Sara J. Weis's Blog: Go Go Yoga Kids: Empower Kids for Life Through Yoga

Jenga! Jenga! How to Play Yoga Jenga

One of my favorite things to do is to develop creative new yoga games out of classic favorites. Kids love this as it gives them the opportunity to play a game that they are already familiar with and can learn and practice yoga poses, while working together, and having lots of fun.

The bestselling book Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Using Yoga with Kids includes over 50 fun and creative yoga games to play while learning about yoga and having fun!

I would love to share with you one of my favorite: Yoga Jenga.

How to play Yoga Jenga

Before playing write the names of yoga poses on Jenga Blocks in a permanent marker.Set up the Jenga Blocks as if playing a normal game. Each player takes a turn carefully drawing out one block out at a time being careful not to let the tower fallThe player will read aloud the pose and demonstrate it. Everyone then practices the yoga pose.The player places the block onto top of the tower.Continue around the circle with each child selecting a block. As per normal Jenga rules, when the blocks fall, the game is over.

Kids and adults of all ages enjoy Yoga Jega. It is a fun way to learn and practice many many poses.

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How to Play Beachball Yoga

Random Acts of Kindness Game

How  to Teach Yoga to Children

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How to Play Princess Tiptoe: Yoga Games for Kids

How to Play Princess Tiptoe: Yoga Games Online

Welcome to Yoga Games for Kids!

Games are a great way to get kids moving, build strength, practice following directions, working together, and the opportunity to practice yoga poses in fun and engaging ways.

Welcome to our summer yoga games for kids series!  You are in the right place! Download your FREE Yoga Games Guide below and get ready for fun

Get My FREE Yoga Games

Once you have your Kids Yoga Games Guide: Open Your Guide Up and find the Princess Tiptoe Game! You are ready to begin!

As we teach the game, record your notes, questions, and how you would use this game with kids.

Shhhhh…..don’t wake up the Princess in this new favorite game

Are you needing a game that young kids love to play AND it keeps them quiet?

Princess Tiptoe is a game that I regularly rotate in for my younger kids yoga classes (ages 3-6).

We play this game right before our Stillness and Savasana and it s the perfect game for winding down and bringing a calming sense and energy to the group.

Princess Tiptoe is found in our brand new book, Yoga Games & Activities for Children.

How to Play Princess Tiptoe

Number of Players: 6+

Materials: Magic Wand or something similar deemed magic

Recommended Ages: 3-6

Directions:

Select one player as “Prince Tiptoe” (or Princess Tiptoe).The other players spread over the room and go into Child’s Pose (see image below). If you are able, turn the lights turned low as tat creates a calming feeling.

The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards include 40 Yoga Poses, Starred Difficulty Level, and corresponding Mantra

Princess Tiptoe begins by putting a finger to their lips and whispering: “shh! Here comes Prince Tiptoe” as they tiptoe around the room.When the players are tapped by Prince Tiptoe they join in a line behind the Prince, tiptoeing at the same speed.When all of the players are in line, Prince Tiptoe slows the movement and turns to the player directly behind them and says, “shh.”The Player behind should quickly tiptoe back to their original spot and go back into Child’s Pose.This continues until all of the players have returned to their spots.

This is great for transitioning from a noisy, loud active group game to a quieter time for younger children. I love to use this game as a simple and effective transition into Stillness and Savasana at the end of our yoga class.

Kids Yoga Lesson Planning 101 Discover how to easily get children into Stillness and Savasana in Yoga Class here . Find more Favorite Yoga Games for Kids Here:

Plow Pass Relay

Triangle Tag

Beach Ball Yoga Game

You Might Also Enjoy: Live Family Yoga Class My Favorite Props & Resources How to Teach Yoga Games Online

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How to Play Princess Tiptoe: Yoga Games for Kids

How to Play Princess Tiptoe: Yoga Games Online

Welcome to Yoga Games for Kids!

Games are a great way to get kids moving, build strength, practice following directions, working together, and the opportunity to practice yoga poses in fun and engaging ways.

Welcome to our summer yoga games for kids series!  You are in the right place! Download your FREE Yoga Games Guide below and get ready for fun

Get My FREE Yoga Games

Once you have your Kids Yoga Games Guide: Open Your Guide Up and find the Princess Tiptoe Game! You are ready to begin!

As we teach the game, record your notes, questions, and how you would use this game with kids.

