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How to Become A Kids Yoga Teacher Free Video Training Webinar

We had wonderful participation in the free webinar video training over the weekend.

I want to thank everyone for your great questions and feedback. We met, we talked, we learned a lot about becoming a kids yoga teacher. I appreciate all the questions sent in to make the webinar so informative and interesting.

Here are just a few questions that were answered:

  • What does it take to become a kids yoga teacher?
  • What is different about the 95 Hour Training compared to the 25 hour training I took?
  • How do you make the kids pay attention?
  • If you could have only 3 props in your kids class, what would they be?

We covered so many subjects for those new to kids yoga and for teachers looking for fresh ideas.

In addition to these questions, we answered a whole bunch of important questions by participants. For all those who want to know the ins and outs of getting trained as a kids yoga teacher, this is an excellent resource. If you weren’t able to attend the webinar live, the recording is below along with all the links mentioned in the webinar.

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Kids Yoga Teacher Training Resources Links

During the webinar I talked about some wonderful resources so here is a list of them:

July 14 – 26, 2019

Summer Certification in Burlington, Ontario
Come get your 95 Hour Certificate (or as many modules as you want to attend) by the shores of Lake Ontario this summer.
Summer Certification Details and Registration Costs Here

March 29-31
Toronto Yoga Show – Free Tickets to Show
Visit A Children’s Yoga Network Booth 526 at The Toronto Yoga Show
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Get Free Tickets to the Show on our Facebook Page 

April 14-16
Kundalini Yoga Spring Getaway – An Amazing Yoga Weekend for Adults
Immerse yourself in a weekend to enhance your personal practice and see what a difference it makes in your teaching!
Register for the Spring Getaway Here

More Resource Links from the Webinar

New Age Teacher on Instagram
I highly recommend following Nicole from New Age Teacher on Instagram. We include her resources in our Mindfulness for Children Module and her audio tracks are so empowering for children.

Insurance for Yoga Teachers
Another favourite resource is The Connected Yoga Teacher, who has a wonderful Podcast and very active Facebook group.  Here is her article on Insurance for Yoga Teachers.

Tween / Teen Leadership Program
This very successful Leadership program for tweens and teens can be purchased at Ambassador Yoga.  It includes workbooks to give out in your classes that help youth stay engaged and work towards taking Yoga Teacher Training.  Leadership Program Details Here

Yoga Teachers: Lead a 200 Hour Training
I talked about how this program was inspired by my own experience of becoming a lifeguard in my teens.  There are so many kids starting yoga at a young age, why shouldn’t they deepen their practice with Yoga Teacher Training in their teens, the same way I became a lifeguard in my teens.  This program is designed to support those who are already yoga teacher, so they can offer a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training to the Teens they teach.

Ambassador Yoga Trainer Fast-Track helps experienced Yoga Teachers start offering Teacher Training using Ambassador’s Manuals and School Syllabus.
If you are an experienced Yoga Teacher check this out!

Aruna’s Favourite Music on Spotify
Wondering what kids yoga music I play on my big portable speaker I showed you in the webinar? Here’s the link to my kids yoga playlist on spotify that you can follow or make notes from. My Kids Yoga Playlist on Spotify

Free Alphabet Poster
In the first webinar that didn’t get recorded, I promised a link for the Free Alphabet Poster (pictured below) that you can print out and use with your kids.  This is from the Yoga Literacy Module of our Kids Yoga Teacher Training where you receive a printed colour poster in English and French as well as Yoga Cards and a big Colour Book.

a kids yoga alphabet poster with one yoga pose for each letter of the alphabet
Frog Yoga Alphabet Printable Poster

 

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Kids Yoga Alphabet Teacher Training Double Pack

Online Training Resources

One of the webinar participants asked about online training options.  Young Yoga Masters has 2 self-study options available:

The Frog Yoga Alphabet Teacher Training Double Pack
With this package you receive a PDF of both manuals which includes games for kids learning the alphabet as well as readers. You get the PDF of all the yoga alphabet poses in colour, black and white colouring pages, and the Pose guides showing you how to do each pose. It’s highly recommended if you want activity pages to give to the kids yoga teach.

Purchase it here.

Yoga Man vs. The Stressor Yoga for Boys
This training package also includes a PDF with Yoga Man doing the Sun Salutation with Pose Guide and 10 Games featuring the sun salutation. If you find that boys just aren’t signing up for your kids yoga classes, you need this package!

