What is cat yoga for kids?

Cat yoga for kids is a playful mindfulness-based movement class where children explore yoga poses inspired by animals, especially cats, while building body awareness, balance, strength, and focus through imaginative play and storytelling.

How does animal yoga help children learn mindfulness?

Animal yoga helps children practice mindfulness by linking movement with imagination. When children embody animals like cats, dogs, lions, and butterflies, they stay present, notice sensations in their bodies, and develop focus and emotional regulation through play.

Why is hands and feet alignment important in kids yoga?

Hands and feet alignment builds the foundation for safe and effective movement in kids yoga. Spreading fingers, pressing through palms, and grounding through all four corners of the feet improves balance, coordination, posture, and body control.

What does 'clawing the mat' mean in kids yoga?

Clawing the mat means gently spreading the fingers wide and pressing evenly through the palms and fingertips to activate the hands. This builds stability and strength in poses like Downward Dog, Plank, and Cat Pose.

What is proprioception in kids yoga?

Proprioception is the body's ability to sense where it is in space. In kids yoga, grounding, balancing, and weight-bearing poses help children develop this awareness, improving coordination and confidence in movement.

Research & Anecdotes

A fifth grader practices yoga at a Men’s Night Shelter

Katie Bashor, Humanitarian, Director of Central Night Shelter (CNS), PE Teacher at Fernbank Elementary, and a Yogi told our yoga club all about the yoga program at the shelter. She told the children that the men are so much fun~they laugh and moan and sweat and laugh and LOVE partner poses. We explained that our dream is to make the yoga class a community event where everyone can practice together.

My Experience at the CNS by Isabelle

Last Sunday, I went to the CNS and took part in their Yoga night. It takes place every Sunday from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. It was started by Katie Bashor and Cheryl Crawford and is open to everyone. It is a nice way to start off your week and is a fun and challenging alternatative to sitting on your couch and watching TV. It brings homeless men and women together and also pulls in members of the community. When I simply walked into the room, I could feel an aura of serenity between people. Our place in the community didn’t matter, we were all there for one reason: to do yoga. To me that was just so great, just a couple of handfuls of people there to do yoga. I think that this is an amazing thing, I hope you share my opinion. ” Isabelle

Atlanta! Come practice yoga with this amazing, supportive, fun-loving community.The teachers are stellar.

Research & Anecdotes
Be On Top of Your Mountain
Challenge yourself to make this pose more difficult, more meaningful. Make it matter. Think of Mountain Pose as your family and the other poses as your friends, teachers, pets, and strangers. Honor your family by being steady. Stay still and aware. This will build your power. This will build your LIFE FORCE. This will…
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Research & Anecdotes
Honor Your Voice…No Whining!
I think it is safe to say that no one likes whining, but despite that fact, regardless of age we all find ourselves doing it. It creeps up on you suddenly, born out of a desire for something you don’t have, or to leave a place where you don’t want to be, or perhaps to…
Read More Honor Your Voice…No Whining!
Research & Anecdotes
Sweeping Breath- Dr. Seuss Style (Siva Sutra 1.2 jnānam bandhaḥ)
Bondage and ignorance and limitation!
Oh my!
We contract like a sneeze~
You want to know why?
These are the roots of our issues,
You see~
Unworthiness, insecurity, feeling un-free.
These deep darkened roots,
known as Anava Mala,
cloak our awareness
like pollen all upon ‘ya.
This pollen of unworthiness
Helps us forget~
How miraculous we are~
We recoil ~we regret.
We regret and we doubt.
We feel separate and small.
Our pimples and frizzes
Keep us enthralled.
How, do we, how do we
How DO we re-remember?
Our goodness, our freedom
From here to September?
Good question, my dear!
So at your request~
I’ll teach you the tools
To elevate your quest!
Your breath is the broom
that sweeps away pollen,
Shines light on the ignorance
Which is hidden and smallen.
Sit tall, close your eyes,
Tune into your spine.
Inhale your breath
Down the left side line
Sweep your breath out~
On the same side,
From bottom to top~
Deep inside.
Sweep your breath in,
Down the right side this time.
Get real close and real low~
To release dust and grime.
Sweep your breath out~
From bottom to top.
Keep sweeping your spine~
No reason to stop!
No reason to stop~
Till you feel lighter and free!
Relieved of unworthy
Pollen and debris.
The pollen of ignorance~
And debris of limitation~
Can be swept to the surface
For expansive illumination.
Each time we remember,
We grow and expand~
We become more real!
And that is quite grand!.
Read More Sweeping Breath- Dr. Seuss Style (Siva Sutra 1.2 jnānam bandhaḥ)
Research & Anecdotes
A Zensational Memory Game
Yoga has become a great way for children of ALL abilities to become aware of their body, in line with their breath, and connected to the beautiful truth and peace within them. As an occupational therapist and devoted yogi, Allison Morgan of Zensational Kids (see www.zensationalkids.com) offers up a joyful and mindful way to facilatate learning yoga with pose chips.
Read More A Zensational Memory Game
Research & Anecdotes
Go Ahead – Push My Buttons
push (one’s) buttons verb • Make one react, or react unfavorably; to aggravate; to show off another’s character faults; to taunt. She knows how to push all his buttons. Unfortunately, most “button pushers” get a bad rap. They’re considered rude and inconsiderate. They are the difficult people in life. Teachers send them to the principals…
Read More Go Ahead – Push My Buttons
Research & Anecdotes
Grounded Mantra
Read More Grounded Mantra

My Experience at the CNS by Isabelle

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