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

Snow White Yoga

{Tada drastuh svarupe vasthanam}
Patanjali’s Sutra Chapter 1, verse 3
Then the SEER abides in it own NATURE
Surely, it’s meant to BE~

To ABIDE in our own SPLENDOR~
The mind must get real quiet;
it needs to uncover the truth
and go on a Cloud free Diet.

No need to grasp for light
For it is already here and there.
Let’s thin out the distorted clouds
Of ignorance and despair.

Let’s work with the muddled mind,
Accept that clouds are blocking,
Train to be more observant
Of thoughts that keep on talking.

Just like the sun up above
Our LIGHT never dims to slur.
It does get covered up.
And distortion may occur.

Dwarfs mine for diamonds
In the classic tale SNOW WHITE.
We mine for JOY
It’s our undivided RIGHT.

SNOW WHITE sings joyfully,
As she tidies up the cottage.
Birds and animals dance along
And MiIRROR her BLISSFUL wattage.

SNOW WHITE glistens KINDNESS,
and undisturbed PURENESS,
That exists at the core of her being
Her true SELF, that’s for sureness.

In yoga, we use our practice
To support the removal of clouds~
To ground into our inner brilliance
And shine out free from the shrouds.

“Just whistle while you work
And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place
So hum a merry tune
It won’t take long when there’s a song to help you set the pace “

Keep your ankles in line with your knees
And your knees in line with your hips.
Clasp your elbows behind your back
And rise up high on your toe-tips.

Bend steady your knees.
Stay high up on tiptoes.
Whistle or hum a tune
While you work to hold this pose!

“And as you sweep the room
Imagine that the broom is someone that you love
And soon you’ll find you’re dancing to the tune

When hearts are high the time will fly
So whistle while you work”

Clean the sand trap of cluttered thoughts
With camel pose in a chair.
Sit on the edge of your seat
Place your hands behind you with care.

Lift the sides of your heart up
And the back of your heart high.
Pull your head of the arm bones back.
Soften both sides of your throat and sigh.

Sigh your throat back,
And LIFT YOUR HEART HIGH.
WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK
And allow time to fly.

Place hands on your lap
Lift your head back over your heart
Ground your thighs and feet,
And Feel the clouds depart.

May we whistle while we work.
May we notice our inner states.
May our inner states be bright.
And lighten our outer updates.

May the sound that whistles tunes
from within our deep heart’s abyss
Ring loud and ring clear~
OUR OWN TRUE NATURE IS BLISS!

