How does yoga support social-emotional learning (SEL) in children?

Yoga gives children a safe, embodied way to explore self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and relationship skills — the core of social-emotional learning (SEL). In Grounded Kids Yoga, we use the five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space) as a developmental framework for building SEL skills that match children’s energy states and learning styles. Our method integrates physical movement, guided breath, mantra, and reflection to strengthen both the nervous system and emotional literacy. Poses like Root Tree Rise, Warrior II With Clarity, and See It From My Side teach grounding, confidence, and perspective-taking. Mantras like “I Am What I Am” anchor identity without judgment. Partner poses and rituals like “Lean on Me” and “I’ve Got Your Back” teach co-regulation and trust. SEL in our model is not just discussed — it’s felt, expressed, and practiced with the body.

What are the core SEL skills that yoga helps develop?

Grounded Kids Yoga teaches SEL by helping kids regulate their energy, connect with their breath, and build self-awareness through movement and reflection. Our method supports the five CASEL-aligned competencies: Self-awareness: poses, body scans, and naming sensation. Self-management: rhythm-based flows and breathwork. Social awareness: partner poses and group rituals. Relationship skills: trust-building through “I’ve Got Your Back” and “Lean On Me.” Responsible decision-making: Fire Element work and heart-centered mantras. Yoga helps students embody these skills — not just talk about them — making emotional growth both physical and personal.

How can yoga help students build resilience and handle stress?

Resilience is built through repetition, recovery, and rest. In Grounded Kids Yoga, we design sequences that help students safely move through challenge and return to calm. For example, Fire Element flows like Playing With Fire and Just a Sip teach how to activate power and then settle down. We also practice mantras such as “I Am What I Am” to reinforce internal strength and worth. Guided rest, visualization, and journaling are used to help students integrate their experience. Rather than avoiding difficulty, we give kids tools to move through it — which is the foundation of emotional resilience.

How do I integrate yoga into my SEL curriculum or lesson plans?

You can integrate yoga into any SEL curriculum by pairing breath and movement with your existing learning goals. In Grounded Kids Yoga, we build our sequences around themes like courage, compassion, gratitude, or conflict resolution — then select poses, mantras, and heart actions to embody each theme. For example, a lesson on empathy might include See It From My Side, Warrior II With Clarity, and Resting Pose. A lesson on calm might use Just a Sip and Calm Down Pose followed by journaling or drawing. Use visuals, music, and repetition to reinforce the emotional goal. When yoga is structured and accessible, it strengthens your SEL objectives without requiring extra classroom time or setup.

What are simple yoga-based SEL activities I can use in the classroom?

Grounded Kids Yoga provides classroom-ready SEL tools that can be done in as little as 5 minutes. Here are a few favorites: Bubble Gum Breath + “I Am What I Am” mantra to start the day. Twist and Target to pause and reset. Warrior I Up + Just Breathe as a conflict recovery break. “I’ve Got Your Back” partner pose for relationship building. Child’s Pose + Lotus Breath before transitions. You can use individual pose cards, Focus in Time visual routines, or movement journals to help students reflect. These activities require no yoga mat and can be taught in small spaces — ideal for school settings.

How can yoga help children with anxiety or stress?

Yoga helps calm the nervous system by guiding children into physical shapes, breath patterns, and sequences that activate the parasympathetic branch — responsible for rest, digestion, and emotional regulation. Grounded Kids Yoga integrates element-based movement with breath and mantra to support this shift. For anxiety or heightened stress, we begin with movement that discharges excess energy and transitions into grounding poses like Down Dog, Go To Your Room, Child’s Pose, Calm Down Pose, and Resting Pose. These are drawn directly from our Earth Element toolkit. Breathing techniques such as Just Breathe, Bubble Gum Breath, and Breath of Joy help children settle their thoughts and feel present. Focus in Time routines provide structured visual tools to guide this process in short, repeatable sequences.

What are the best yoga poses to help kids calm down?

Grounded Kids Yoga uses poses that bring the head below the heart, encourage stillness, and integrate the tactile, vestibular, and proprioception senses. These include Child’s Pose, Down Dog, Go To Your Room, Rock and Roll, and Calm Down Pose. Calm Down Pose offers grounding through weight-bearing and proprioceptive input. When combined with steady breath, it teaches the nervous system how to settle. We always close with Resting Pose, which allows the body and brain to integrate and restore. Poses are sequenced intentionally and their effect deepens when taught with rhythm, consistency, and student-friendly breath cues.

What breathing techniques help kids who feel overwhelmed?

Breathing techniques that support the parasympathetic nervous system are essential for calming overwhelmed children. In Grounded Kids Yoga, we use Bubble Gum Breath, Just a Sip, Lotus Breath, and Left Breath Right — each with distinct regulatory benefits. Bubble Gum Breath is energizing and organizing. Lotus Breath promotes focus and whole-brain integration. Just a Sip cools and grounds. Left Breath Right balances both hemispheres of the brain. These are practiced sitting or standing and taught with visual and kinesthetic cues for accessibility.

Can yoga help with emotional outbursts or meltdowns?

Yes — yoga gives children sensory-informed, emotionally safe tools they can learn before they reach a state of overload. Grounded Kids Yoga includes poses like Twist and Target, Rock and Roll, Laughter Milkshake, and Calm Down Pose to support nervous system reset during emotional build-up or recovery. Our method does not expect a child to stop a meltdown on demand. Instead, it builds emotional literacy and state awareness by giving kids agency over their body’s responses. Routines that move from high to low intensity help kids learn how to return to regulation through movement, sound, or stillness.

What are some short yoga routines to help kids self-regulate?

