CHILDREN’S YOGA
Children’s yoga should be fun. It is not about performance pressure. Children love stories in which they can actively take part. In this way, they can express their natural urge to move and their imagination in a playful manner.
Animals play a major role in children’s yoga. For example, if a story takes place in a meadow, the “Tree” pose can be introduced. Afterwards, the children are encouraged to say and act out what they see in the meadow—perhaps a frog, a butterfly, or a dog.
At the beginning of a yoga class, movement games are generally helpful for releasing built-up energy. At the end of the class, calm activities such as drawing or coloring are ideal, as they have a relaxing and soothing effect.
Children should generally be allowed to keep moving—holding asanas or postures rigidly is not suitable for them. Since they are still growing, their joints are not yet stable enough to withstand sustained strain.
The program also includes simple breathing exercises that help children become aware of their breath and possibly even use it to manage stress. Humming or making sounds allows inhaling and exhaling to happen playfully and naturally. Singing is also wonderful—these activities strengthen the lungs and channel energy in a healthy way. The beauty of yoga is that everyone is allowed to sing however they can; it is about joy, not vocal training.
Holding the breath is not suitable for children, as their lungs—like their entire bodies—are still developing.
As with yoga for adults, children’s yoga supports children in building a connection between their mind and body. Through various yoga poses, gentle breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques, they develop a healthy body awareness, while their flexibility and muscle strength are improved. Their spine, muscles, organs, and joints are supported and strengthened during growth.
Children’s yoga also improves concentration—for example, through the mindful practice of asanas with a focus on specific body parts. In this way, excess energy can be redirected in a positive manner.
Preschool children are generally playful and enjoy gentle fantasy. They are quite flexible, but their muscles are not yet very strong. They love rituals and repetition.
School-age children still enjoy play, but they also become interested in the purpose and effects of individual asanas.
And yes—adults are also very welcome in children’s yoga, to (re)discover their inner child with joy, imagination, and lightness. 😊
Come into a squat, place your elbows on the inside of your knees, and give your fingers plenty of space.
If you like, you can place your hands on the floor between your feet, push yourself off to jump, and croak as loudly as you want.
If you like, you can place your hands on the floor between your feet, push yourself off to jump, and croak as loudly as you want.
You can also bring your hands together in front of you and press them together as you jump, as shown in the following video.
Do three jumps forward and back. Maybe your frog jumps in a different way.
Do three jumps forward and back. Maybe your frog jumps in a different way.
Do you have another idea how your frog can hop and how it croaks, laughs, or sings? 🐸
This asana works many muscles, loosens your ankles especially, and improves coordination.
Maybe your frog lies down after jumping, closes its eyes, and imagines a beautiful flower meadow.
What flowers do you see, and what do they smell like? 🌸
Maybe your frog lies down after jumping, closes its eyes, and imagines a beautiful flower meadow.
What flowers do you see, and what do they smell like? 🌸
Flamingo or Stork?
It walks quietly, calmly, and slowly across the field with high steps.
With each step, it opens and closes its beak.
Sometimes it looks straight ahead, sometimes to the side. What does it see? A hopping frog?
Does it hear the wind? Does it see how the flowers and leaves dance in the breeze?
With each step, it opens and closes its beak.
Sometimes it looks straight ahead, sometimes to the side. What does it see? A hopping frog?
Does it hear the wind? Does it see how the flowers and leaves dance in the breeze?
Does your stork walk like this too? Or is it a flamingo? Or could it be something else?
What does your big bird look like? Would you like to draw it after you have practiced this asana?
This asana is good for your flexibility, coordination, patience, and imagination. 🦩
Imagine you are the king of the animals: the lion. 🦁 You are allowed to roar, stick out your tongue, spread your claws, and feel incredibly strong.
You can do this just like in the picture: quickly sink into a light squat, look up, stretch your arms and your tongue, and hiss or roar loudly.
You can also practice it in a tabletop (all-fours) position on your yoga mat.
You can also practice it in a tabletop (all-fours) position on your yoga mat.
Feel your power, your strength, and your courage as you roar.
👧🧒 Children should generally not hold poses for long.
During growth, bones and tissues are not yet strong enough.
During growth, bones and tissues are not yet strong enough.
🐍🧸 Yoga Cobra Flow with the Yoga Bear:
Press up from lying on your belly, then lie down again.
⬆️⬇️ Three times up and three times down.
⬆️⬇️ Three times up and three times down.
🐍 Like the cobra, we pull cool air through the mouth with a rolled tongue 👅,
then close the mouth 🤐 and
breathe gently and long through the nose. 👃🌬️
then close the mouth 🤐 and
breathe gently and long through the nose. 👃🌬️
This breathing brings fresh air into the body.
It helps against stress and feels especially good on hot days ☀️💨.
It helps against stress and feels especially good on hot days ☀️💨.