Research & Anecdotes
Rainbow Yoga Poses
Read More Rainbow Yoga Poses
Research & Anecdotes
OM is a Magic Word
We chant OM in order to ground our energy in the present moment. When teaching kids who are brand new to yoga, I am determined to invite them into the wondrous world of all that is yoga without pushing them into a place of spooky sounds, weird ways and stuff completely unrelated to anything they’ve ever known. This mantra is a mode of transportation from where we were in our individual lives moments ago to where we are now – together in yoga
Read More OM is a Magic Word
Research & Anecdotes
Snow White and the Seven Chakras
(Inspired by Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra Chapter II, v. 42
samtosad anuttamah sukhalabhah)
From contentment,
Highest happiness is obtained
Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs
Are invited to explain….
Consider us each a chakra
An energy gate of sorts
That we open, clean and balance
For optimal support.
Work on passing through
The seven chakras {or gates}
In order to visit the underworld
And ascend to blissful states.
Let’s begin in MOUNTAIN with SLEEPY,
Awaken abundant roots.
Stand with both feet straight
Ground heavy in your boots.
Each time you inhale,
Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HERE.
Each time you exhale,
Root your feet a little deeper.
Reach up high with outstretched hands
FORWARD FOLD and touch the ground.
Prepare to balance GRUMPY
Who needs some healthy bounds.
Whenever you breathe in,
Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL.
Each time you breathe out,
Circle your hips like a water wheel.
Step your right foot back
Into a STRAIGHT LEG LUNGE
Here we balance DOPEY
Soak up power, like a sponge.
Each time you take breath in,
Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACT.
Each time you release breath out,
Stretch your belly with great tact.
Step your left foot back
Press hips up into DOWNWARD DOG
Open up to HAPPY
Melt your heart free from smog.
Receive your in breath and
Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO LOVE.
Give your breath out
Feel Unworthiness? Get RID of!
Shift forward into PLANK
So BASHFUL can get clear.
Soften your throat back
And open up your ears.
Each time you breathe in
Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK WORDS.
Each time you breathe out
Say, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD.
Lower knees, chest and chin
GRATITUDE for SNEEZY’s insight and vision.
Draw back of eyes toward back of head
To focus on decisions.
Each breath in
Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEE.
Each breath out
Cross your eyes to a degree.
Stretch your crown forward and up
To balance DOC in SNAKE
Straighten legs behind you,
Connect to what’s awake.
Each time you breathe in
Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW
Each time you breathe out
Stretch from head to toe.
Lower back down
Prepare to pose in reverse
Remember your rights
Remember to immerse.
SNAKE back to GRATITUDE
Breathe into your poses
Up PLANK to DOWN DOG
Your rights are like roses.
STRAIGHT LEG LUNGE to FORWARD FOLD
And back up to MOUNTAIN
Keep moving and grooving
Till your rights flow like fountains.
When we know our rights,
And pass through chakra gates~
We develop a sense of contentment
And more deeply relate.
Happiness is indeed obtainable.
When we follow the path of contentment
Accept the ups and the downs
of our very own presentment.
May we be content with GRUMPY work
Or no work at all~
DOPEY or HAPPY states
BASHFUL or baseball.
May we be content when SLEEPY
Or wide awake~
SNEEZY or Doc
It’s our right~For Goodness Sake!
Read More Snow White and the Seven Chakras
Research & Anecdotes
Grounded Mantra
Read More Grounded Mantra
Research & Anecdotes
Energy Love with Energy Circuit
Energy Love Energy is all around us, all the time. Imagine if you can access that energy to shift you when you need it the most with just one simple pose. Energy Circuit! That’s the way will go. To move from here and fro. With the feeling we like. That just feels right and shine…
Read More Energy Love with Energy Circuit
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

{Tada drastuh svarupe vasthanam} Patanjali’s Sutra Chapter 1, verse 3 Then the SEER abides in it own NATURE Surely, it’s meant to BE~

To ABIDE in our own SPLENDOR~ The mind must get real quiet; it needs to uncover the truth and go on a Cloud free Diet.

No need to grasp for light For it is already here and there. Let’s thin out the distorted clouds Of ignorance and despair.

Let’s work with the muddled mind, Accept that clouds are blocking, Train to be more observant Of thoughts that keep on talking.

Just like the sun up above Our LIGHT never dims to slur. It does get covered up. And distortion may occur.

Dwarfs mine for diamonds In the classic tale SNOW WHITE. We mine for JOY It’s our undivided RIGHT.

SNOW WHITE sings joyfully, As she tidies up the cottage. Birds and animals dance along And MiIRROR her BLISSFUL wattage.

SNOW WHITE glistens KINDNESS, and undisturbed PURENESS, That exists at the core of her being Her true SELF, that’s for sureness.

In yoga, we use our practice To support the removal of clouds~ To ground into our inner brilliance And shine out free from the shrouds.

“Just whistle while you work And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place So hum a merry tune It won’t take long when there’s a song to help you set the pace “

Sigh your throat back, And LIFT YOUR HEART HIGH. WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK And allow time to fly.

Place hands on your lap Lift your head back over your heart Ground your thighs and feet, And Feel the clouds depart.

May we whistle while we work. May we notice our inner states. May our inner states be bright. And lighten our outer updates.

May the sound that whistles tunes from within our deep heart’s abyss Ring loud and ring clear~ OUR OWN TRUE NATURE IS BLISS!

More to Explore

(Inspired by Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra Chapter II, v. 42samtosad anuttamah sukhalabhah)