Teaching Yoga to Kids: Yoga Poses for Kids That Help Them Grow in Christ

Now more than ever, kids need to learn the art of “getting still” and teaching yoga to kids can help!

In today’s fast-paced, digital world, kids are struggling with focus and experiencing higher incidences of childhood stress and anxiety. Over-packed schedules, increased screen time, lack of regular physical activity, and poor sleep habits all have an impact on a child.

By teaching kids yoga, we can help them connect to their bodies in healthy ways and show them stress management skills through mindfulness practices such as deep breathing or meditation.

In this blog, we will talk more about the benefits of yoga for kids, discuss teaching yoga to kids from a Christian perspective, and give examples of fun and easy yoga poses for kids that help them grow in Christ. I’ll also offer tips for yoga teachers on how to teach a kid’s yoga camp this summer.

Benefits of Yoga for Kids

Some of yoga’s benefits for kids include: Increased physical activity, improved mental clarity, and emotional stability. When taught from a Christian perspective, yoga can also help foster a child’s relationship with Jesus and nurture their spiritual growth.

Studies on the benefits of teaching yoga to kids give us insight into just how this practice can positively affect a child’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Some examples of the research on yoga and its benefits for kids include:

Physical benefits:
- - A study published in the “Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research” found that yoga significantly improved flexibility and muscular strength in children.
  - Research in “Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice” indicated that regular yoga practice improves posture and balance among school-aged children.

Mental benefits:

- - A study in the “Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research” showed that yoga enhances attention, concentration, and memory in children, which can lead to better academic performance .
  - The “Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics” published research demonstrating that yoga reduces stress and anxiety in children, helping them manage their emotions better.

Emotional benefits:

- Research published in “Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine” found that yoga practice boosts self-esteem and body image in children and adolescents .
- A study in “Early Child Development and Care” reported that yoga enhances social skills and reduces behavioral issues in children.

Because of studies like these, teaching yoga to kids is increasingly being recognized for its numerous benefits. By introducing yoga to kids in a fun and engaging way, parents and educators can help children develop lifelong habits that will promote their health and wellbeing throughout their lives.

Teaching Yoga to Kids From a Christian Perspective

Can teaching yoga to kids help them follow Jesus? It’s clear that yoga offers a wealth of benefits for kids physically, mentally, and emotionally. But did you know that teaching yoga to kids from a Christian perspective can help them grow in their faith and nurture their spiritual health? It’s true!

Teaching Christ-centered yoga to kids can help them to:

Form healthy relationships with their bodies.
Cultivate deeper connections with God, themselves, and others.
Improve mental clarity, and help them have “eyes that see” God.
Draw inward, tuning their “ears to hear,” and listen for the still small voice of God.
Watch their thoughts and allow the Holy Spirit to renew their minds.

Teaching yoga for kids helps them to feel at home in their bodies, set distractions aside, and draw near to the love of God! Yoga poses can be used as a creative and engaging way to teach kids about Jesus.

Yoga Poses For Kids That Help Them Grow in Christ

When teaching yoga from a Christian perspective, yoga poses for kids can be a fun and easy way to teach Scripture and help kids to embody the story of God. Here are some specific yoga poses for kids and how they can help tell the story of God:

Tree Pose (Vrikasana)

Theme: God’s love holds us and keeps us steady.
Scripture: I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever. Psalm 52:8
Embodying the story:
- From standing, shift your weight onto your left leg and bend your right knee turning your right knee out to the right and resting your heel against the inside of your left ankle.
- Slowly, with a steady gaze, slide your right foot up your left leg maintaining your balance. Your right foot may rest on your ankle or press into your left calf or inner thigh. Do not press into your knee.
- With your shoulders relaxing down and back, bring your palms into a prayer position in front of your heart or raise your arms overhead with your palms apart like the branches of a tree.
Meditation: When you delight in God you are like a tree planted by streams of water. Your roots will grow deep and your soul will be well nourished. Do you trust that God’s love will never fail you?

Child’s Pose (Balasana):

Theme: Through Jesus, we have been adopted into God’s family.
Scripture: But to all who did receive him (Jesus), who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 ESV
Embodying the story:
- From your hands and knees, lower your hips to your heels and your forehead to the floor.
- Bring your knees in together or spread them slightly apart
- Stack your palms or forearms under your forehead or release your arms alongside your body with the palms facing up
- If it feels comfortable you can reach your arms to the front of your mat with your palms on the floor for an extended stretch.
Meditation: Through Jesus, you’ve been adopted as a child of God. A child trusts their parent’s care for them without question. Do you know God is your heavenly Father? Do you trust God to hold you and to care for you?

Warrior Pose 1 (Virabhadrasana):

Theme: God is with us and helps us to be strong.
Scripture: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Embodying the story:
- From the top of your mat, step your left foot back for a wide stance. Your left toes turned slightly to the left at a 45° angle.
- Bend your right knee deeply, lining your knee up over your right ankle with your shin perpendicular to the floor.
- Rotate your shoulders and your hips towards the front edge of your mat while pressing back into your back pinky toe.
- Reach your arms overhead, your palms facing each other and your shoulder blades back and down to open your chest. Lengthen your tailbone to the floor.
Meditation: When have you felt afraid, discouraged or weak? How does knowing that God is always with you help you? Ask God to give you strength and courage.

How to Teach a Kids Yoga Camp

Teaching yoga to kids helps them learn the skills of concentration, focus, awareness, and self-control. After my experience over years of teaching Christ-centered yoga to kids in camp settings, I knew I had to create a resource for educators, therapists, church leaders, parents and grandparents, coaches, camp-counselors, and babysitters.

That’s why I developed the curriculum for Kid’s Yoga Camp, a Christ-centered yoga training that focuses on helping kids build strong bodies, minds, and hearts while fostering a love for God.

“Kids Yoga Camp” is a great way to empower kids to cultivate healthy habits, attitudes, and lifestyles that last a lifetime all while sharing the love of Christ! In my previous blog about Yoga for Kids, I shared some tips for teaching yoga for kids.

Here are some tips for planning your kids yoga camp:

Keep It Fun and Engaging: Use Scriptural storytelling, music, and games to make yoga camp classes enjoyable. Incorporate animal poses and nature themes to capture their imagination.
Use Simple Language: Explain Bible stories and yoga poses in simple, easy-to-understand terms. Demonstrate each pose and gently guide children into position.
Be Patient and Encouraging: Praise effort over perfection. Create a supportive environment where children feel comfortable to explore and learn at their own pace.
Integrate Scripture and Prayer: Begin and end sessions with a short prayer. Share yoga poses that help kids embody the story of Scripture.
Teach Mindfulness and Breathing: Simple breathing exercises can help kids learn to focus and calm their minds and teach them to become aware of the Holy Spirit dwelling within them.

Learn How to Teach Yoga Poses For Kids With My On-Demand Kids Yoga Camp

Teaching Christ-centered yoga to kids can help them to slow down, set distractions aside, and become aware of the gift that Jesus gives us… the presence of God with us always. Yoga poses for kids can be used to tell the story of God and draw them closer to Christ.

Are you interested to know more about teaching Christ-centered yoga to kids? Get started training today in my online course, Kids Yoga Camp.