Shhhhh…..don’t wake up the Princess in this new favorite game

Are you needing a game that young kids love to play AND it keeps them quiet?

Princess Tiptoe is a game that I regularly rotate in for my younger kids yoga classes (ages 3-6).

We play this game right before our Stillness and Savasana and it s the perfect game for winding down and bringing a calming sense and energy to the group.

Princess Tiptoe is found in our brand new book, Yoga Games & Activities for Children.

How to Play Princess Tiptoe

Number of Players: 6+

Materials: Magic Wand or something similar deemed magic

Recommended Ages: 3-6

Directions:

Select one player as “Prince Tiptoe” (or Princess Tiptoe).The other players spread over the room and go into Child’s Pose (see image below). If you are able, turn the lights turned low as tat creates a calming feeling.

The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards include 40 Yoga Poses, Starred Difficulty Level, and corresponding Mantra

Princess Tiptoe begins by putting a finger to their lips and whispering: “shh! Here comes Prince Tiptoe” as they tiptoe around the room.When the players are tapped by Prince Tiptoe they join in a line behind the Prince, tiptoeing at the same speed.When all of the players are in line, Prince Tiptoe slows the movement and turns to the player directly behind them and says, “shh.”The Player behind should quickly tiptoe back to their original spot and go back into Child’s Pose.This continues until all of the players have returned to their spots.

This is great for transitioning from a noisy, loud active group game to a quieter time for younger children. I love to use this game as a simple and effective transition into Stillness and Savasana at the end of our yoga class.

Kids Yoga Lesson Planning 101 Discover how to easily get children into Stillness and Savasana in Yoga Class here . Find more Favorite Yoga Games for Kids Here:

Plow Pass Relay

Triangle Tag

Beach Ball Yoga Game

You Might Also Enjoy: Live Family Yoga Class My Favorite Props & Resources How to Teach Yoga Games Online

The post How to Play Princess Tiptoe: Yoga Games for Kids appeared first on Go Go Yoga For Kids.

5 Yoga Poses That Will Open Your Heart

Love is in the air, and now is the time to let your heart shine. Yes, flowers and candy are a lovely thought for adults this season, but it is also a good time to open your heart and show acceptance and compassion for others.

These heart-opening exercises are especially beneficial for kids and adults who spend the majority of their day slouched in desks at school and work or with their heads bent over screens and books. These exercises take only minutes and will help improve posture and release back and neck tension as well as create openness in your body and mind.

1. Cat to Cow Pose: Begin on your hands and knees. Next round your back and tuck your chin into your chest as if you are a cat. Then look up, arch your back and open your chest into Cow Pose. This is a great way to strengthen your spine and begin to feel your heart opening.

 

2. Updog Pose: Lie on your tummy. Place the palms of your hands next to your shoulders and look up. Slowly straighten your arms and open your chest. It is okay to keep arms bent as well.

3. Bridge or Wheel Pose: Kids love trying to get into Wheel Pose, but this huge heart opener is not easily accessible for all. For an easier but still effective heart opener, try Bridge Pose. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Rest your arms alongside your body, tuck your chin into your chest, and lift your back to create a bridge.

4. Camel Pose: Take this pose slowly and feel your heart open. Get on your knees, lean back slowly, and place your hands on your lower back or ankles. Tilt your head back, open your chest, and breathe.

5. Bow Pose: Lie on your tummy, bend your knees, and lift your chest. Reach your arms back toward your toes and hold onto your feet. Let your heart shine!

Show the little ones you care about and give your own body some love by trying these 5 kid-friendly heart opening yoga exercises.  These poses will help you open your own heart and mind, and by practicing them with kids you will also help them let their heart shine!

 

If you are like me, you like to use lots of visuals to help show the children what yoga poses look like. The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards are our favorites! These yoga pose cards include 40 yoga poses and different affirmations for each pose. The kids yoga deck also includes a 15 Bonus Yoga Games to play with the cards. They come in a fun drawstring burlap bag.

Find the complete Share the Love kids yoga lesson plan, in our popular Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children book.

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Kids Yoga Valentine Video

Free Heart Mandala

The Power of Partner Yoga Poses for Kids

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Best Yoga Games for Kids: Perfect for All Ages

Kids love yoga games! Yoga games are often a favorite part of the class as children naturally love to play games. Games are also another great way to get kids moving, build strength, follow directions, work together and practice yoga poses in fun and engaging ways.

