While yoga is fun for kids, introducing them to basic yoga poses at an early age will act as a foundation to healthy lifestyle habits. Yoga asanas are in harmony with nature, and therefore, practicing them at an early age will make children love and respect nature too.

By practicing yoga, kids will learn about the traditional art of yoga, and this is literally the best thing we can pass onto future generations. In this blog, Ekattva shares fun and easy yoga poses for children so that they can learn it quickly and make it part of their daily routine.

Before we proceed, here are a few things that can be helpful while practicing yoga with kids:

• It’s okay to have fun but ensure the safety of children.
• Try to wear comfortable clothing and stay barefoot.
• Play yoga games to make things interesting for children.
• When with children, feel free to adapt the yoga poses.
• Have fun with the movement, alignment can be ignored.
• Create authentic, meaningful experiences with children.
• Every child is different and has different learning style.

Done with few basic recommendations, let’s begin with 5 yoga poses for kids:

Marjaryasana- Cat Pose

To begin this easy yoga pose for kids, stand on all fours like a cat! Keep arms perpendicular to the floor and place your hands flat on the floor, right under your shoulders. Place your knees hip-width apart. While looking forward, inhale and raise your chin and push your head back.

Don’t forget to push your navel down and raise your tailbone. Compress your buttocks! Hold the position for a few breaths. While exhaling, drop down your chin to your chest and relax your buttocks. Remain for a few breaths in this stance. Complete this easy children yoga asana while returning to table top position.

Benefits: This kids yoga pose stretches back and neck while strengthening your child’s wrist, spine and shoulders.

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Padmasana- Lotus Pose

To begin this easy children yoga asana, sit down on the ground with your legs stretched straight. Bend your right knee in and place your right foot on your left thigh. Use your hands to support your foot! Your soles must point upward, and the heels must remain close to your abdomen. Repeat this with other leg.

Now, place your hands on your respective knees in any yoga mudra. Keep your head straight and the spine erect. Your chin should bend down a little. Breathe long and deep! Hold the position for a few minutes and then release. Now, repeat the same with bending your left leg first.

Benefits: This kids yoga asana stretches ankles and knees. It strengthens abdomen, pelvis and bladder.

Balasasna- Child pose

Sit on the yoga mat while keeping your buttocks on your heels. Now, spread your knees, hip-width apart. Take a deep breath and bend forward. Keep your torso between your thighs as you exhale. Now, broaden the sacrum all across the back of the pelvis, and narrow the points of your hip such that they point towards your navel. Rest on your inner thighs!

Continue this child yoga pose with stretching your arms forward and placing in front of you, keeping them aligned with your knees. Rest the front ends of your shoulder on the mat. Stay in this position for 30 seconds to a few minutes. To rest the asana, stretch the front torso, then breathe in and lift from the tailbone while it pushes down into the pelvis.

Benefits: This child yoga pose stretches hips, thighs and ankles and strengthens your back, neck and shoulders.

Malasana- Squat pose

Malasana, one of the easiest yoga poses for kids begins with squatting. While your heels on the floor, keep your feet close to each other. Spread out your thighs! Don’t forget to place them slightly wider than your torso. Now exhale and lean forward such that your torso fits snugly in between your thighs. It’s time to bring your palms in the Anjali Mudra!

Gently hold your elbows against your inner thighs. While staying in this position, press the inner thighs against the side of the torso. Then, stretch your arms out, and swing them across such that your shins fit into the armpits. Hold your ankles. Hold the pose for a few seconds. Inhale and release.

Benefits: This easy children yoga pose strengthens thighs, hamstrings, groin and lower back. It is great asana to improve your digestive system.

Shavasana- Corpse pose

The easiest of all children yoga asanas, Savasana begins with lying on the mat. Don’t use any pillows or cushions. It will be best if you lie on a hard surface. Now close your eyes and place your legs such that they are comfortably apart. Keep your toes facing sidewards. Place your arms along your body and slightly apart, leaving your palms open and facing upwards.

Breathe slowly and deeply! Make sure you don’t fall asleep. This process will energize the body, and as you breathe out, your body will calm down. In about 10 to 12 minutes, your body will feel relaxed and refreshed. Now, wind up savasana by  rolling to one side, keeping your eyes closed. Stay in the position for a minute. Slowly, come to normal sitting position.

Benefits: This asana involves no physical exertion. In return, it relaxes your body and mind.

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These were the easiest yoga asanas for kids to build a strong foundation to their yogic discipline. Not only for kids, these yoga asanas can do wonders for people of every age. Make sure your kids practice these asanas under proper guidance, best under a trained yoga teacher.

If you are keen about yoga and want to learn the true traditional art of yoga, this is the right time! By joining a Yoga Alliance certified school, you can become a yoga teacher and teach yoga to others. This is a great career option!

Want to become a yoga teacher? Ekattva welcomes you to join our upcoming 200 Hours YTT batch. Email at info@spiritualpunditz.com and start your yoga teacher journey in the birthplace of yoga, Rishikesh, India.