A yoga teacher answers what you always wanted to know about yoga for children
Yvonne Loh is everything you want in a kids’ yoga teacher – patient, engaging, an excellent facilitator and fun to boot. Besides teaching yoga to both adults and young children, she works with teenagers with physical issues such as scoliosis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, using yoga movements and stretches to improve their conditions.
She shares her experience with us by answering some of the most pressing questions parents have about kids yoga.
Yvonne leading a children’s yoga session.
Hi Yvonne, could you tell us a bit about your yoga journey and how you ended up teaching yoga to kids?
I took up yoga when I moved to Singapore from Penang 10 years ago. My teacher, Don Peers, was really good and I was crushed when I heard he had to return to Australia in 2010. As I was quite serious about my practice, I decided to do Don’s teachers’ training course in 2011. That was the start of my teaching journey. I kept my practice throughout the whole pregnancy and never stopped after giving birth despite the busy schedule of a new mother. I always practise with my daughter, Alexis, anything from a minute meditation to any form of yoga movements to silly crazy jumping that mimics animal’s movement. So when I quit my job and more time on hand last year, I decided to test out teaching kids yoga with Alexis and two other children. Alexis was 3 and her friends where 3.5 years old.
What’s a good age to start yoga with kids?
I’d say 4 is really ideal. At 4, they are a lot more independent and are able to listen, understand and try to follow the practice quite easily. A little younger is fine too as long as they are able to follow the class and be on their own without their parents.
Shouldn’t parents be in a yoga class with their kids? Especially at that age and in the initial stages?
Our children are a lot more independent than we think. If children cry non-stop and wouldn’t want to go into a class without the parents, then maybe it is not the time to start. Hence, it’s preferable that parents aren’t in the studio to encourage kids to be more independent and build up their confidence. I once had a 4 year old student who wanted his mummy in the room, but he ended up looking to her for approval or help whenever he struggles. So both mom and myself decided that is best for mom to be waiting outside of the class. He was much more focused and engaged in that very first session without his mum.
Yvonne with her daughter, Alexis, whom she has always practised yoga with since Alexis was 2.
Are there any differences when it comes to teaching yoga to boys and girls?
Yes. Boys are definitely more energetic. When I have more boys in the class, I will spend more time on longer active movements to disperse that initial energy. Then, they can sit for longer. This works well for the girls too, as the active movements will allow girls to gain more confidence when they realise they could do the same as the boys or outperform them. .
Why do kids need yoga as a form of physical activity when I can sign them up for sports like soccer, dance or swimming to expend their energy?
Kids need a balance. We can’t always have them jumping around, leading to a situation where they don’t know how to calm down or manage their emotions even after expending their energies. Yoga – through its slow movements and the focus on breaths – calms a person down naturally. The natural response to the slower movement is remaining grounded and calm throughout the practice. It’s like running a marathon with a steady pace and breathing instead of hyper-ventilating throughout.
Check out Part II where Yvonne answers more of your kids yoga queries! Or send your questions to chalkandchakras@gmail.com
If you’d like to find out more about Yvonne, reach her at +65 9815 1117, drop her an email at Yvonneyp.loh@gmail.com or follow her on Instagram @yvonne.yogaroom.space