Easy tips

Information Interviews: A Helpful Tool for Kids Yoga Teachers To Get New Classes

Want to teach kids yoga classes but not sure where to start? Every country, state, city and neighborhood is unique, so a great way to find out what will work where you live is through information interviews.

What are Information Interviews?

“Information interviews” or “informational interviews” are conversations in which an entrepreneur or aspiring employee contact an expert in the field they intend to enter to ask questions and gain valuable insight into their potential career path. While this type of interview is conducted without the intention of securing a job, it is an excellent networking tool and a great excuse to make contacts.

We’ve gone through these informative posts on the topic and updated them to help you get started with the information interview process. They’re tailored specifically to those interested in expanding their children’s yoga businesses in places like daycare and preschools, however, they offer helpful suggestions for anyone looking to get started with their own information interviews.

1. Writing Your Information Interview Survey

Not sure where to get started? Preparing for the information interview is the best way to ensure your success. Aruna has outlined helpful suggestions for how to get started based on her own experiences conducting market research. Read the full article here.

2. Information Interviews: Questions to Ask

Still not sure what to say during the interview? Here Aruna has outlined some useful questions to ask when interviewing experts. Read full article here.

3. When to Schedule Information Interviews

The timing of your information interviews can play a crucial role in the response you get. Unsure of when the best time to make a call is? Read the full article to help you plan what time is best for you.

Have you ever conducted information interviews? Comment below with any questions or helpful tips!

Upcoming Events

Thinking of a Full or Part-time Career as a Kids Yoga Teacher?

Give yourself a solid foundation in Kids Yoga and the Certification and Practical Experience employers are looking for.

5 Tips for Teaching Yoga to Tweens

Let’s face it, being a tween is hard! You are not a kid anymore and you are not quite a teenager. Tweens come to yoga class each week, like adults, with many issues or concerns. Last spring I had a girl come into class crying because she was upset that her younger brother was getting an iPhone for his birthday, she didn’t think it was fair. Another day a couple of girls arrived very upset because there had been an issue on their bus ride home from school.

All these situations, big or small cause stress for today’s tweens. Coming to yoga can help alleviate some of that stress while also teaching them techniques to manage their stress.

Tweens Live Somewhere in the Land Between

Tweens are described as youth between the ages of 9-12 or 10-13. They are stuck in this sort of “in between” land, trying to navigate their way from childhood to teen land.

My name is Maura Bradley and I am the founder of Bee You Yoga. I teach kids of all ages with a primary focus on “tweens” because while this age group is growing up quick, they still like to play games, act silly and have fun!

After teaching “Tween Yoga” for years I have developed these 5 Tips for Teaching Yoga to Tweens.

5 Tips for Teaching Yoga to Tweens

Tweens doing tree pose in yoga with hands connected and smiling and being silly. — Make it Fun so Tweens want to keep coming back!

Relax – Tweens are smart; they can smell fear a mile away and they catch on real quick if you try to be something you are not. Just be yourself with the kids, learn to laugh at yourself and realize each and every class will not go 100% as planned. Let go of your expectations.
Make it Fun – Tweens are still kids and kids love nothing more than to have fun! I include games in all of my yoga classes and camps and the kids LOVE it. Playing games during yoga class helps to build confidence, build camaraderie between the kids and the games also work as a great icebreaker for larger groups or shy kids.
Share – Tweens want to learn more about you. This helps them relate to you on a personal level. They begin to see you more as a person and less as a scary adult/teacher. Often times, I share stories with my tweens about my own kids. I’ll tell them funny things that have happened in our house or maybe a joke one of my kids told me, they love this! The kids will relax and share more if they relate to you.
Challenge Tweens to master difficult poses.
Challenge Them – Tweens love a challenge, whether it’s mastering a difficult posture, winning a friendly tree pose competition to see who can hold the pose longest, or sharing about themselves. All challenges lead to growth, which helps to build confidence.
Savasana – Tweens today are busy! Introduce your students to savasana during the first class. I love to watch the kids fidget and giggle and move around during their first experience with savasana….as the weeks go on, they get quieter and quieter and more and more still. They now ask for savasana in the beginning of class! Kids need time to unplug, relax, and be still. Be sure to offer them this time in each and every class.

