10 Yoga poses for kids | Simple and Fun yoga poses for toddlers
Yoga has been practised in India for ages, and it is not just for adults, but it has several benefits for children too. Children gain important skills for strength, balance, focus, and even managing strong emotions via games of mindful breathing, entertaining storytelling, and playful poses. It's an adventure that fosters creativity and a love of movement while teaching children to be resilient from the inside out. The blog will discuss 10 simple yoga poses for kids that help them grow and learn about their body and mind. These fun yoga poses increase the strength of their body and enhance their understanding and concentration.
10 easy yoga poses for kids and preschoolers
1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
How to do it:
Mountain Pose is also called as tadasan, which is a great stretch for the whole body. This yoga pose for kids is very simple yet effective. To do this yoga pose, stand straight and join your legs, take your hands above your head and join them in namaskara pose, and stretch your body upwards. Take a breath in while stretching yourself upwards, and breathe out when relaxing the body.
Benefits:
- It builds good posture and improves balance.
- It strengthens the legs and core.
- This child’s yoga pose increases their confidence.
2. Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana)
How to do it:
Handstand or Adho Mukha Vrksasana is a balancing pose that strengthens the hands. Learning this pose takes patience and consistency. Start by stretching your arms, fingers, and palms. Start in downward-facing dog position and take your feet closer to your hands, try to lift one leg straight and then the other leg. Take the help of the wall to take your legs up, and when you are comfortable, make your body straight and balanced. Parents can help by lifting the legs and holding them for them.
Benefits:
- This children's yoga move is good for improving balance.
- It strengthens the hands and core.
- It helps in increasing the flow of blood towards the brain.
- This yoga for kids calms the mind.
3. Tree Pose (Vrksasana)
How to do it:
This is another fun and simple yoga pose for kids. Start by standing on your legs joined. Now, try to lift your one leg and put it on another leg above the knee, making a triangle. Keep your hands above your head and join the palms of your hands. Balance the body on one leg and then relax the body and try the pose with the other leg.
Benefits:
- This yoga pose for preschoolers enhances their balance and focus.
- It strengthens the muscles of the legs and opens the hips.
- This yoga pose for kids helps in increasing concentration and stability.
4. Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
How to do it:
Downward-facing dog is an easy yoga pose for kids that stretches the entire body. Start on your hands and knees, now lift your hips high and straighten your knees. Try to keep your heels on the ground with your legs straight. Keep your head down.
Benefits:
- It stretches the entire body, mainly the hamstrings, hands and calves.
- It calms the brain and cures mild stress and fatigue.
- It improves the posture of children.
5. Cat and Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitliasana)
How to do it:
The Cat and Cow pose is a simple yoga pose for kids. Two poses are performed together, which enhance your back. Start on your knees and hands, and as you inhale, drop your belly towards the floor and arch your back and look up. This is called cow pose. After this, as you exhale, round your spine towards the ceiling and tuck your chin to your chest. This is the cat pose.
Benefits:
- This kids' yoga pose improves spine posture and health.
- It is beneficial for backache and flexibility.
- It calms the mind with inhale and exhale and strengthens the core.
6. Butterfly Pose (Baddha Konasana)
How to do it:
The yoga pose for kids is simple and fun for toddlers. Sit down on the floor or mat, joining the sole of the foot and hold it with your hands. Gently flap the legs like the wings of a butterfly. Try to touch the ground by moving your knees up and down.
Benefits:
- It stretches the inner thighs and groin.
- It improves the flexibility of the hips and calms the mind.
- The yoga pose for toddlers relaxes the body.
7. Child’s Pose (Balasana)
How to do it:
Place your knees on the floor, either wide apart or together. Remain seated on your heels. With your forehead lying on the mat, fold your torso forward. You can hold your arms out in front of you, palms up, or beside your body. This is a peaceful, slumbering position and a fun yoga pose.
Benefits:
- It helps in opening up your hips and thighs.
- It is proven to release stress and anxiety.
- This yoga move for kids offers a sense of comfort and security.
8. Meditation (dhyan)
How to do it:
Meditation or dhyana is a part of yoga that improves mindfulness, focus, and calms the mind and body. It is not easy to introduce meditation to kids. Start with short breathing exercises by closing your eyes. Sit cross-legged in a comfortable position on a mat or the floor and put your hands above your legs. Take deep and slow breaths. Habit of meditation from a small age increases mindfulness and focus in children.
Benefits:
- It calms and relaxes the mind and body.
- Meditation increases focus and concentration.
- This yoga for kids increases mindfulness and patience.
9. Camel Pose (ustrasana)
How to do it:
To begin this yoga pose for kids, start on your knees on your mat. Make your hips wide apart and place your hands on your lower back, arch your back softly and raise your chest towards the heavens. If it's comfortable, lower your head back and push your hips forward. Take deep breaths while you bend backwards and balance your body, and exhale when you relax your body.
Benefits:
- This fun yoga pose scratches the entire front of the body.
- This kid's yoga pose improves spinal flexibility and posture.
- It stimulates the abdominal organs and muscles.
10. Corpse Pose (Savasana)
How to do it:
This simple yoga pose for kids must be done after doing yoga. Lie down flat on your back on a mat or floor, keeping your arms beside your body with palms facing upwards. Let your body relax and loosen your legs and head. Close your eyes and take deep breaths, slowly inhaling and exhaling.
Benefits:
- This yoga pose for toddlers calms the body and mind.
- It calms the nervous system and helps in reducing heart rate and blood pressure.
- It aids in muscle relaxation and prevents soreness and tension in the body.
Practising yoga helps you in lots of ways. Pediatric yoga poses make the bodies of kids strong and enhance the condition of mind. It improves their focus and concentration. The yoga poses for kids can be practised regularly, and they are fun activities for children to do with their parents. Yoga poses for toddlers cultivate self-awareness, build resilience, and spark joy. Practising these fun yoga poses can be an empowering journey that helps kids connect with themselves and the natural world around them.