Last week we talked about “Making It Yours”, and no one is better at that than children. Children tend to be so free and comfortable in their own skin. It’s one of the things that makes them such a joy to teach.
When I teach children yoga, it’s not my goal to have a 5 year old in a perfect tree pose nor is it my goal to get them into a headstand. My goals when teaching children are simple, I want them to acquire body awareness,
explore different types of movement, become familiar with yoga, foster creativity, increase their self-esteem, and have fun!
I never correct children in poses. I show them the pose and allow them to mimic me in whatever fashion they’re feeling at the moment. Their little bodies aren’t as mature as ours, they are still developing, it’s important to
teach them to be kind to themselves and to remember that their proportions and ability to move aren’t the same as ours. In addition, I never, ever, want to make a child feel disappointed in themselves, their ability, or their body while in yoga class.
During class, I always encourage children to create their own pose and they come up with some pretty interesting stuff! It's always great to watch and see what crazy fun poses they want to do and to see the smile on their faces when they are allowed to express themselves and show off their creativity.
Remember parents, if you take your child to a yoga class and they seem as if they aren’t participating, they aren’t listening, or maybe they’re running around and doing something different, that’s ok. Just having them there is a great start and maybe after a class or two, they’ll begin to participate.
Check out this AMAZING Slide Show of kids doing yoga from Mind, Body, Green.
When I teach children yoga, it’s not my goal to have a 5 year old in a perfect tree pose nor is it my goal to get them into a headstand. My goals when teaching children are simple, I want them to acquire body awareness,
explore different types of movement, become familiar with yoga, foster creativity, increase their self-esteem, and have fun!
I never correct children in poses. I show them the pose and allow them to mimic me in whatever fashion they’re feeling at the moment. Their little bodies aren’t as mature as ours, they are still developing, it’s important to
teach them to be kind to themselves and to remember that their proportions and ability to move aren’t the same as ours. In addition, I never, ever, want to make a child feel disappointed in themselves, their ability, or their body while in yoga class.
During class, I always encourage children to create their own pose and they come up with some pretty interesting stuff! It's always great to watch and see what crazy fun poses they want to do and to see the smile on their faces when they are allowed to express themselves and show off their creativity.
Remember parents, if you take your child to a yoga class and they seem as if they aren’t participating, they aren’t listening, or maybe they’re running around and doing something different, that’s ok. Just having them there is a great start and maybe after a class or two, they’ll begin to participate.
Check out this AMAZING Slide Show of kids doing yoga from Mind, Body, Green.
Erin Moss, RYT 200 of Rowan Tree Yoga, LLC
Erin has been practicing yoga since she was an adolescent. She received her teacher training at Yoga 4 Peace and is registered through the Yoga Alliance. She enjoys the therapeutic side of yoga and it is always her goal to have her students leave class feeling better than when they arrived.
You can read more about her at www.rowantreeyoga.com.
Erin is also available for private lessons, family classes, and private
group classes contact her through The Yoga & Wellness Collective or through Rowan Tree Yoga.
Erin Teaches Mommy and Me Yoga on Thursdays from 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Erin has been practicing yoga since she was an adolescent. She received her teacher training at Yoga 4 Peace and is registered through the Yoga Alliance. She enjoys the therapeutic side of yoga and it is always her goal to have her students leave class feeling better than when they arrived.
You can read more about her at www.rowantreeyoga.com.
Erin is also available for private lessons, family classes, and private
group classes contact her through The Yoga & Wellness Collective or through Rowan Tree Yoga.
Erin Teaches Mommy and Me Yoga on Thursdays from 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.