Teaching kids yoga is not easy, especially if you are new to the practice. Many parents struggle with this topic, and often they 1) don’t know where to start, 2) forget what they taught in the past or 3) don’t know how to teach their child, or 4) they don’t understand what yoga is all about.
What are the 10 commandments for yoga teachers? I have been asked this question many times by students and yoga teachers alike. The 10 commandments of teaching kids yoga are pretty simple. First, teach the basics of the asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing). Show them how to do the poses correctly and how to stress each pose to get the maximum benefit from them. Second, teach the basics of pranayama: how to do the pranayama techniques correctly and how to get the benefits from them. Third, show the students how to practice the asanas correctly and get the maximum benefit from them. Fourth, teach their 10 ashtanga asanas (yoga postures). Fifth, teach the
We all know how important it is to get kids to practice yoga, but how do you do that? And how do you make sure they get the most out of their practice? That’s what we’re going to cover today!
Teaching yoga to children is very gratifying, but it does come with its own set of difficulties. So, if you’re new to teaching yoga to children, here’s a short set of “commandments” to assist you navigate your sessions.
Table of Contents
1. Yoga Must Be Enjoyable!
Veggies are healthy, but if you don’t have teeth, you’ll need to mix, soup, or juice them. Similarly, yoga is beneficial to your health, but you must make it digestible for the individuals you teach.
Allow yourself to reinvent yoga, rename postures, and create new ones… The only stipulation is that it must be enjoyable. Also, keep in mind that yoga is much more than just yoga! Yoga can be anything! Make any game, dancing, or even soccer into yoga by including certain yoga postures or just moving and breathing more mindfully.
Fun isn’t enough for older children… The class must also be enjoyable! And “cool” refers to whatever you can take from class and brag about to your buddies.
2. Doing Yoga With Others Is Always More Fun!
People may be brought together via partner and group postures, games, massage, and other activities. Just practicing yoga postures has a huge additional benefit. Another tip: Practice in a CIRCLE nearly all of the time. Why?
There is no first or second in a circle; we are all on the same level, as opposed to the instructor against the pupils in a traditional classroom environment. Everyone can see everyone in a circle, and everyone can see everyone else – it’s a community!
3. COLLABORATE WITH YOUR STUDENTS TO CREATE THE CLASS!
Allow time for the children to express themselves creatively. Give them options (for example, in a yoga journey, how do you get there and what do you see there? What are your plans for today?). It changes the class from yours to ours, giving the students a greater stake in the success of the class.
Making decisions empowers children. To get more control, give more control. When you allow them to be the leaders, they reciprocate by allowing you to lead when it is your time.
4. Begin WHEREVER THEY ARE!
There is no limit to what you can do with the kids if you do this. However, if you begin where you intended, or where you believed they should be, or where they were last week, you will simply miss the target.
If the class is too easy, the students will get bored, and if the class is too tough, the students will become irritated. SUCCESSFULNESS BUILDING SUCCESSFULNESS! Each child is unique, learning and progressing at their own rate – the more you can see that children are not all same, the better teacher you will be.
5. STEP NEXT STEP!
Don’t be too adamant about anything. If a posture or game is too tough or dull, and you see that the kids aren’t interested, dismiss it as if it never occurred and go on to the next activity. Never, ever, ever, ever!
6. The Law Of The Jungle!
You need to be more of whatever the kids are! You must be louder, more dramatic, quicker, crazier, and more out there than the youngsters in order for them to follow your example. They will follow someone else in the group who is if you aren’t all of this.
In every lesson, give all you’ve got! Be theatrical, utilize your voice, be present at all times, and fill the room with your voice and energy. You’re a rock star! You are a ROCKSTAR! Allow yourself to be seen!
7. At All Costs, Follow Your Rules!
Allow them to be as free as they want to be, as long as they stay within safe limits. There are no rules if you don’t follow your own. But don’t make too many rules because they’re difficult to enforce in a kids’ class; instead, stick to one: RESPECT.
This implies that both parties are respectful of one other. If you respect the children, they will respect you, if you listen to them, if you allow them lead, they will let you lead as well, and so on.
DON’T SPEAK TO THE WALLS! Never offer directions to someone who isn’t paying attention. Always get the youngsters’ attention first, then offer them instructions.
8. Create a sense of belonging
Don’t be overly strict with anything and be kind to everyone. Giving never results in a loss.
Arrive 15 minutes early, and remain for at least 15 minutes thereafter. Take an interest in the children’s tales as well as their likes and dislikes. Always use the kid’s name and form a personal connection with each youngster.
Make a community for parents as well. Being a parent may be lonely at times, and students attend class not just because you are a fantastic teacher, but also for the social aspect. Exchange contact lists and urge one another to talk and assist one another.
9. The Enchantment Of Touch
The earliest method of communication is touch. Touch has a magical effect! More than any other sense, we receive love via touch. Touch is the fastest way to bring people together.
Touch also resolves the problems of discipline. Make an unruly kid your assistant and sit them next to you in class; if they do anything out of line, all you have to do is lay your hand on their back and everything will go back to normal. Check it out for yourself!
10. Make it a WORK OF ART!
We are fed by beauty in the same way that we are nourished by food and water. Yoga is particularly lovely when we practice it together! We move with greater awareness when we move wonderfully as a couple or a group.
That was a lot of information to take in! Please let us know how it went in your classrooms!
Learning to do yoga is a wonderful experience that will bring you health, peace and most of all, a daily connection to the universe. As a teacher you have an opportunity to guide and inspire children to live a more conscious life. In this post, I will share with you the 10 commandments I live by when teaching yoga to children.. Read more about online children’s yoga teacher training and let us know what you think.
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