Being a children’s yoga instructor is truly, a joyful experience. Kids bring a unique energy to the class and their enthusiasm and curiosity often becomes contagious. Unlike adults, children are often more open and willing to try new things without self-judgment. I remember when I first started teaching children’s yoga. The children’s energy when they entered the room was full of confidence and fearlessness. They’d shout at me, “Miss Shannon, watch my handstand,” as they’d hurl themselves upside down. I always wonder what adult practices would look like if we all approached our yoga practice the same way!?
One of my most favorite aspects of teaching kids yoga is the funny things they say. Their imaginative interpretations of poses can leave everyone in stitches. Often times, they imitate the pose we are in. They pretend to be a tree, cat, cow, or puppy. They make funny noises or blurt out fun facts. I absolutely love when they come up with silly names for their favorite poses. Years ago, while practicing Eagle pose with a bunch of elementary school students, one of my students was curious about the name and asked me why it was called that. Then they declared, “This doesn’t make any sense. From now on it’s Twizzler pose. Look at us, we are twisted like Twizzers.” I agreed with his revelation- THAT made sense to me too! Now every time I teach Eagle, it’s now Twizzler and I credit Declan for the inspo.
My niece had me cracking up last week in class during my Kindness class. We were talking about the kind words we say to ourselves through out the day. She eagerly raised her hand. When it was her time to share, she told everyone how she says, “I LOVE MY BODY” to herself throughout the day. She then told me she also LOVES my body too! I started laughing and asked her why. She jumped up and told me because my body teaches her body to stretch. How cute is that?!
These moments create a fun and lighthearted atmosphere, making yoga a playful adventure. There is unlimited potential in children’s yoga classes and there are ALWAYS so many lessons to be learned. I am constantly learning and growing with my students and I never thought it was would be this rewarding!
The most rewarding part of being a children’s yoga instructor is witnessing their growth over time. As they practice regularly, you can see their confidence blossom. They learn to focus, breathe deeply, and find calmness within themselves. Observing how their practice evolves, from struggling with a pose to mastering it, is incredibly fulfilling. My first group of toddlers are now in second grade and my elementary aged students are in middle and high school. My first group of teens are in college – some of them are in their 20s! All of their practices have evolved over time and I consider myself so fortunate that I am able to teach this lifelong skill to people of all ages.
Being a children’s yoga instructor allows me to inspire and nurture young minds while sharing the joy of yoga. It’s a beautiful journey filled with laughter, growth, and heartwarming moments.
Are you interested in teaching children’s yoga? Come GROW with GROW WITH OM yoga! I am looking to grow my NJ based team of children’s yoga instructors! Please connect with me and I will be in touch with more information.