Purchase it here. 

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Hope to See you at the Summer Certification!

Thank you for all you do to bring yoga to children. They need it now, more than ever.

We would love to see you at the Summer Certification, The Spring Getaway or the Toronto Yoga Show.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop us a note!

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Avoid this Common Mistake with the Hoberman Sphere (Breathing Ball) in Kids Yoga

It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, in kids yoga you could say the same about a good prop.  A good prop becomes your classroom management as it silences conversations and draws kids into your circle. It’s the difference between asking kids to be quiet and quieting them without having to ask.

The breathing ball (also known as the Hoberman Sphere) is a favourite prop of many teachers. When introduced as a tool for calming and connecting to the breath, rather than just a nifty toy, the breathing ball captivates kids attention.

pictures of the Breathing ball, and expanding ball that is also known as a Hoberman sphere
The Breathing Ball, also known as a Hoberman Sphere

3 Breathing Ball Activities

Here are 3 ways to use the Breathing Ball:

  1. Demonstrate Lungs: explain how the lungs expand and contract with the inhale and exhale
  2. Self-Regulation: Leave the breathing ball in the quiet area of your class, on a child’s desk, or on a bedside table for children to use on their own. It’s an engaging tool for self-regulation once children know how to use it.
  3. Children Follow the Ball: The teacher opens and closes the ball, the class breathes to match the pace of the movement.
a kids yoga teacher demonstrates the breath by opening and closing a breathing ball.
Using the breathing ball for the whole class to see.

The Common Mistake

A common mistake teachers make happens in the 3rd activity above.  When you open and close the ball and ask children to breathe along with the movement, make sure you are breathing at a pace suited to the age and lung capacity of the group you’re teaching.

Kids won’t be able to follow a breathing ball that is opened and closed too slowly. It’s not physically possible for little lungs to keep up with adult lungs, especially the lungs of a yoga practitioner.

Consider these Ventilation/Respiration Rates for Children and Adults

Average resting respiratory rates by age are cited on Wikipedia:

  • birth to 6 weeks: 30–40 breaths per minute
  • 6 months: 25–40 breaths per minute
  • 3 years: 20–30 breaths per minute
  • 6 years: 18–25 breaths per minute
  • 10 years: 17–23 breaths per minute
  • Adults: 12-18-breaths per minute
  • Elderly ≥ 65 years old: 12-28 breaths per minute.
  • Elderly ≥ 80 years old: 10-30 breaths per minute.

Children breath faster because their lungs are smaller.

The Breathing Ball is a great attention getter, but you risk creating frustration in children if you don’t choose an age appropriate pace.

children use a breathing ball, opening and closing it wiht their breath to demonstrate the pace of their breathing.
Children set the pace with the Breathing Ball in a Yoga Class

4th Breathing Ball Activity – Ball follows Child’s Breath:

  1. Breathing Ball Follows the Child’s Breath: Instead of starting with #3, try this activity.  Invite a child to sit with you and take a few deep breaths moving their arms and emphasizing their breath. Then the teacher opens and closes the breathing ball to follow the breath of the student, instead of the child following the breathing ball.  When you follow the breath for a few cycles, it can start to change on its own.  Try this exercise for a minute with different children and kids soon see the different breathing rates and how awareness can change the breath.

The breathing ball is a favourite yoga prop for many.  When you learn the various ways to use the Breathing Ball, it becomes imbued with the power to bring calm and peace. And laughter too since kids will find silly ways to use the breathing ball on their own!

3 kids put the breathing ball over their heads and look at ehe camera laughing
Of course, kids will also find new ways to use the breathing ball.

Upcoming Kids Yoga Teacher Training

Each person registered in the Themes and Dreams Kids Yoga Teacher Training Module receives a Breathing Ball and more Breathing Ball activities too!

Kids Yoga Teacher Training and Certification with Young Yoga Masters
Find out about becoming a Certified Kids Yoga Teacher – click the image above

Olympic-Themed Kids Yoga

Olympic Themed Kids Yoga
Olympic Themed Kids Yoga

Olympic-Themed Kids Yoga

Olympics as a Theme for Kids Yoga Lessons

With the Rio Summer Olympics well underway, we’ve updated old blog posts to help you incorporate the games as a theme in your classes. We hope you find these resources helpful when considering lesson plans, poses, and intentions for kids yoga.