These are a few of my top tips for teaching yoga to tweens. I hope you have found this interesting and helpful to you as you share yoga with your students.

Please share in the comments below any tips that you have for teaching tweens.

About the Author

Maura Bradley

After years of working with cancer patients, Maura Bradley was introduced to kids yoga while teaching at a summer camp for children affected by cancer. This was such an amazing experience Maura is completing her 95-hour children’s yoga teacher certification.

Maura has taught hundreds of children in weekly classes, summer camps and specialty workshops. Currently, Maura teaches kids & family yoga in a variety of studios and schools throughout Monmouth County, NJ.

The founder of Bee YOU Yoga for kids, located in Manasquan, NJ, Maura has completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with YogaWorks, Levels 1 & 2 of Yoga for Cancer Teacher Training with Tari Prinster in New York City, and is currently completing her 95 Hour Childrens Yoga Teacher Certification with Little Flower Yoga.

Please be sure to like Bee You yoga on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/YogaMaura
Instagram @beeyou_kidsyoga
and visit her website: www.beeyouyoga.com

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5 Tips for Teaching Yoga to Tweens - read these great tips at Young Yoga Masters dot com — Pin It Now

When Questions Backfire and Kids Yoga Teachers Mature

Teaching Yoga in the Practicum of the New Orleans Kids Yoga Teacher Certification

If you teach kids yoga you’re bound to have a few awkward moments, it goes with the territory. They sometimes happen when you try to engage kids with questions.

Kids Yoga Teacher Training Tips

It’s not unusual to use questions while teaching. The right question at the right time is engaging because kids love to show you what they know. It’s a common kids yoga teacher training tip to mix new ideas with comfortable concepts.

I remember two instances this summer, during our Kids Yoga Teacher Certification, when questions kind of backfired with similar surprising results.

Teaching Anatomy in the Kids Yoga Teacher Certification in New Orleans

The first was with a group of young kids in our Anatomy Camp practicum. The student teachers had created wonderful interactive activities to teach the muscles, bones, and organs. It was all going smoothly when one teacher’s planned question began to backfire.

Can you handle a Backfire?

All the kids were sitting crossed legged on the floor giving their full attention to her and her fun props and the unusual voice she was using as she introduced the brain. She followed her lesson plan till she got to the question, how much does the brain weigh?

Now, we had expected children between 5 years and 12 years in the class, but it turned out those who showed up were mostly 5 years old.

So when the teacher asked her question, I witnessed a tiny wave of concern spread on her face as she realized the kids had no idea of the correct answer.

That kind of question, where the kids are supposed to read the teachers mind, often flop when it comes to getting kids engaged.

Luckily, at five years old, you understood that you are being asked to give a number, so the little ones starting answering. One thousand, five hundred and forty eight, twenty six, it was a fun game even though no one had a clue if their guess was right. No one cared.

The fun was in the guessing, not in answering the question correctly.

Even though the question backfired by not producing the expected result of a correct answer, the kids remained engaged. A big reason was because of the encouraging energy the teacher maintained throughout, a sign of a mature kids yoga teacher. The kids never really knew there was a problem, and after all the numbers, the class moved on as planned.

Questions for Reflection in Kids Yoga

The second time the question kind of backfired happened to me. It was the end a series of six yoga classes in our Certification in Canada. I wanted the new teachers to hear the kids reflect on the six classes we spent with them so I asked how they were feeling at the end of this series.

Warrior Pose Kids Yoga Teacher Certification Toronto Ontario Canada — Warrior Pose – Kids Yoga Teacher Certification

The first child answered, “I loved the class, I’d give it an 11 out of 10!”

What a great response! Then hands shot up and the next child explained they also loved it and gave it 100 out of 10. Wow!

