I don’t know about you but now I can hardly keep the children at home. Because it is already March! Let’s wear our comfy clothes, get outside and do as many activities as possible.
If it is still cold where you live, enjoy practicing on your yoga mats, and pretend that the mats are your gardens! Let’s use our imagination and creativity and pretend walking through the garden.
Garden Yoga Warm Up for Kids:
As a warm up song, I would prefer to play “Fly Like a Butterfly” by Bari Koral.
Garden Yoga Poses for Kids:
The days are longer, and the air is warmer now so let’s say hello to the Sun! (Hello Sun: Stand with the feet hip distance apart. Lift your arms upwards and continue the movement doing a back bend. Say hello to the Sun.)
Can you hear the birds chirping? (Tweety Bird: From Downward Facing Dog Pose, bring the right foot in between the hands. Drop the left knee on the floor. Bending forward, straighten the right leg by walking with the toes in front. Slowly lift the toes off the ground. Keep the shoulders away from the ears, and try to extend the arms as far towards the back as possible. Keep the elbows straight.)
Can you see the plants blooming? This means gardening. (Malasana: Opening legs up about hip distance, squat down. You may keep the heels on the floor or place a rolled-up towel under the heels. You can bring the palms in touch in front of your chest.) Can you help me planting some carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes? Let’s grow our own vegetables from seeds. (Seed/Childs Pose: Sitting on your heels, bend forward. Rest your forehead on the mat in front of you. Place your arms wherever you feel comfortable, they can be extended or down by your sides.) Perfect for a quick snack! Let’s water the plants! (Hose: Sitting tall, fold the right knee and place the right foot close to the right hip on the floor. Raise the left leg up, holding the leg with your hands.)
Are you ready for a bug hunt in the garden? Let’s search for insects and other small animals!
You can find them flying through the air: butterflies, bees, dragonflies (Butterfly: Coming to seating position, bring the soles of the feet together. Flutter your knees up and down just like butterfly wings. / Bee Breath: Sitting comfortably, close your eyes and ears with your fingers. Taking a deep breath in and out through your nose, make a humming sound of the bee which is smooth and pleasant. Keep the eyes closed and remain in silence paying attention to the sound echoing deep within. / Dragonfly: Lying on your tummy, palms to the sides of the chest, lift your left leg up and rest it on top of your right foot for support (knee on foot). Rest your chin on the mat.)
You can find them chomping on the plants: ladybugs (Ladybug: Lying on your back, bring your knees into your chest with the soles of your feet towards the ceiling. Gently grab the inside of your feet, pressing the soles deep downwards. Keep the shoulders relaxed with the neck.)
You can find them hiding under rocks: earthworms, ants (Earthworm: Lie on your tummy, bring the hands up by the side of the chest, push the hands into the floor and lift your chest up. / Ant: Lie on your back. Feet together, bring your knees towards your chest. Clasp your hands around your legs as if you are hugging your knees.)
Get down on your hands and knees and explore life down in the soil. Many insects enjoy the comfort of shade and also like to hide from predators. (Table: Place your palms and knees on the floor, hips over the knees, shoulders over the wrists with a long neck.)
Don’t forget to look underneath leaves and inside flowers with closed petals. If you don’t have any flowers in your garden, let’s plant flowers, then. (Flower: Sitting tall, bring the soles of your feet together. Slide your hands underneath your legs and take hold of your ankles. Balance on sitting bones.) We can make a butterfly garden.
What’s your favorite tree in the garden? My favorite one is linden tree! Let’s plant a tree with which you can grow together. (Tree: Standing tall, bend your right knee. Place your right foot on the inside of your left leg either above or below your knee joint. Bring your hands in front of your heart or you can lift your arms up to the sky.)
Who wants to play in the mud? Let’s wet the soil a little first, stir it then so our mud is ready! (Churning the Mill: Sitting up tall, bring the legs wide apart. Interlock the fingers and stretch the arms out in front as you bend a bit. Pretend that you are making circles with both the arms and the body moving clockwise and anticlockwise. Repeat the movement of the spine in circles keeping the hips firm.)
Who loves garden art? We can gather some leaves, sticks, twigs and create a piece of art such as a Stickman. (Crooked Branch: Lying on your back, bend your knees placing the feet on the floor. Bring your knees to rest on the floor towards the right. Stretch the arms out at shoulder level. Turn your head to look in the opposite direction. Feel the chest expand.)
After so many activities in the garden, I feel hungry. Let’s have a picnic with our soft toys outside. I love sandwich! (Sandwich: Seated on the mat with both legs stretched out in front, fold forward. Bring the chin as close as possible to your knees. You may hold your toes with your fingers and gently pull yourself forward.)
Who wants to make a time capsule and bury in the garden? (Treasure Chest: From a seated position, bring the soles of your feet together. Fold forward, resting your hands on your feet. Your head should hang down toward your heels.) You can include all different things from pictures, newspaper articles, toys. Obviously make sure nothing is perishable!
Let’s pretend that it is weekend and take a holiday in our own back garden. It might only be a few steps from the main house but camping in the garden can be magical for the whole family! Let’s set up a tent. (Tent: Open your legs wide but a comfortable distance apart. Lift your arms up over your head bringing your hands together.) Bring your mattresses, duvets and decorate it however you wish.
I am so tired now. Let’s lay blankets on the grass and stargaze! (Stargaze: Lying back, arms stretched out and legs wide apart, begin relaxing the muscles all over. Feel the weight of your body and contact with the ground.)
Relaxation:
Here is a meditation practice for your children to make them feel restful:
Choose Your Calming Word:
Lying down comfortably, close your eyes.
Begin with two deep breaths. In and out. In and out.
Choose a word that makes you feel calm. Here are some ideas:
Happy… Love… Peace… Harmony…
Repeat your word. When your attention drifts away, just focus on your word again.
Notice that your breath may slow down and you may feel more relaxed.
Or your mind may race to other thoughts; just bring it back to your word.
Just repeat your word no matter where your mind wanders.
When you are ready move your fingers and toes, hug your knees into your chest. Roll over onto your side. We press ourselves up to sit, crossing our legs. We bring our hands together at our heart. Thank you for doing yoga with me today. Namaste!
Game:
Balloon Dance Yoga Game:
Materials Needed: Balloons, Music
- I know it will be a bit of a challenge but blow up as many balloons as the number of children.
- Then write the names of the yoga poses you practice in class on these balloons. If they don’t know how to read, you can draw the kids yoga postures in the form of stick figures.
- Start dancing by throwing balloons into the air and playing with music.
- When the music stops, look at the balloon in your hand and do the yoga pose on it.