Gently relax lying on a yoga mat, blanket or even the carpet, stretch out on your back as if you were a Starfish. Close your eyes, let your body go limp as a starfish laying on the beach.

Imagine you are lying on the beach. The warm sand feels so comfortable on your back. Feel the sun warming up your whole body.

As you breathe in, listen! It sounds like the waves coming up to the shore. As you breathe out, imagine the waves going back out to sea. Keep breathing with the waves for another moment or two.

Enjoy the relaxed feeling in your own body that is lying so limply and undisturbed. Feel whole and comfortable in your resting body.

A Quick Word on Teaching Yoga to Children

 

Yoga practice is a way of life. Do not get attached or expect you kid to have the same relationship with yoga as you do. Start simply, and build gradually. Each child begins at their current level of fitness, ability and curiosity which can be remarkably different from one year to the next. By making yoga "fun" ... each child progresses at their own  pace. Select exercises that are gentle and tell children to make any adaptations they need to to avoid pain or discomfort.

It's real important practicing yoga at this age to keep the instruction short and playful. How many five year old know there left from right foot? For preschoolers, no more that ten to fifteen minutes is a good start.  Add more time as they get used to it and develop their ability to stay focused. For elementary-age children ... twenty minutes of yoga is plenty of time including a few minutes of deep relaxation.

And when the postures are done and deep relaxation is called for ... as adults we can too often get frustrated with children that get antsy or fidget after only two or three minutes of a resting pose. Forgetting that children anticipate every moment ... ready to get on with the next adventure and excited on what is yet to come. Sure it's great to stay in the moment, but I think one of the things we learn from children is a great law of physics ... objects in motion tend to stay in motion. Motion, movement and energy ... the youth in us all.

A Word of Caution on Advanced Postures for Children

 

Guidelines when teaching children yoga: As children progress in their study of yoga they will naturally explore more difficult postures that their parents or older children attempt. Rather that a strict "no" or a chastisement that often saps the spontaneity and fun right out of any endeavor - stay close - providing a "safety net" of sorts - ready to assist, protect or catch them as they learn to develop balance. Remember, falling out of poses is a great sign of enthusiasm just not so hard as to hurt yourself or others practicing nearby.