By Aga Cummins
Little humans need to be active! They have lots of energy, they are exploring their limits, and they are learning new ways to move. Yoga can be a fun way to get toddlers to be active in different ways and explore the range of movement their growing bodies have.
Toddler yoga doesn’t look like adult yoga. With kids, the focus is on creativity and movement, not just holding specific poses for a long period of time. The baseline is for the toddlers to copy a pose, then move and make sounds within the pose accompanied by songs and nursery rhymes.
Yoga is super beneficial for small people because they get to turn, twist, stretch, and strengthen their muscles in new ways. It helps them with proprioceptive awareness, balance, coordination, focus, building neurons, increasing lung capacity, and so much more!
The rhymes and songs are an essential part of toddler yoga classes. When children learn to play music, they develop important motor skills. When they sing songs, they learn to focus, listen carefully and repeat what they’ve heard. Just like reading to a child, singing songs with them helps to boost their vocabulary and language skills. The act of singing songs helps children pick up on different sounds within words. And this newfound skill helps young children sound out written words when they’re learning how to read. The early years of a child’s life (birth to five years) are critical, because this is the time when so many new pathways in the brain are being formed. And the human brain is the most flexible early in life, with its capacity for change decreasing with age.
Singing also impacts breathing both for toddlers and their families. In adult yoga mantra chanting and kirtan is positively impacting the parasympathomimetic nervous system. This promotes rest and digest mode. Mantras can be adapted to the needs and abilities of toddlers. So they can benefit from mini sound therapy. The host may have simple tools to promote it, like Tibetan singing bowls, koshi chimes etc.
Props like yoga blocks, bricks, sports spots, juggling scarves enhance the fun packed experience of toddler yoga. The creative host will have attendees engaged with props and also enable toddlers and their families to be creative.
The classes should also be a way to have the adults engaged to a certain degree. Especially when the age of a toddler is nearing a preschooler’s age. This can teach families another way of bonding, getting regular exercise and setting up a good example of regular practice done in a fun and proper way. Elements of family yoga can be incorporated, ie: asanas for two, flow for two, group pranayama and singing sínging/mantra chanting.
Adults also may use the classes as a way of networking with like-minded peers. Parenting groups are still not fully back in operation in the Republic of Ireland post pandemic. There’s a huge demand for a safe environment that families of young children can meet and exchange tips and ideas.
The classes should have a structure. As in opening, practice and wind down. This assists all attendees, both small and not so small, to enjoy yoga, Toddlers love repetition, routines as this helps them to have a sense of achievement and security. It also allows parents and caregivers to memorize practice and encourage them to continue in their home environment.
No matter what, the host doing yoga with the toddlers should be positive, engaging them with lots of specific praise. Also talking about the benefits that they feel when doing yoga in a simplified language. This also should be understandable to the attending parents/caregivers.
Toddler should also learn about consent. There should never be any pressure for them to participate in the yoga practice. If they aren’t interested yet, this should be respected. They may join in when they are ready. This may not happen at their first class. Parents and caregivers must be made aware of this fact. Toddler led approach is the baseline of a successful fun packed activities for this wonderful age group.
examples of asanas that can be used in class environment and the benefits:
- MOUNTAIN POSE
Why? This pose is particularly simple as it only involves standing up straight, with your arms either at your sides or overhead. Sometimes I have the toddlers raise their arms above their heads and clap. They love anything to do with clapping, as it makes them feel like they’re doing something worth celebrating!
The benefits – Mountain pose helps with posture. It also helps strengthen the legs, lower back, thighs, knees, and ankles.
- TREE POSE
Why? This pose is exciting for toddlers as they are now finally mastering walking and running, and anything new that they can learn to do with their legs makes them feel like a big boy/big girl. We start out by holding our toddler’s hand and encouraging them to lift one leg up and touch their other leg with it. Eventually, once they gain their balance, they can lift the foot up without holding your hand.
Benefits – The benefits of tree pose are that it helps to stretch the thighs, torso and shoulders. It also helps to strengthen the ankles, calves and abdominal muscles.
- DOWNWARD FACING DOG.
Why? This one is fun for toddlers and easy to do. Toddlers are constantly observing everything around them, and having their hands on the floor, heads upside down, and looking through their legs can help them see their surroundings from yet another different perspective. We try to encourage legs hip-width apart, but we allow toddlers to explore and learn on their own terms as well.
Benefits – The benefits of downward facing dog include strengthening the hands, wrists, hamstrings, and calves. It also helps decrease back pain as it strengthens the entire back and shoulder girdle.
- LEGS UP THE WALL.
Why? This pose is fun because most toddlers know they aren’t allowed to touch walls with their feet. When they are asked to come close to the wall, sit down, and walk their feet up the wall; you can see the wonder in their eyes. You can also encourage toddlers to stretch their legs wide on the wall
Benefits – Legs up the wall has many benefits. It is more of a restorative pose, so it allows the mind and body to relax. It also helps to increase circulation, relieve lower back pain and helps to soothe feet and legs. Toddlers are busy little people, so adding a pose like this to a practice is even more important.
- HAPPY BABY POSE.
Why? Happy baby pose is one of the simplest poses to teach young. Most babies spend a lot of time on their backs, exploring their feet. It’s almost like second nature to ask your toddler to lie on their back and hold their feet.
Benefits – Happy baby pose helps strengthen the outer hips, chest and shoulders, it also helps to lengthen the spine and relieve lower back pain.