Then the refrain continued until I caught on:

I give yoga 1000 out of one.
I give yoga a million out of zero.
The next child gave yoga a googol out of 10, explaining a googol is 10 to the 100th power (which is 1 followed by 100 zeros).

There were still a dozen hands in the air waiting to join the game.

I asked, “Who has an answer that isn’t a number?” Eleven hands were gone as quickly as their smiles. A couple kids expressed how good, relaxed, and peaceful they felt.

Smiling, I asked, “Who else wants to say a number.” With a cheer, eleven hands shot back up and happily took turns saying numbers again.

What does it all mean?

Maybe there is a scientist out there who can explain what is going on, but for a kid’s yoga teacher, questions that backfire become lessons in spontaneity. They teach you the joy kids feel playing, especially play without wrong answers.

For kids yoga teachers like our graduates this summer, a lot of time goes into developing your teaching skill set. There is a learning curve.

In return for your hard work, you get to experience lessons that cannot be learned with adults.

As my meditation teacher would say, every question contains a quest. Asking children questions, you never know exactly where the quest will lead, but a mature teacher does know there will be playfulness, letting go of outcomes, and joy in the moment.

Aruna
YoungYogaMasters.com

Upcoming Kids Yoga Teacher Certification

Come experience what yoga is like with real children in every Kids Yoga Teacher Modulde. The next one starts soon in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

See the details of the upcoming courses here:

Kids Yoga Teacher Training Yoga Alliance Registered Childrens Yoga School — Click this image for for full details of Kids Yoga Teacher Certification

Young Yoga Masters is a Yoga Alliance Registered Children’s Yoga School offering Training in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and more.

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 Weekend

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.

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.

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

How to do Yoga with Kids, That Is Different Than Yoga for Adults

The Beauty of Contrasts

Young Yoga Masters has been focusing on Teacher Training lately. With each Module, new teachers express their gratitude for the opportunity to train with real kids present. Seeing kids do yoga illuminates the difference between yoga with kids and yoga with adults.

For instance, here we are practicing a back rub technique in the adult part of the training, before the kids arrive.

adult yoga back massage — Adults line up nicely and wait for their turn.

Now here’s what the same exercise looks like with the kids present:

kids yoga back massage — Children offer a back rub to the adults.

Kids hover over the activity, they do not quietly wait for their turn. They’ve got to see what’s happening! Especially the little ones.

Expect Enthusiasm with Kids Yoga, Encourage it with Adults

When adults do yoga they may ask a question now or then. Rarely do adults jump up to ask a question or make a comment with this kind of enthusiasm:

kids enthusiasm — Kids carry their zest for life into yoga class.

Mind you, I’ve had many adults shoot me the “stink eye” when I give a hard yoga pose. Kids will shoot you the stink eye if they don’t like a pose, but they will also protest with words too. You’ve got to be ready for it by giving kids a challenge to keep going. Like saying, “Can you do 20 seconds of that pose? Let’s time it.”

But the biggest difference is the reward you feel when a child exudes joy during your yoga class.

kids love yoga — When a child is having a good time, you usually know it!

Yoga Alliance Requires Teacher Training be with Real Children

Yoga with real children, like the kids in these Training Camp pictures, has to be experienced not talked about. Experience goes right to the heart.

If you are considering a Teacher Training I highly recommend one with time observing an experienced teacher teaching real children. It should also have time for practice teaching with real children with your mentor present. Yoga Alliance requires 18/95 hours be Practicum hours observing and teaching with real children present.

Here are a few of the things new teachers have discovered through this process:

You march, stretch, play and unwind with kids yoga. You don’t expect to stay in one place.
Teachers don’t get upset when kids squeal with delight, they expect it, and sometimes encourage it.
And when kids protest when a game ends too early, teachers rejoice. The protests mean kids will want to come back for more. If you end a game too late, kids lose interest in the game and in yoga class too. You learn to not be afraid of a protest.

Salute the Kids When You Salute the Sun

One of the biggest realizations for new teachers is to let kids be kids. Honour kids, don’t try to make them mini adults. Here is something to learn from kids:

I am authentic — "I am Authentic" - the affirmation chosen by one student.

