Easter is just around the corner. So, it is time to start thinking about all the cool Easter crafts and activities to do with your children or students. Then, let’s get ready for some colorful Easter fun and let’s make Easter awesome throughout some kid’s yoga poses!
Breathing:
First, let’s begin with Flower Breathing:
Sitting up nice and tall, your head rises up towards the ceiling. Bring both of your hands to your chest, touching your thumbs, pinky fingers, and the base of your palms (lotus mudra). Your fingers face up towards the ceiling, allowing them to open like a blossoming flower. Your hands are now your flower. Take a deep breath in through your nose at the center of your flower. Your flower smells so beautifully that you breathe out of your mouth making a sigh. Now repeat this for more times.
Easter Yoga Poses for Kids:
Easter is connected with the celebration of spring arriving and bringing new life, leaving the cold winter behind.
The holiday’s name is actually derived from a “goddess” named Eastre. (Goddess: Standing with your legs wide, bend your knees and squat down. Bring your arms out like a cactus, opening all the fingers to be faced in front.) In ancient times, an annual spring festival was held in her honor.
There are lots of ways to get into the spirit of Easter:
Eggs represent life and rebirth. From the very early times, egg has been considered to be the most important symbol of rebirth. Today, it’s common to give out chocolate eggs for Easter. (Egg: Sitting on the floor, bend your knees. Placing the feet close to you, hug your knees to your chest. When you are ready, lift your feet off the ground balancing on the sitting bones.)
The Easter Bunny is a legendary Easter gift-giving character (Rabbit: Sitting on your heels, lean forward. Stretch your arms and shoulders behind you. Interlock your fingers, opening your chest. Bend forward from your hips lifting your arms up to the sky.). In some traditions, children put out their empty baskets at night for the Easter Bunny to fill up while they sleep (Basket: Lying on your stomach with your legs hip width apart, bend your knees, feet up and towards your bottom. Sweep your arms around and grasp the outside of the ankles or feet. Lifting your head, try to raise the knees and chest higher.). According to tradition, the Easter Bunny also leaves eggs and candy for children on Easter morning. (Bunny Breath: Sit up tall and take three quick sniffs in through your nose like you are sniffing around for carrots, and one long exhale out through your mouth or nose. Bunny breath gives you energy.)
Carrots! We must not forget about carrots, or we’ll have hungry bunnies! (Carrot/Crescent Moon: Standing tall with hands on the sides, sweep the arms up overhead palms touching. Lean over to one side so that the biceps touch the ears.)
Like rabbits, chicks are often associated with Easter as they are also the signs of new life. (Chicken: Crouching down, balance on your tiptoes. Place your hands below your armpits. For a challenge, you can flap your wings!)
Easter is celebrated differently around the world. In some countries, the streets are decorated with flowers. Tulips, hyacinths, and lilies are given as gifts. (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.) And in others, decorated eggs are hung from branches of Easter egg trees. (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.)
Partner Yoga Pose:
Pretzels are associated with Easter, as the twists resemble arms crossing in prayer.
Double Pretzel Pose: Sitting cross-legged and knees to knees with your partner, you both take your right hand to your partner’s left knee, left hand to your back. If you can go around, you can take hold of your partner’s hand. Sit up tall and twist away from each other. You can lean back a little bit to increase the stretch.
Easter Mandala Ideas for Kids:
By the way, if you want to do spring yoga with children, do not forget to check here.