I also love how games help break the ice with new groups and allow kids to get to know one another. Games also lead to laughter and provide opportunities to maybe step outside a comfort while working together to achieve a goal.

Creating, planning and preparing a variety of kids yoga games is one of my specialties. Our bestselling books; Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga with Kids , Yoga Lessons for Children and Yoga Games & Activities for Children include hundreds of yoga games to play with all ages and group sizes.

Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga with Kids

Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children

Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children

I like to have a repertoire of yoga games that can be played and used in a variety of situations such as varying group sizes, ages, indoor, outdoor yoga games. I also like to include games with partners, quiet and mindful games, games that bring the energy level up and games that bring the energy down.

These games could be used during a yoga class, a school setting, camps, during other kid-related activities, or a home with your children.

Yoga Beach Ball is a Fun Game for All Ages

Find out how to Play Yoga Beach Ball here.

I do recommend having a set of yoga pose cards to when playing the games. We love The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards and they provide a great visual for when playing yoga games.

Get kids fit, flexible and focused with our Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards

As you dive in deeper with some of our favorite kids yoga games, please feel free to adapt for varying age levels, setting, age appropriateness, and number of children. This can be done by making a few simple adjustments.

A huge tip is that you spend no longer than 10 minutes playing a yoga game. Keep the interest level and excitement high. Always end on a high note which leaves them wanting more

The goal of yoga games is to get kids excited about practicing many different yoga poses, while they gain strength, improve balance, experience teamwork and have fun!

Find your Kids Yoga Bingo Cards here. Kids Yoga Pose Bingo Cards Kids Yoga Pose Bingo GameHow to Play Yoga Pose Bingo:

To play yoga pose bingo with Go Go Yoga for Kids 

Create bingo cards with a grid of squares that contain yoga poses. You can use the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards. Put the cards and caller card in a gift bag and have a player draw a card. The player who drew the card calls out the pose to the other players. Players who have the pose on their card mark it off. The player who first gets bingo shows off their four winning poses in a sequence. 

To make the game more challenging, you can:

Include variations of each poseHave players hold the pose for a certain amount of timeAdd bonus squares for completing a sequence of poses or holding a difficult pose 

You can play yoga pose bingo at home, in a classroom, or at a yoga studio. It’s a fun way to teach kids yoga poses, practice new poses, and build community. 

Find your Kids Yoga Bingo Cards here. Yoga Pose Memory Game Each Yoga Pose Memory Game Set Includes:

Directions on How to Play
8 Diverse Yoga Poses
Multicultural & Diverse
Downloadable for immediate play
Perfect for school, home, camps, clubs, and parties.

Ages 3-Adult

Find the Yoga Pose Memory Game Here

Check Out More of Our Favorite Yoga Games for Kids:

Toega: Yoga Game for Your Toes

5 Fun Yoga Games to Play With Your Child

How to Play Yoga Jenga

The Best Summer Yoga Games for Kids

Indoor Survival Guide with Yoga Stations

Find More Kids Yoga Fun with our Go Go Yoga for Kids: Lesson Plan Bundle

Kids Yoga Lesson Plan Bundle How to Plan Your Kids Yoga Class Freebies

Why you need a Kids Yoga Lesson Plan before you even think about teaching yoga to children.

Part 1: The Welcome: How to engage your students right from the start.

Part 2: Breathing Exercises: Made Relevant and FUN for Children

Part 3: Sun Salutations Made Simple: Connect Movement with Breath

Part 4: The Importance of Active Movement: Get hearts pumping, build strength, and get wiggles out.

Part 5: Yoga Poses for Kids

Continue on to Part 7 of your Kids Yoga Lesson Planning 101: The Yoga Challenge .

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How to Teach Yoga to Children

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The post The Best Yoga Games for Kids: Perfect for All Ages appeared first on Go Go Yoga For Kids.

Time to Learn Something New!