I think teaching yoga to kids helps adults be more authentic. When you do yoga with kids, let them be kids, let them be authentic. You may be surprised how a good dose of authenticity from kids enhances your own curiosity, enthusiasm, and joy.

What would you call the biggest difference between teaching yoga to adults and children?

I invite you to share your experience in the comments.

Announcing: Upcoming Teacher Training Specials

Become a Certified Children’s Yoga Teacher

Yoga Alliance, the major regulating body of yoga, has set the standard of 95 Hours of Training in Children’s Yoga. Young Yoga Masters is a Registered Children’s Yoga School with Yoga Alliance. You can take the full 95 hour Certificate with us or try a part of the training by taking one of the weekend Certificate that make up the full training.

Not only will you get to experience yoga with children, you’ll leave with the confidence to teach your own yoga classes for children.

Check out our upcoming schedule here.

7 Reasons iPods are Awesome for Kids Yoga Teachers and their Music

In Kids Yoga Teacher Training I recommend teachers get a portable music player like an iPod or MP3. Usually more than 50% already use them and just nod knowingly in agreement during this part of the training.

Others half heartedly agree because they have the technology but have not plugged it in yet.

And a small but significant percentage get a terrified look on their face and just shake their head “no.” They are either afraid to take the leap into technology or just plain don’t like it.

use playlists for your kids yoga music — Use playlists for your kids yoga music.

Of course music is still available in CD format, and you can burn some pretty useful mixed CD’s. But sooner or later you’ll have to make the switch since many major record companies have announced they are not producing CD’s anymore.

Here are some reasons to go for it now which include how you can make the most of your player if you already have one:

Save Time: You’ll save time fiddling with CD’s and changing songs during your kids yoga classes. You won’t have as many gaps in your class, gaps that drive some kids to distraction.
Save Money: A whole album of Music is usually at least $10 less as a download than to buy in CD format. On top of that there are no shipping fees.
Get Only the Songs You Want: you can just download one song if you don’t want to buy the whole album. Again more savings.
Playlists: You can create a playlist especially for your class and have all your songs in order and ready to go. I also have playlists like “Childrens faves,” “Relaxation Music,” and “Childrens New” for new downloads I want to try out with my classes. Playlists make finding a song even easier. Especially in times like this.
Create Space: a few years ago I made the leap and imported all my CD’s into iTunes then gave the CD’s away (well I kept maybe 5 out of the hundreds). I have never missed them, in fact I end up listening to my old music more because of the “shuffle” function or just searching an artist or album I haven’t heard in a while. What used to take a whole shelf in my living room, now fits in my pocket! I love the space it has created.
Relate to Kids: Kids are growing up in the technology age. They don’t read manuals, they get a new piece of technology and start using it. It’s not a big decision, it’s entertainment. Like spending money on going out to dinner. Technology is always a great ice breaker with older kids, tweens, and teens.
It’s Easier than you Think: Once you get used to the dashboard of your player, using digital music is about as easy as writing an e-mail. I feel like a teenager again when it comes to music, I often get a new album every month.

Most teachers are on the cusp of the digital world. We have one foot in the old world of records, eight tracks, cassettes, and/or CD’s and we may be dipping a toe in the new world of technology.

But technology is all kids have ever known. If you’re wondering how something works, ask the kids you teach! Or do what they do – Google the answer. All the answers are there.

So there’s no need to be a technology dinosaur! Get with the times, you’ll be glad you did.

Please leave a comment to tell us how important your iPod or MP3 player is to your kids yoga classes. Are you glad you have one or are you just fine without?

Do you have other reasons or tips that may convince someone who’s sitting on the fence about buying an iPod?

Finally, check out my favourite songs and albums on my Recommended Resources page.

Upcoming Events

Learn some great moves to songs for warm-ups and meditations in the Young Yoga Masters Kids Yoga Teacher Training. Upcoming dates here. Next training June 2 – 3. Save with early registration.