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First it was the traditional yoga classes, followed by yoga/pilates/tai chi-fusion classes. Then hot yoga took North America by storm. But the newest big thing in yoga is actually little—as in little ones.
Lately I've been noticing a lot of yoga classes for kids. They aren't your typical yoga-made-simpler-for-kids classes which couldn't possibly work because, let's face it, one kid would do something funny and the other kids would start to laugh and … well, you know how these things get out of control. No, these are kid-friendly classes that are equal parts yoga, learning and play.
There's singing, stories and all kinds of other interactive activities. Need a visual? When it's time for a little downward dog, don't be surprised to hear some enthusiastic barking.
Karma Kids Yoga in New York City infuses classes for 3- to 4-year-olds with songs, puppets and stories for a fun, imaginative program that will also keep those flexible joints supple. In the 4- to 6-year-olds class singing, drawing and play are active parts of the class, as is learning yoga breathing techniques. As kids get older, the focus shifts from social development to internal focus and centering. Things get more challenging for the 10- to 12-year-old classes, and the teen classes act as a bridge to adult yoga.
There are also special classes, like story time yoga. Each time the class comes to an animal, tree or other nature-inspired element in the story that has a corresponding yoga pose, the reading stops and the kids all do that yoga pose. It's a brilliant way to get kids to learn poses from a young age, and I can't deny it sounds like a lot of fun!
On the other side of the country, L.A.-based Mini Yogis is a "mobile yoga studio," meaning they come to you. They teach private classes in the home or groups of kids at schools, camps, girl or boy scouts troops—you name it! (They even do birthdays.) Their classes are "invigorating, interactive, imaginative journeys into your child’s developing mind, body, and spirit."
What I love most about these kinds of classes is they incorporate physical, social and individual development, as well as a healthy dose of play for the younger kids. There's no competition, no winner or loser. It's all about having fun and growing healthfully. It's like hiding veggies in food your kids actually want to eat!
Tips for keeping kids yoga green:
- Use eco-friendly kids yoga mats
- Take a class that's close to home so you can walk
- Ask if the yoga studio uses green power
- Bring your own water in a metal bottle
Cara Smusiak writes on behalf of Naturally Savvy.com about how to live a more natural, organic and green lifestyle.
More on Yoga:
Green Your Yoga Retreat
Practice Jivamukti, An Even Greener Yoga
Make Your Yoga Greener
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