 

One World, One Dream - Olympic Yoga

One World, One Dream: Olympic Yoga

While yoga is not (yet) an Olympic sport, there are ways to tap into the excitement of the Olympics to enhance your kids yoga classes. Find out how the Olympics can be used as a theme to engage in a discussion of unity, challenges and competition.

 

Olympic Yoga: Archer Pose

Introducing: Archer Pose

This one pose can be a useful tool to prompt discussion about intention and incorporate the Olympics into lesson plans. Click the link to read more!

 

Helping Sore Losers by Using the Olympics and Yoga

 How the Olympics and Yoga Can Help Sore Losers

In this post, Aruna shares tips for classroom management based on her experiences leading yoga games and talking about the Olympics with kids.

 

Have more ideas about how the Olympics can be used as a theme to promote class engagement and discussion? Comment below!

 

Upcoming Courses

3 Quick Attention-Getters

It’s handy to have a few quick attention-getters for those moments when your yoga class is getting excited, maybe even too excited.

a boy smiling after doing a downward dog tunner
Attention Getters in Kids Yoga

I have used many different tricks over the years, I like to change it up to keep it interesting for the kids and myself.

So here are 3 of my current favorites.

Please share your favorite attention grabber, and for any bloggers reading, share your favorite blog post about getting attention. What do you do to help kids heads turn and start paying attention?

Reminder of Early Registration Deadline Today on Summer Kids Yoga Teacher Certification

Also, don’t forget that today is the super early registration deadline for the 95 Hour Kids Yoga Teacher Summer Certification, You can save over $270 if you register today.  This summer get a thorough training with a Yoga Alliance Registered Children’s Yoga School, including practicum with actual kids classes, all in one training this summer.  Check out the 2 locations and full details here (with all the registration buttons now working!).

This is the time we need to make deposits on our training location, so by registering early, you’ll help us get an idea of our numbers, and you’ll save by signing up early.  Thanks to those who have already registered from around the world!

Now back to our tips:

Attention-Getter #1

Give Me a Hip, Give Me a Lip

This one is as simple as it sounds.  You say “Give me a hip.” and put one hand on your hip. Then say, “Give me a lip.” and put your finger to your mouth like you’re saying ssshhhh.

Now give it some attitude:  Give me a hip, give me a lip.

Oh no you didn’t!  Oh yes you did!  Even tweens like to do this one – especially with attitude.

 

Attention-Getter #2

The Big Old Alley Cat Looking for Mice

kids do child pose in kids yoga pretending they are a mouse hiding from a cat
Kids Learn Child Pose as part of a simple yoga flow.

For the younger yogis, I play on an activity from a short yoga flow we do using Cat, Dog, Snake, and Mouse pose.  When we get to Mouse, we’ve got to stay very still because Cat is just around the corner.  This big old alley cat is looking for some lunch.  Stay very still so the cat doesn’t find you!

After we’ve done this game in a few classes, I can pretend I’m the alley cat anytime and the kids will quickly go into child pose and quiet down.

Sometimes I don’t have to say anything, I just do my alley cat walk and once the first child sees it, they react, and soon all the kids are doing mouse pose without even a word from me.

 

Attention-Getter #3

Breathe In the Big Me, Breathe Out the Little Me

 

a kids yoga teacher points to her nose as she takes a deep breath in and 4 kids follow along doing yoga breathing
Breathe In the Big Me is a Breathing Routine that Helps Kids Pay Attention

My classic yoga attention-getter is a big yoga breath.  I call out, “Breathe in the Big Me” and you fill yourself with air and stretch your arms up to open up, your ribs too.  When you are full of air you feel big and powerful! That’s the big me.

Then it’s time to “Breathe Out the Little Me” and exhale and let your arms float down.  This is when you let go of anything that may be troubling you or making you feel small.  It’s a way to let go of doubt and insecurity.  Let the Little Me go out with each breath.

I use this breath to finish most yoga poses.  I use it so much it may not seem like I’m doing it to get attention, but I know that it’s a routine that kids know and follow, and helps kids keep their focus.

Now Share Your Favorite Attention Getter

Please leave a comment to share your current favorite Attention-Getter.  Do you stick with the same one or do you switch them up?  What do you do to get the attention of your kids at home?

