• Start small. Practice yoga for
five minutes a day consistently during
the week.
• Incorporate yoga into your life.
Find ways to incorporate yoga at
any time and anywhere.
• Create a ritual. Just like brushing
your teeth, build your family yoga
practice into a daily or weekly ritual.
• Be creative. Encourage your
children to use their creativity and
invent their own poses.
• Take it with you. Wherever
you go, take your yoga
practice with you – to the
park, on a vacation, a visit
with family or to the beach.
• Choose a topic. Find
ways to include a theme or topic
in your yoga sessions that will
help children express themselves
freely, integrate their learning,
engage in meaningful experiences
and have fun.
Child’s Pose
Downward Facing Dog Pose
BC Health, Beauty & Fitness 25
Breathing Exercises
Belly Breath
Place one hand on the belly and
inhale through the nose, feel the belly
expand and exhale out the mouth.
Continue to follow the breath, and
eventually breathe in through the
nose and exhale out the nose. Find a
nice evenness in the inhales and exhales.
Results: Feel more calm and
focused with this breath.
I-AM Meditation
Come to a comfortable crossed
legged seat. Take a few clearing
breaths in through the nose and out
through the mouth. Place the back of
your hands on the tops of your knees.
On both hands, touch your thumb to
your pointer finger, thumb to middle
finger, thumb to ring finger, thumb
to pinky finger. Continue to do this
while saying a positive affirmation
out loud, such as, “I am kind” or “I
am happy” or “I am strong.” You can
continue doing this meditation for 1-
2 minutes changing the volume of
your voice from loud to more of a
quiet whisper. Results: Children will
feel more centered, focused and happier
using a positive affirmation.
Yoga Poses
Bridge Pose
• Child’s Pose
• Downward Dog
• Warrior I
• Warrior II
• Warrior III
• Squat Pose
• Boat Pose
• Bridge Pose
• Tree Pose
How Can You Start a Yoga
Practice With Your Children?