Yoga is a great exercise for kids. It helps build muscle, calm the mind, and improves overall fitness. To help demonstrate poses and appropriate technique, videos are a great way to teach yoga to kids.
Five Great Kids' Yoga Videos
Kids' yoga focuses on creating imagery, getting kids to move their bodies and having fun. These are important elements in getting kids to hopefully embrace a lifelong goal of staying fit.
Namaste Yoga
Namaste Yoga offers this 31-minute video for kids called 1-2-3 Kids Yoga. It begins with some breathing exercises and gentle warm ups, then moves into balancing postures, standing poses such as triangle, and playful poses using movement and song. It is a well-rounded class. The instructor sets an informal and positive tone, bringing fun imagery into her directions. This class is appropriate for children ages six and older.
Cosmic Kids' Yoga
This 15-minute video is lively and fun, beginning with an energetic instructor who welcomes you into yoga class. It tells a story about going to visit a kangaroo in Australia. This class is less concerned with having children practice authentic yoga postures than with having fun, being active and moving the body. This video is great for younger kids from toddlers up to six years old. Kids will be able to use their imaginations and have fun moving their bodies. Cosmic Kids has many videos available on YouTube.
Gaiam Yoga
For older kids, ages 7 to 12, Gaiam has this four-minute video clip that gives a lot of detail about getting into good alignment in the yoga poses. The instructor begins to encourage the kids to think about becoming aware of their bodies, breath and thoughts.
Bug Yoga
Most kids love bugs, and this five-minute yoga video goes through bug-oriented poses for kids, such as butterfly and dead bug pose. This is a fun, short video to get very young children engaged with yoga. It includes a song and game.
Baby and Me
If you're looking for a class to do with your baby, there are many "baby and me" classes. In this video Shiva Rea goes through a six-minute sequence aimed at creating a calming feeling between mom and baby as well as reshaping mom's body after childbirth.
Beyond YouTube
Beyond YouTube, there are plenty of kids' yoga options online. If your child shows an interest in regularly practicing yoga, you might download a complete video from a website or subscribe to a website to access full versions of yoga routines.
- Super Fun Yoga for Kids offers a 40 minute class that will introduce kids to yoga.
- My Yoga Online has a kids' yoga video available for download for computer or iPad/iPod.
- Gaia offers preview videos and the option to purchase videos to download.
Lifelong Yoga Practice
Kids can start doing yoga when they are babies. Start by finding fun and engaging videos that are game-oriented and feature plenty of movement. In addition to free videos, you can also buy a subscription to a website or download specific videos to add variety and full-length classes into your repertoire. Classes for kids can be especially creative and a fun and new way to be active indoors.
