It’s Fall which means many of my classes become focused on pumpkin yoga, leaves & apples! Pumpkin yoga for kids is especially fun during this season.
Some of my favorite things to do during this season are roll around like pumpkins, visit the yoga pumpkin patch, balance pumpkins and bake a pumpkin pie! Enthusiastic kids love these pumpkin yoga activities.
Pumpkin props!
I scooped up plush pumpkins up at the dollar spot in Target the first year I was teaching (similar to these currently on Amazon). They have held up over the years (this is my sixth season with them!) but some of the stems are getting loose from constant tugging. My students love how small they are and how soft.
Pumpkin Pose
Happy baby pose is called Pumpkin pose during October and November. I cue the students to lay on their back, pull their knees into their chest and have their feet up towards the ceiling. We then grab the outside of their feet while they pull their knees to the ground/closer to their armpits and rock and roll like pumpkins! Pumpkin yoga for kids needs to include these fun variations.
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Our pumpkin patch is all of the mini pumpkins lined up in the middle of the room. Our first activity is we count all of them to make sure there’s enough for each student. Then everyone takes turns visiting the pumpkin patch. We visit the patch by choosing (1) balancing a large pumpkin on our belly and crawling towards the patch or (2) balancing the large pumpkin on our belly and spider walking to the patch. Once we arrive at the patch, we pick a pumpkin and walk back to our mat in downward facing dog.
Once we have all selected a pumpkin from the patch, we bring it to our mat. Then, we start practicing the poses! We balance our pumpkin on our bellies in table top. Next, we move the pumpkin to our sacrum and try cat/cow. Then we move it to our feet during legs up the wall. We try to balance it on our heads in tree and on our knees in bridge (with legs together). I also love giving my students a chance to come up with a new pose and try and balance the pumpkin wherever they would like! Pumpkin yoga for kids can be incredibly creative and engaging.
Our cool down begins with a seated wide-legged forward fold. I start by asking the students what we would put in our pumpkin pie. After a child shares an ingredient, we reach towards one leg as we inhale and exhale. Each time a new ingredient is listed, we switch legs. I make sure to visit each leg twice and the center of our legs, too.
We wrap up class with a few more rolls in pumpkin pose and a Namaste. My students have loved these activities over the past few years and I’d love to hear from you! Do you play with pumpkins in November or over the Fall? What games do you incorporate into your pumpkin yoga for kids classes??
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