How do I start teaching yoga to kids with no prior experience?

You can start by grounding yourself — literally and energetically. The Grounded Kids method teaches that before you ground others, you must first learn to center your own presence. This is the first step. From there, we guide you to lead engaging, developmentally appropriate classes using our proven rhythm: tuning in, theme sharing, breathwork, movement, integration, and closing. Even if you've never taught yoga before, you’ll learn how to use clear, confident instructions, give safe pose cues, and create a welcoming environment. Begin with our foundational lesson plan templates, repetition-based sequences, and signature poses like Dark Seed Light and Washing Machine.

How do I teach yoga to preschoolers, and elementary students?

Young children thrive on rhythm, repetition, and reverence. Our Pre-Grounded methodology teaches you to model behavior and poses while engaging multiple intelligences—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. With preschoolers, use songs, clapping games, and clear spatial cues like smaller yoga mats, colored carpets or lines on the floor. Take turns for movement and speak from eye level. For the little ones, use creative themes, build familiarity through rituals, and include mini flows. For elementary students, follow a consistent class rhythm as described in our free lesson plan template. Use universal, creative themes, longer flows, yoga games, art and literature as inspiration. Whether indoors or outdoors, your structure, presence, and confidence guide their experience.

What are the most effective warm-up and cool-down activities for children?

Effective warm-ups include rhythmic mini flows, movements that warm the spine and prepare the body and mind for practice, and call-and-response sequences that engage the breath and body. Start with repetition, build into flow, and focus on fun, engaging language. Cool-downs can include partner games like The Bell Game and Ball Breath, gentle breath-based movement, and Resting Pose with guided imagery. Children thrive when transitions between energetic peaks and quiet grounding are deliberate and consistent. During training you will experience our 5 go to warm up poses and 5 go to cool down poses perfect for every class. You may get bored, but they won't!

What are common challenges when teaching yoga to kids, and how do I handle them?

Kids yoga teachers often face overstimulation, inconsistent energy, classroom layout limitations, and attention span dips. At Grounded Kids, we teach “teaching to what you see” — using observation over assumption, redirecting rather than correcting, and pausing to adjust. Use tools like chimes for reset cues, name tags for connection, and mats placed in rows for calm containment. Your tone, presence, and responsiveness will set the energetic tone far more than perfection in your lesson plan.

How can I use breathing exercises and mindfulness in my kids yoga classes?

Use child-friendly breathwork techniques like Bee Breath, Bubble Gum Breath, or Follow the Breath. Anchor them in movement and visuals, like tracing a bubble with arms. Mindfulness can be woven through transitions, rest, and even games. Start with cues like “feel your belly rise and fall” or “send your breath to your feet.” Let kids feel breath as energy and anchor. Repeat often and keep it short, vivid, and consistent.

What’s the best way to structure a kids yoga class?

A Grounded Kids Yoga class follows a consistent rhythm that helps students feel safe, focused, and successful. Start by gathering the group and introducing your theme, then guide them through a Tune In ritual like chanting OM or a bija mantra as shown in our Superheroes curriculum . From there, lead warm-ups, a sequence of theme-aligned poses, cool-downs, and a resting pose. Every class ends with a closing ritual that brings the experience full circle. We emphasize repetition, play, and heart-based instruction. Pose flows can be built around adventure, stillness, laughter, or storytelling. Include chants, games, partner work, or projects as time allows. Music choices should support the class energy, from calming to energizing. Whether you teach in a classroom, studio, or outside, this structure helps your students—and you—stay grounded.

How can I incorporate storytelling, music, and games into kids yoga?

Storytelling and music are essential parts of our method. Use books that teach heart virtues and build a yoga sequence around the story’s arc. Let children embody characters and create mini flows. We are proud to know the brilliant Kira Willey and enthusiastically recommend her music. Games like Musical Mats or Be The Bubble teach listening, regulation, and collaboration while keeping energy joyful. With repetition, stories and songs become grounding rituals that shape the emotional arc of class.

How do I adapt yoga for children with different learning styles or sensory needs?

