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

Fear On The Run

On the eleventh of October,
when the leaves began to whirl,
The Fear planned an escape
from a Grounded Girl.

Her thighs were so rooted.
Earth connection quite solid
The Fear considered
her chakra too squalid.

The Fear said to its lover,
(The Doubt in her gut)
“This girl knows her rights
and kicks regrets in the butt!”

“Oh please”, said the Doubt
not convinced the least bit
“What next, will you tell me
She trusts quite a bit?”

“Why yes,” said the Fear,“She most certainly does.
She’s accepting and centered and
breathes away Fuzz.”

“It’s the Passions, the Loves
who fill her with Light!
No large tensions
or bloated Blames in sight!”

“Is she aware of her legs?
Is she steady and grounded?
Is her openness to Grace
alive and unbounded?”

“Yes, that’s the problem
I’m shrinking and skinny
and craving abrasive loud energy,
you ninny!”

“I crave thoughts of tension,
sudden threats of survival,
I’d even take worry of
times of arrival.”

“I’m making a run for it,
I might even get caught,
put behind bars
with the Shames and Distraughts”

“I need to find shelter
at the base of a spine,
a new first chakra:
a bit misaligned.”

“I’m willing to stay small
cute, cuddly, and silly.
just notice me, love me,
accept me, you nilly.”

Research & Anecdotes
Yoga Lesson: Mountain Pose
Mountain Pose
Tadasana (tah-DAHS-anna)
I rise from the earth.
- Stand tall.
- Feet parallel.
- Chest lifted.
I am strong and stable.
- Flex your toes.
- Engage your legs.
I am tall and wide.
- Press your palms together at your chest.
I am a majestic mountain.
Read More Yoga Lesson: Mountain Pose
Research & Anecdotes
Shame
Read More Shame
Research & Anecdotes
Oh, Say Can You See, the Sacred and the Silly…
Part of my practice is to create sacred spaces where I honor my guides, my teachers, a theme, what I am manifesting, what I am inspired by, and what I am teaching. This ritual helps me remember my intention, connect to the deeper teachings which I take quite seriously, and to myself {which I…
Read More Oh, Say Can You See, the Sacred and the Silly…
Research & Anecdotes
Grounded Yoga at Refuge Coffee ~ Clarkston, GA
Hi, I’m Lillarose Hardin… You may remember me from my last post here. April 28 was my 11th birthday. I asked my mom if I could celebrate at Refuge Coffee in Clarkston, GA by teaching yoga and running their fun run race. When my mom asked the owner, Kitti Murray if I could…
Read More Grounded Yoga at Refuge Coffee ~ Clarkston, GA
Research & Anecdotes
When Resting Pose Becomes Real: Safety, Breath, and Deep Rest for Kids
During a class at a metro Atlanta shelter, we opened hearts, softened with “heart-melting” poses, and repeated “Inhale I AM, exhale OK.” Sixteen children settled into Resting Pose and fell sound asleep. Here’s what that moment taught me about safety, breath, and the healing power of Savasana for kids.
Read More When Resting Pose Becomes Real: Safety, Breath, and Deep Rest for Kids
Research & Anecdotes
The Royal Mind
Hmmm, Our Monkey Mind
Our Mind Monkey~
Is restless, and random,
Rebellious, and junky?
Silly, and scattered
Like a toddler in its movement~
Won’t settle down,
And needs vast improvement?
The mind is a problem,
That we need to control.
It’s random, and restless
And a bit of a troll?
That’s nonsense, we say!
And quite derogatory!
The nature of the mind
Is going for glory!
The mind is evolutionary,
progressive, dynamic.
Always seeking and moving
toward that which is magic.
So, think NOT monkey mind
More like, mind is royalty~
A King to Serve
With Love and Loyalty.
But, how can we Serve,
The Great Intelligence of our minds?
By meditation and mantras
And movement refined.
By exceptional quality
Of the company we keep,
What we see, what we hear,
How well we do sleep.
By lavish feasts of sutras,
Of songs, and of silence,
Of settling, and stillness
And speech for your Highness.
Much of your activity
Will settle in bliss~
Yet portions of Royal Mind
Will continue to hiss.
And that, my dear friend~
Is the Great Intelligence~
It wants more and more
Of higher elegance.
The Discipline of yoga,
Now, you see,
Is in permitting and inviting
This process~ to BE.
Read More The Royal Mind

On the eleventh of October,when the leaves began to whirl,The Fear planned an escapefrom a Grounded Girl.

Her thighs were so rooted.Earth connection quite solidThe Fear consideredher chakra too squalid.

The Fear said to its lover,(The Doubt in her gut)“This girl knows her rightsand kicks regrets in the butt!”

“Oh please”, said the Doubtnot convinced the least bit“What next, will you tell meShe trusts quite a bit?”

“It’s the Passions, the Loveswho fill her with Light! No large tensionsor bloated Blames in sight!”

“Is she aware of her legs?Is she steady and grounded?Is her openness to Gracealive and unbounded?”

“Yes, that’s the problemI’m shrinking and skinnyand craving abrasive loud energy,you ninny!”

“I crave thoughts of tension,sudden threats of survival,I’d even take worry oftimes of arrival.”

“I’m making a run for it,I might even get caught,put behind barswith the Shames and Distraughts”

“I need to find shelterat the base of a spine,a new first chakra:a bit misaligned.”

“I’m willing to stay small cute, cuddly, and silly.just notice me, love me,accept me, you nilly.”

More to Explore

Mountain Pose

Tadasana (tah-DAHS-anna)

I rise from the earth.

Stand tall.

Feet parallel.

Chest lifted.

I am strong and stable.

Flex your toes.

Engage your legs.

I am tall and wide.

Press your palms together at your chest.

I am a majestic mountain.