Give it a try! 😉
🏖️ (At the coast of Provence)
🧸💪 The Yoga Bear strengthens and stretches its muscles in warrior pose. 🧘♂️🦸♀️
🦶➡️ Then it steps into a squat — first with the left leg forward, then with the right. ⬅️🦶
🦶➡️ Then it steps into a squat — first with the left leg forward, then with the right. ⬅️🦶
🌊 It always moves smoothly and calmly — a gentle FLOW — ☁️✨
And says proudly: "I am strong like a hero!" 💥🦸♂️💪
🤗 Are you joining in?
💬 How do you feel right now?
💬 How do you feel right now?
🎵 (Music: The Cat and the Yarn by Ty Simon)
🏖️ (At the coast of Provence)
🏖️ (At the coast of Provence)
Kids Yoga Story by the Sea
Are you joining?
Which pose do you like best?
Which pose do you like best?
Hello, sun – big and bright, inhale
Stretch your arms and shine your light. ☀️
Stretch your arms and shine your light. ☀️
Hello, seagull, flying high,
Flap your wings across the sky. 🕊️
Flap your wings across the sky. 🕊️
Hello, earth, beneath our toes,
Feel it steady, feel it close. 🌍 exhale and bent forward
Feel it steady, feel it close. 🌍 exhale and bent forward
Hello, little frog so green, jump like he does:
Hop and squat where you’ve been seen. 🐸
Hop and squat where you’ve been seen. 🐸
Tall and proud stands Mr. Stork, arms in front to show his large, red beak
One leg up, step far so still—no talk!
One leg up, step far so still—no talk!
Rocking gently, lie here like the boat,
Floating, swaying as we float. 🚤
Floating, swaying as we float. 🚤
Swim like a fish, glide through the sea,
Wiggling your tail so playfully. 🐟 support your lower back with your hand and stretch nicely your upper back while you are looking for a cloud in the sky
Wiggling your tail so playfully. 🐟 support your lower back with your hand and stretch nicely your upper back while you are looking for a cloud in the sky
Now dive deep with dolphin grace, turn on your bag and lift your arms and legs
Arch your back and find your pace. 🐬
Arch your back and find your pace. 🐬
Look! Close and open your legs and arms: A shiny shell to hold,
Curl inside, be calm and bold. 🐚
Curl inside, be calm and bold. 🐚
The crocodile is quiet, sly, bring your legs to one side
Snapping jaws and blinking eyes. 🐊
Snapping jaws and blinking eyes. 🐊
And now the starfish sleeps so still,
Spread out wide—completely chill. ⭐
Spread out wide—completely chill. ⭐
(Music: A Little Night Music Part 1 by Alon Ohana)
(Imagine it all happening on the coast of beautiful Provence...)
(Imagine it all happening on the coast of beautiful Provence...)
🧸👁️ The Yoga Bear trains its eye muscles by switching between near and far vision.
👉 Are you joining in?
👉 Are you joining in?
😌 Close your eyes for a moment. How do they feel?
👀 Now open your eyes and look around.
👀 Now open your eyes and look around.
🌬️ Breathe in gently as you gaze far into the distance.
🌄 What do you see way out there?
🌄 What do you see way out there?
🌬️ Breathe out softly through your nose as your eyes jump to something close.
🔍 What can you spot nearby?
🔍 What can you spot nearby?
🔁 Repeat this near-far gaze dance three times — a little eye dance! 💃🕺👁️
😴 Then close your eyes again and feel your breath gently flowing in and out through your nose. 🌬️👃💗
🎵 (Music: Dancing with My Baby by Amos Ever Had)
🏖️ (At the coast of Provence)
🏖️ (At the coast of Provence)
👐👣 Hands and Feet – Our Helpers Every Day 👐👣
Our hands are very special tools.
They can grab, feel, clap, and draw. ✋🎨👏
With our hands, we also show feelings, like hugs or waves. 🤗👋
They can grab, feel, clap, and draw. ✋🎨👏
With our hands, we also show feelings, like hugs or waves. 🤗👋
Our feet carry us through the world.
They help us walk, run, and jump. 🦶🏃♂️🤸♀️
With them, we feel the ground and stay steady.
They help us walk, run, and jump. 🦶🏃♂️🤸♀️
With them, we feel the ground and stay steady.
Hands and feet are real superheroes — without them, many things would be much harder! 💪🌟
What do you want to do with your hands and feet right now?
🏡👀 Do you see the dwarf’s hut?
🤔 Who do you think built it?
🐦🎶 Do you hear the birds chirping?
🤔 Who do you think built it?
🐦🎶 Do you hear the birds chirping?
🎵 (Music: birds in the Black Forest)
🐦👀 Do you see the blackbird?
🤔 Do you recognize what it’s doing?
👂🎶 What sounds do you hear?
🤔 Do you recognize what it’s doing?
👂🎶 What sounds do you hear?
Namaste with the Yoga Bear.
Thank yourself for taking the time for yoga.
Thank you for your interest in my work.
NAMASTE
Thank yourself for taking the time for yoga.
Thank you for your interest in my work.
NAMASTE