As a classroom teacher, I appreciate how the start of a new school year is full of new beginnings and fresh starts. ⠀The opportunities to learn, grow, and try new things doesn’t apply just for kids!
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Have you been wanting to try something new? Learn something that will truly make a difference in the lives of children?!⠀
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I bet you do! Our online Kids Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher Training not only benefits children, but you as well!⠀
Discover how to truly and effectively introduce yoga and mindfulness to children through our comprehensive yoga teacher training which includes:⠀
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live classroom training videos⠀
hands on applications ⠀
kids yoga lesson plans, games guide and yoga pose cards⠀
Age group teaching guides & class management guide⠀
Access to our private group and live workshops.
⠀

Begin Making a Difference TodayLearn. Teach. Inspire Learn: How to efficiently and easily plan a kids yoga class from beginning to end Proven class management strategies so your classes flow effortlesslyTeach: Breathing exercises, yoga games, poses, mindful moments, and yoga challenges that promise to keep your students learning and engage Everything you need to know about teaching yoga to children professionally Inspire: The Secrets to Teaching Yoga to Children! (this is worth the investment of the whole course!)How the course works:

Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training

Access to The Full System94 Lesson and Resource ModulesTake The Guesswork Out Of Teaching Yoga To Children.Get Everything You Need to Start Teaching Yoga to KidsThe secrets to teaching yoga to childrenProven class management strategies so your class flows effortlesslyEasy no-fail kids yoga lesson planningExact breathing exercises for calming and relaxing childrenThe best yoga poses for growing kidsYoga games galore that they will want to play again and againBest yoga props to use with children to make class memorableEffective ways to manage and motivate your studentsHow to create mindfulness in childrenEverything you need to know to teach kids yoga professionallyLearn how to effectively teach yoga and mindfulness to children in our easy to follow step by step proven format.

Learn More or Get Started Here 

Get started now and learn at your own pace and time. You have lifetime access to the online training.

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Why You Should Teach Yoga to Children

This Changed Everything in My Kids Yoga Classes

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Get Fit, Flexible & Focused with These Summer Olympic Yoga Games for All Ages

Are you ready for the Summer Olympic Games? Get your whole family involved in the Summer Olympics by having your own Yoga Games!

Yoga Games are perfect for:Moving your bodies in good & healthy waysBuilding strength & flexibilityPracticing following directions and working togetherLearning yoga poses and practicing them in fun and engaging ways. Welcome to our Summer Yoga Games for Kids!  

 Download your Yoga Games Guide and get ready for fun

Let the Yoga Games Begin!

Be sure to follow us on YouTube where you will be the first to see all of the brand new Kids Yoga Games released!

Once you have your FREE downloadable Yoga Summer Games Guide you will be ready for the fun!

It will be so much fun learning a variety of yoga games perfect for all ages!

These Yoga Games Will:Create strength physically and mentally for kids Promote teamwork and team building skillsBuild confidenceIncrease flexibilityImprove Balance and focusEnhance creative thinkingBring joy, laughter, and reminders not to take ourselves too seriously!

Each game include videos, directions on how to enhance and differentiate for kids with varying abilities within the games, as well as game images and lesson plans.

Do not miss a single moment!

Find your Free Summer Yoga Games Guide for Kids & Families

Age Group Characteristics & Groupings for Yoga Games

The following guidelines will help you decide which yoga games and activities are most appropriate for the children you will be working with.

Early Childhood: Ages 2-5

Children at this stage thrive on repetition and routine. This knowledge is helpful not just in their play, but in all areas of their lives. Children at this age have difficulty waiting for their turn, but they learn as it is shown and modeled. 

Preschool children are just discovering all of the different ways their bodies can move around—skip, hop, gallop, shuffle, run, walk backward—making active movement games especially beneficial. Incorporating pretend and fantasy into yoga games feeds imaginations and allows for unique personalities and ideas to emerge and grow. 

Keeping games short, five to seven minutes at most, and giving simple directions will keep them present and focused. They are easily distracted but they are eager to learn and will engage well with repetitive directions, movements, and play.

School Age: Ages 5-11

As kids mature, they develop longer attention spans, stronger bodies, and more control over their movements. But they also need variation, as they grow bored with anything too repetitive.

Physically, kids this age can handle additional large motor movement and poses, so incorporating more complicated games and activities will challenge them and keep them engaged. Introducing themes helps them retain information and recall it.

This age group enjoys cooperation and teamwork. Friendships are important. Children quickly learning interpersonal skills as they move through elementary, primary, and intermediate schools. They understand the concept of taking turns and often have a developing or well-formed understanding of teamwork.

Late Childhood or Teens/Tweens: Ages 11-14

Into their early teen years, kids enjoy working with peers, competitive games, and trying new and advanced poses. While building on what they already know, this is a good time to include poses and challenges their parents or other adults may be doing in yoga. The control they have developed over their bodies makes them capable of a wide variety of movements.

