness.

Plus, you’ll have your own special thing that you can do together! One thing can lead to another and you may find yourself doing fun poses on Sunday mornings! 

What Are the Benefits of Family Yoga?

Family relationships can be complicated. And, there are many factors that come into the equation when it comes to family dynamics. 

This is where yoga can really help, as this ancient practice allows everyone to focus and be more present. This, in turn, can lead to a greater sense of understanding and acceptance.

So, how can yoga benefit your family?

• It helps create a sense of calmness and peace.
• Your family may develop other healthy family habits. 
• Yoga helps you manage stress and emotions.
• It boosts confidence and trust in the relationship.
• It creates fun quality time to look forward to.
• You’ll feel more connected to both your family and community!

The benefits of yoga start with YOU, and then trickle out to your surroundings and others in your life. When you do good, you feel good – and this is expressed in your relationships. As the famous quote says: “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” 

What Are the Benefits of Yoga with Kids?

It’s time for us to drill down into the benefits of yoga for kids of all ages, including toddlers!

There’s a good reason why yoga has received so much attention lately. Practicing yoga offers many positive physical and mental advantages. It’s a powerful healing practice and everyone can benefit from it, even your kids! Here are some of the benefits of yoga for kids:

• Stress relief
• Improved focus
• Better sleeping patterns
• Helps strengthen muscles
• Enhances flexibility
• Boosts self-esteem
• Improves balance and coordination
• Improves awareness

Now……It’s time to discuss exactly HOW to do yoga with your family. This can be tricky, so we’ll start with a few questions. Do you all use the same mat? And what are some good family yoga games and poses? 

Luckily, we’ve done the research for you.

How to Do Yoga with Your Kid

Kids love doing yoga! It means they can run around and be playful. 

Rolling out their mats means they are about to fly with their imagination to yoga land! And, you get to go on the adventure, too! Here’s a good play by play gameplan to get started:

• The first thing to do when you do yoga with your kid is to allow yourself to be a child again. 

• The second thing to do is to start small and form a habit. You don’t need to take a full yoga class to feel the benefits of yoga. You can start by playing one fun yoga game a day. 

• The third thing to do is be flexible (and no, we’re not asking you to do splits!) Being flexible means that if it’s a sunny day, you can take your kids outside to practice yoga! If the weather is gloomy, have a cozy yoga class indoors. And, if you really want to show your love to your child – throw them a kids yoga party!

Lastly, after you come back from your adventure in yoga land, take the time to lie down in savasana with your kids and just lay on the floor relaxing. 

And, here’s a bonus pro tip: You may want to consider doing a mindfulness activity, or try journaling with your child. Another option is to end your session with books about mindfulness.

Fun Yoga Poses to Do with Kids

Yoga poses for kids have many physical advantages such as flexibility, balance and motor control.

Here’s a pro tip to make getting fit more fun for children: try these fun animal yoga poses and let the yoga magic begin!

What are Good Yoga Poses for Kids?

Some common yoga poses for kids include:

1. Tabletop Yoga Pose
2. Child’s Pose
3. Mountain Pose
4. Boat Pose
5. Easy Seated Pose
6. Dancer Pose

And, because kids LOVE animal poses, here are some of our favorite animal yoga poses including:

1. Cat Cow Yoga Pose
2. Downward Dog Pose
3. Lion Pose
4. Butterfly Pose
5. Frog Pose
6. Snake Pose

And, if you really want to experience a well-rounded yoga class or maybe just want to wind down with your kids, you should definitely add a calming breathing exercise routine!

Top Calming Breathing Exercises to Do with Kids

A global pandemic, an over-scheduled exam season, online classes, social media … We can all agree that kids today are dealing with a lot! 

That’s why mindfulness and breathing exercises are crucial. Calming breathing exercises can really help children feel more relaxed and focused, too. 

For inspiration, check out top calming breathing exercises to try with your family!

One last thing to know…

If you want to add even more yoga into your child’s life – keeping them active and healthy – may want to consider hiring a kids yoga teacher, hosting a yoga party or wait for it…become a kids yoga teacher yourself! 

Does this sound scary? Well, we can help! In only 12 hours from now you can say hello to your new side hustle and become a Pretzel Kids yoga teacher!