 

Upcoming Kids Yoga Teacher Training

Kids Yoga Teacher Training Yoga Alliance Registered Childrens Yoga School
Click this image for prices and more details of the Summer Certification

Summer Certification Super Early Bird Pricing Ends Today

Register Early to Save!

Details Here.

6 Tips from 6 Kids Yoga Teacher Training Weekends

The Summer Certification is a popular way to get your 95 hour Certificate. It’s fast.  It’s fun.  It’s packed with information.

To give you an idea of what you’ll get, check out these 6 Tips on teaching yoga to kids. One tip from each of the 6 weekends of Kids Yoga Teacher Training.

If you are thinking of getting your Kids Yoga Teacher Certificate  Here’s the link with all the details.  We’d love to meet you there.

6 Tips from 6 Kids Yoga Teacher Training Weekends

Tip #1 from the Yoga Literacy Weekend 

  • Yoga Alphabet and Storytelling:  In the Yoga Literacy training the Yoga Alphabet turns any kid into a storyteller.  Why?  Because letters make up words and words make up stories.  With our Yoga Alphabet we play all kinds of word games, but the favorite by far is Yoga Hangman (also known as Yoga Wheel of Fortune for some youth).  The clues can be any words and phrases related to school curriculum, yoga themes, or pop culture.  Choose what will interest your group. Now here’s the yoga part:  before you reveal whether the letter is in the clue, everyone does the yoga pose.  One game of Yoga Hangman can equal 10 or more yoga poses.  Now that’s a good stretch for body and mind.

Tip #2 from the Inclusive Yoga Weekendin kids yoga class, children form a human train by holding each others shoulders and walking

  • Yoga to Include Children with Special Needs:  One mother described how difficult it is at school for her daughter because she didn’t have any friends.  At eleven years old it can be a lonely world for a child with special needs.   In the Inclusive Yoga weekend Kids Yoga Training you get lots of ideas to help kids feel they belong in a yoga class.One effective way is by creating a Yoga Obstacle Course.  It’s basically a huge visual schedule that eases anxiety for a lot of children on the autism spectrum.  The great thing is, all kids love obstacle courses.  You set up stations around the room with different yoga poses and fun ways to get from one spot to another.  Try hopping like a frog, walking in downward dog, or taking a human train.  Leave a spot at the end for kids to rest when they complete the cycle. Start by going through the whole Obstacle Course as a group.  That eleven year old girl will feel better when she is sitting in the resting spot just like all the other kids.

Tip #3 from the Ages and Stages Weekend

a paper drawing of human anatomy for kids witha brain made of macaroni - part of the kids yoga teacher training
Kids don’t mind learning Anatomy when it’s fun and neither do adults.
  • Anatomy and Physiology:  Talking about bones is one thing, but bringing a skeleton into yoga class will take bones to the next level to capture kids attention. You can look for an anatomically correct skeleton, the kind a doctor or chiropractor uses.  Or you can look for a big skeleton at Halloween time and you won’t have to be so careful transporting it to and from your classes.

Tip #4 from the What I See, I Can Be Weekend

  • Yoga In the Classroom: This weekend includes so many tips on how to include Yoga in the classroom.  One of my favorites is what course author, Janet Williams, of Childrens Yoga Books.com calls a Two-For-One.  This is what you get when you teach two topics at the same time. Not only does it help a teacher get through their curriculum and fulfill their daily physical activity requirement, it helps children get much appreciated kinesthetic learning opportunities.

measuring the angle of the ankle in a yoga pose in kids yoga

Tip #5 from the Themes and Dreams Weekend

kids yoga class with a teacher talking to a child doing yoga
Seeing Eye to Eye with Kids in Your Class

  •  Classroom Management is a big concern for many kids yoga teachers. Each teacher must discover how to get to the heart of classroom management and better connect with kids.  For instance, if you present your lesson plan and a child protests, there are a number of ways to deal with it.  First and foremost, the teacher strives to not take the protest personally. Just like when we meditate we try not to add energy to thoughts or distractions, we let them float by.  It is equally important for a teacher to focus on the yoga class and refrain from arguments or power struggles. When a teacher does not react it is easier to figure out what to do. One of my favorite responses when a child says they don’t want to do something is to sincerely and energetically ask them, “What do you want to do?”  Their answer gives me a big clue about how to manage the situation.  Sometimes you find out they are sick, tired, or they have something else in mind.  You can use the information to adjust your plan accordingly.  Sometimes you can turn the protest into a positive, by involving the child in your lesson plan.  Just like in life, we want to develop a yogic mind, a neutral mind, and become a role model for children.