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How to Play Summer Beach Ball Yoga

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Free Online Family Yoga Classes

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Celebrate Mother’s Day With These Family Friendly Yoga Poses

“Mother’s hold their children’s hands for a short while,  but their hearts, forever…” –Unknown

Celebrate Mother’s Day with these Family Fun Yoga Ideas!

Back to Back Breathing:

Back to Back Breathing is a wonderful and relaxing way to connect with your children. It also builds mindfulness. Sit tall in a comfortable position with legs crossed. Slowly rest your back gently against your partner’s back. Encourage your child to try to notice your breath. Is it shallow or deep? Fast or slow? Can they feel your back move as they breathe? This is a really sweet partner exercise for any age and feels so comforting to lean against another person like that.

Family Trees:

Stand in a circle side by side and touch palms to help balance each other. Then take one foot and place it on our leg. Bring your branches (hands) up taller. Remember to switch legs. Notice how you are all stronger when you work together!

Legs Up the Wall:

Kids and adults both love this relaxing yoga pose! Scooch up close to a wall and lie flat on your back. Slowly raise your legs straight up against the wall which makes an L shape with your body. Keeping your legs together, flex your feet. Relax your arms to the side and keep your neck in a neutral and relaxed position. Close your eyes, and take a few moments and rest in this incredible restorative pose! This can also be done as Partner Legs Up the Wall Pose.

Toega: 

Toega is the perfect yoga game to play with all different ages. What exactly is Toega? It is yoga for your feet! Kids love this simple exercise and it is good for them as well. All you need are some colored pom pom balls and bare feet! It is fun and easy to play. Find out how to play here.

 

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Happy May Day from Go Go Yoga for Kids

I have such great memories as a kid with creating May Day baskets with my sisters on the first day of May. We would fill our homemade baskets with little candies, popcorn, and flowers. We would then deliver them to our neighbors. This involved sneaking up to our neighbors’ house, placing the May Day Baskets in front of the door, ring the doorbell and run around to the side of the house to hide. We were almost always seen by our neighbors because our high pitched giggling was sure to give us away.

It was then so much fun to get back home from our deliveries and discover May Day baskets left by neighbors on our front step. It was a sure sign that the other neighborhood kids were celebrating the start of May as well.

Years later, I kept this tradition going with my own children. Although we live in a bigger city, we try to make our own little community by knowing our neighbors and surprising them with this somewhat forgotten tradition.

May is such  a beautiful month filled with new growth and life. Celebrate this month and Spring with the children that you love and care about.

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Spring Kids Yoga Sequence Lesson Plan

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Sun, Moon, and Zen: Family-Friendly Yoga to Celebrate the Solar Eclipse

Are you ready for the solar eclipse? Read on to see how you can celebrate this event as a family with some fun and aligning yoga poses.

On April 8, 2024 the moon will completely eclipse the sun. People all over the United States will be able to witness this rare event.  The alignment needs to be perfect for the moon, sun, and Earth so that the moon can completely block out the sun.

Make this event even more memorable with your family. While waiting for the eclipse, try these creative yoga poses and activities.

Rocket Breath:  Make practicing deep calming breaths fun and relevant for kids by doing Rocket Breath.  Breathe deeply in through your nose while counting up to five. When you get to five, hold your breath for a moment and then exhale out loudly through your mouth as if blasting off.

Sun: Stand in Mountain Pose with arms stretched overhead as if you are reaching for the sun.

Rocket: Go into Chair Pose with legs together, knees bent, and arms overhead to resemble a rocket getting ready to blast into space.

Star Pose: Place your feet wide apart and extend your arms overhead forming an “X” with your arms and legs. Practice a few star jumps as if you are a shooting star.

Half Moon Pose: Begin in Mountain Pose. Place your hand on the ground to the outside of your foot. Lift your other leg behind you. When you feel balanced, lift up your arm and reach for the sky.

Stargazing Savasana: After practicing these yoga poses, it is time for Stillness and Savasana. Lie down slowly as if floating in space. Feel weightless and relaxed with your eyes closed for a few moments. You deserve it.

All of these yoga poses can be found in our Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards. This makes it memorable,  fun, and easy to practice!

Get kids fit, flexible and focused with the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards

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