Can you really get your toddlers to do yoga?
You’ve heard about the benefits of kids yoga; we answered your questions and also shared some of our favourite online kids yoga resources.
But how about children aged three and under? Can they start on yoga too? Afterall, they do not even seem to be able to understand simple instructions.
Well, the short answer is yes! We admit it is trying and challenging. As Dewi Chen, founder of Terra Luna Yoga which runs occasional mum and bub classes shares, “it can get a bit crazy”. However, it’s never too early as kids at these ages are naturally curious about their bodies. It’s also a time to get silly and playful together on the mat.
A mum and bub class in Terra Luna Yoga (photo taken pre Circuit Breaker).
Dewi shares 4 easy tips on how to get moving with your tots.
Repeat, repeat and repeat
Kids at these ages crave repetition and simple patterns. A child who is almost two years old can do these yoga poses - mountain pose, (wobbly) tree with foot at the ankle, down dog, child pose, cobra and upward facing dog.
Involve them in your yoga
At this age, you don’t need to design a specific class for them to do at home. You can just let them watch you and join in whenever they feel like it. Let them copy you in their own way because they enjoying mimicking and modelling at these ages. Put two mats side by side and invite them to practice beside you. Or you can follow the moves in a kids yoga session like this below which Dewi has prepared for Families For Life. These moves are designed just for kids. Once you start, your tots will probably want to try too.
Use their favourite books, characters or nursery rhymes
Be creative when introducing poses. Try huffy breathing poses and pretend you are Gruffalo; if your child likes Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, how about getting them to do the Bear Pose. Or simply start singing Incy Wincy Spider, have them to stretch upwards before touching their toes.
10 mins top!
Don’t place too much expectations on how much you can do with your toddler. Remember, yoga is much more than just poses - it’s about relaxation and being present with them too. It is absolutely OK if they totter off or don’t seem interested. Just carry on with your own practice. You might find them running back.
Terra Luna Yoga is a women-focussed yoga studio providing classes that cater to women’s needs and experiences. It offers prenatal and post-natal yoga as well as family and mum and bubs yoga sessions for mums. Find out more their online classes here. Psst, if you have older kids, it’s running a virtual kids yoga camp this weekend too.