March yoga class themes for kids!

For me, “March Madness” used to always be associated with basketball. Now that my youngest is an Irish Dancer, they use the term, “March Madness” to describe their busy season. During the month of March there are parades, Irish dance competitions and St. Patrick’s day performances. I was talking to a friend last week and used the phrase March madness to describe my March teaching schedule. It got me thinking. March is just madness, no matter what you are doing with your life. Below are some yoga themes and ideas I typically teach during the month of March. I love incorporating rainbows (think Spring!), basketball and talking about what it means to be a lion and a lamb.

Our Rainbow Bodies

This month, I am focusing on the chakras and calling it “Our Rainbow Bodies.” There are several ways I teach this and my favorite way is a game. I put different colored paper down in the middle of the room in order of the chakras (below). I pick a student and they get a chance to throw a beanbag on whatever color they choose! The color it lands on is the chakra we discuss. We then move on to doing poses/several poses for that chakra before giving someone else a turn.

March comes in like a LION and out like a LAMB

Another theme I like to include in my yoga classes during March is “March comes in like a LION and out like a LAMB.” Children love to practice LION pose and I know it gets a lot of energy out at the beginning of class. My students start sitting on their shins with their bottoms on their feet and we make our hands look like claws. We take a big breath in through our nose and on our exhale we bring our clays up and ROAR as loud as we can. Our mouse pose is always child’s pose. This class is the perfect opportunity to incorporate a number of animal yoga poses and have the children practice being LOUD and quiet.

Basketball yoga

Years ago, I used a basketball as a prop for a “March madness yoga” class to connect with elementary school kids. We used the ball similar to the way we would use a yoga block in an adult class. In high lunge, we’d push both our palms into the ball when we reached overhead. Next, we’d move on to our abs and lunge twist and we’d pull the ball into our chest and hold it tight. The possibilities are endless with a basketball as prop!

Rainbow Props

My favorite rainbow props to use this month are:

• Champion Sports Poly Dots – this is what I put down for the Chakra game above in order of the Chakras in our bodies
• Rainbow Slinkies – I love using slinkies to practice breathing. We inhale when we pull the slinky apart and exhale as we bring it together. Note the specs when you are ordering them. My older students prefer the three inch slinkies, I think my preschoolers would be fine with the smaller version.
• Pillow Ball – the one I have isn’t made anymore, but I came across these. balls. I know my preschoolers would love to toss this around. They love soft balls and this one has a lot of texture so it would be a hit!! This can be used in the chakra game as well as a substitute for a basketball for younger students.
• Scarves – the class ideas and games with scarves are endless! This prop allows for a lot of sensory play and dancing and helps younger students work on hand -> eye coordination. My scarves have held up over time and wash well.

Let’s connect

I’ve found these themes & props help me connect with my students and engage less than eager children. The benefits of teaching yoga to children is endless and more information can be found here.

Have you used any of these themes or props in your classes? What themes/props do you use to in March? Is your March teaching schedule madness, too?

 

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