Tip #6 from the Branching Out Weekend

  • Branching Out to Family Yoga:  finally here’s a very sweet meditation that I call the Stroke of Genius Meditation.  I wrote about it here and it is a wonderful way to help parents and kids connect in a family yoga class.  You’ll find this tip may help your mornings go a little smoother too.

These 6 tips from our 6 kids yoga teacher training weekends are just a small part of a comprehensive course registered with Yoga Alliance.

If you’ve thought of becoming a kids yoga teacher, full time, part time, in your classroom or living room, take a look at what you get with the Young Yoga Masters training.

Kids Yoga Teacher Training Yoga Alliance Registered Childrens Yoga School
Click this image for prices and more details of the Summer Certification

Register early to take save your place and take advantage of the early registration rates.  Here is the link to the information.

 

PicMonkey Collage

The Functional Minds Method of Classroom Management

I recently took some yoga teacher CEU’s (Continuing Education Units) in a wonderful course called “Mind and Meditation.” I can’t wait for my next kids yoga class to try this one communication tip using The Three Functional Aspects of the Mind.

I took the Level 2 Yoga Teacher Training with Krishna Kaur – a mentor in Yoga for Youth

The Three Functional Minds can become a lesson plan in your kids yoga classes. For now, here’s a recap of the functional minds and then see how you can use them for classroom management.

The Negative Mind functions to help you identify obstacles and potential dangers. It is negative because it examines the reasons NOT to do something; it is not negative in terms of bad.  You utilize the negative mind when you see danger on your path or when you avoid something to protect yourself.

classroom management kids yoga teacher training
Kids listening to the rules of the game – The Negative Mind functions to help them wait.

The Positive Mind sees the opportunities and possibilities.  It is positive like a green light, meaning go!  The positive mind is not always right or good, but functions to explore why you would say yes to something. Your positive mind will see the advantages of following up with a good contact or idea.

Kids are ready to go in the Kids Yoga Teacher Training
The kids begin the game! The Positive Mind functions to enjoy the activity.

The mind usually starts its cycle with Negative then goes to Positive. Then the third Functional Aspect of the Mind, the Neutral Mind, kicks into action.

The Neutral Mind weighs in to clarify the directions given by the Positive and Negative Minds. It does the cost/benefit analysis.  Sometimes the Neutral Mind puts things in perspective by remembering the big picture. Sometimes you get insight that it doesn’t really matter if you choose the chocolate brownie or the key lime pie as long as you eat dessert in moderation.

You know a Neutral Mind statement because it is true now and will remain true 100 years from now.

Kids Yoga Teacher Training Activity
The kids try another part of the yoga class lesson plan. The Neutral Mind helps them balance the obstacles and the opportunities.

How can the Three Functional Minds help classroom management?

When you are teaching, use not just negative and/or positive mind statements, nor give only Neutral Mind advice. For classroom management try giving all three statements.

Here’s an example for when a class is getting rowdy and needs some calming down:

  • Negative Mind Classroom Management:  Slow down because someone might get hurt.
  • Positive Mind Classroom Management: Move in slow motion for fun.
  • Neutral Mind Classroom Management: Yoga requires balance.

How does saying all three sound different than just one function to you?

Three Functional Aspects Classroom Management: Slow down because someone might get hurt. Let’s move in slow motion for fun. Yoga requires balance.

You won’t need to do all three every time you have a rowdy class, but consider the three Functional Aspects of the Minds for those tough times when you really want to emphasize the class rules.

According to these Yogic teachings, your students will naturally be drawn to look at all three functions of the mind anyway.  Giving one can be effective but when you just give one, the kids may come back with the other functions that were not given.

Share your thoughts and comments:

Does anyone have a tough or successful classroom management example they’re willing to share?

Can you come up with an example of how to use the Three Functional Aspects of the Mind in classroom management if someone doesn’t want to participate?

What is your favorite classroom management tip or resource?

Upcoming Events:

Kids Yoga Teacher Training and Certification with Young Yoga MastersTake a look at upcoming Kids Yoga Teacher Certification Courses to enhance your yoga for children.