Teach to as many intelligences as you can: kinesthetic, auditory, visual, intrapersonal, and interpersonal. Use pose cards, songs, partner work, and sensory tools like scarves and breathing balls. Grounded classes include clear spatial boundaries, visual pose displays, and predictable rituals. If a child struggles with touch or transitions, offer choices, take turns, and use cues that empower rather than correct. Our manuals include specific plans for sensory processing disorder, ADHD, Autism, and neurodivergence.

What are some beginner friendly yoga themes to use with children?

For little ones, try themes like Good Morning, Holidays, Grounded Superheroes, The Forest Adventure, or Kings and Queens of the Trees. Grounded Kids offers lesson plans that build from story to sequence, using familiar rituals, routines and repetition to support learning. These are all part of our teacher training manuals. For Elementary to High School ages, themes help anchor heart virtues and alignment actions in a way that sticks. When Universal themes are used well, they become personal. Always tie it back to what yoga teaches us. For example: Ride the Wave: Flow with Your Feelings and Commitment: What Do You Stand For? Use music, books, and pose flows that reflect your theme and adjust based on age, energy, and classroom needs.

How do I keep kids focused and engaged during a yoga session?

Grounded Kids Yoga teaches you to tune into student energy and lead from presence. Use name plates, music cues, visual aids, and call-and-response patterns to maintain rhythm. Alternate between movement and stillness, and always make eye contact when giving directions. Elemental Conduct helps you respond to each child’s unique constitution—Fire children crave precision, Water children need comfort, Air children want movement, and so on. Balance structure with creativity, and redirect energy instead of fighting it.

How do I become a certified kids yoga teacher?

You can become a certified kids yoga teacher by completing a comprehensive training program like the one offered by Grounded Kids Yoga . Our certification includes instructional hours, practice teaching, alignment techniques, and a full curriculum kit. You can train online or in person, and start teaching right away upon completion.

What certification do I need to teach yoga to children?

To teach yoga to children, it's recommended — and in many schools, required — to complete a specialized kids yoga teacher training. Grounded Kids Yoga offers a certification that prepares you to teach in schools, studios, therapy settings, and enrichment programs. Our program is trauma-informed, SEL-aligned, and developmentally appropriate for kids of all ages.

Is your training approved for CEUs or continuing education credits?

Yes. We are one of the first Schools of Children's Yoga registered by Yoga Alliance . Our kids yoga certification training is approved for the 95 hr RCYT designation. It also counts toward CEUs and PLUs depending on your licensing board. We partner with Courses4Teachers for graduate-level credit.

What materials or tools are included with your certification training?

Your certification includes lifetime access to video lessons, printable teaching materials, and four teaching manuals. You’ll also receive a comprehensive set of physical tools including Standard Pose Cards , Mini Pose Cards , Focus in Time Kit , chakra pose posters, chakra color posters, the 5 Elements Curriculum , 5 Elements Flows posters , Grounded in Color Curriculum , and Superheroes Manual .

Will I be qualified to teach in schools, studios, or after-school programs after certification?

Yes. Our graduates teach in schools, studios, therapy centers, and after-school programs. They use tools from their training materials bundle. For schools, the Focus in Time Kit is popular. Yoga Club students love the Grounded in Color Collection and 5 Elements Collection . The Studio Essentials Bundle and Studios Downloadable Kit are ideal for any age kids classes.

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Girl Scouts Yoga Lesson Plan Bundle – Approved for All Levels
$18.00
Approved by Girl Scouts USA, this lesson plan toolkit includes all 84 Grounded Kids Yoga poses with illustrations, teaching tips, and badge-level alignment.

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Focus in Time Downloadable Kit – 5 Quick Yoga Sequences with Videos for Classroom Regulation
$18.00
This classroom-friendly yoga download includes 5 short movement sequences designed to improve attention, self-regulation, and classroom readiness. Each printable set includes poses, transitions, and videoes of each sequence being taught in the classroom.

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Kids Yoga Games Book – 15 SEL-Based Movement Activities for Focus and Fun
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Download 15 engaging yoga-inspired games for classroom teachers, parents, and therapists. Build SEL, focus, and peer connection through movement-based group play.

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SEL activities

Girl Scouts Yoga Lesson Plan Bundle – Approved for All Levels

Focus in Time Downloadable Kit – 5 Quick Yoga Sequences with Videos for Classroom Regulation

Kids Yoga Games Book – 15 SEL-Based Movement Activities for Focus and Fun

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