Short regulation flows are at the core of our Focus in Time curriculum. These 5–10 minute mini-sequences are designed to help kids move from dysregulation into calm using rhythm, repetition, and breath. Each routine follows the Grounded arc: movement → transition → rest. A sample flow might begin with Down Dog, shift to Just a Sip for breath, and end in Resting Pose. These routines are ideal for classroom transitions, brain breaks, or behavior support plans — especially when practiced consistently using visuals or pose chips.

How do I create a kids yoga lesson plan for different age groups?

Start with our lesson plan template, which includes the full Grounded class arc: Theme, Heart Action, Yoga Philosophy, Alignment Action, Tune In, Warm Up, Sequence, Cool Down, Rest, Elevate, and Sprinklings. This arc applies across age groups — you just adjust how it’s delivered. For preschoolers and young kids, use more repetition, songs, and visual cues. Keep pose instructions short and playful, and limit sequences to 4–6 poses. For elementary students, add longer flows and integration projects. With tweens and teens, increase complexity, emotional reflection, and opportunities to co-lead. The structure stays consistent — the rhythm, pacing, and tone evolve with the child.

What are the essential parts of a well-structured children’s yoga class?

Every Grounded Kids Yoga class follows a clear rhythm that creates safety, consistency, and flow. We use a structured 11-part format that includes: Theme, Heart Action, Yoga Philosophy, Alignment Action, Tune In, Warm Up, Sequence, Cool Down, Rest, Elevate, and Sprinklings. The sequence is flexible, but the flow matters. You start by setting the energetic tone, then layer in poses, transitions, stories, breathwork, and activities that match your group and theme. For younger kids, you might emphasize repetition and ritual. For older students, you can expand into co-creation, reflection, and stillness. What makes the structure 'essential' is how it helps children feel safe enough to explore and elevate.

Where can I find printable or downloadable yoga lesson plans for kids?

Grounded Kids Yoga offers printable lesson plans and visual class templates in our trainings, products, and downloads. Our 11-part lesson plan format is used across all age groups, and you’ll find themed sequences in our Pose Cards, Superheroes Curriculum, and training manuals. Use our templates to build custom flows or pull ready-made plans like 'Inner Fire,' 'My Breath Flow,' or 'Charlie and the Chakra Factory.' These are ideal for teachers, therapists, and parents who want to guide meaningful classes using real methodology.

What are fun and effective yoga themes to use with children?

Children learn best through themes that feel familiar, fun, and meaningful. Our Grounded Kids Yoga themes combine movement, story, and emotional growth in ways kids remember and love. Examples include: Charlie and the Chakra Factory – explore energy centers through character development and chocolate-factory-style wonder; Pizza Party – layer poses and breath like ingredients to build focus, connection, and body awareness; Superhero Alignment – embody grounded strength, flexibility, and compassion through themed flows tied to the chakras; Inner Fire – ignite confidence and personal power through breath, balance, and movement; My Breath Flow – use visualization and rhythmic movement to build awareness and regulation. Each theme is mapped to alignment actions, heart virtues, and developmental goals — making them ideal for school settings, enrichment programs, or therapy-based sessions.

How do I adapt lesson plans for short time blocks like morning meetings or brain breaks?

Use short yoga sequences that follow the Grounded rhythm: Theme → Movement → Rest. Just compress the arc. These micro-flows are ideal for classroom transitions, sensory breaks, and behavior resets — especially when repeated daily. Our Focus in Time curriculum was specifically created for this. It includes 4-, 5-, 8-, 9-, and 10-minute sequences that are easy to teach with no props and no prior yoga experience required. Lessons like 'Prepare to Thrive,' 'Time & Again,' and 'Strengthen Your Spine' use clear visuals and repeated rhythm to help kids shift state quickly and sustainably. These can be used in schools, therapy sessions, or at home.

How do I create a kids yoga lesson plan for different age groups?

Start with our lesson plan template, which includes the full Grounded class arc: Theme, Heart Action, Yoga Philosophy, Alignment Action, Tune In, Warm Up, Sequence, Cool Down, Rest, Elevate, and Sprinklings. This arc applies across age groups — you just adjust how it’s delivered. For preschoolers and young kids, use more repetition, songs, and visual cues. Keep pose instructions short and playful, and limit sequences to 4–6 poses. For elementary students, add longer flows and integration projects. With tweens and teens, increase complexity, emotional reflection, and opportunities to co-lead. The structure stays consistent — the rhythm, pacing, and tone evolve with the child.

What are the essential parts of a well-structured children’s yoga class?

Every Grounded Kids Yoga class follows a clear rhythm that creates safety, consistency, and flow. We use a structured 11-part format that includes: Theme, Heart Action, Yoga Philosophy, Alignment Action, Tune In, Warm Up, Sequence, Cool Down, Rest, Elevate, and Sprinklings. The sequence is flexible, but the flow matters. You start by setting the energetic tone, then layer in poses, transitions, stories, breathwork, and activities that match your group and theme. For younger kids, you might emphasize repetition and ritual. For older students, you can expand into co-creation, reflection, and stillness. What makes the structure 'essential' is how it helps children feel safe enough to explore and elevate.

Where can I find printable or downloadable yoga lesson plans for kids?

Grounded Kids Yoga offers printable lesson plans and visual class templates in our trainings, products, and downloads. Our 11-part lesson plan format is used across all age groups, and you’ll find themed sequences in our Pose Cards, Superheroes Curriculum, and training manuals. Use our templates to build custom flows or pull ready-made plans like 'Inner Fire,' 'My Breath Flow,' or 'Charlie and the Chakra Factory.' These are ideal for teachers, therapists, and parents who want to guide meaningful classes using real methodology.

How do I build a weekly or monthly yoga curriculum for children?

Use Grounded’s 5 Elements or 7 Chakras as your structure. Choose a theme (like Trust, Power, Compassion), then design a class for each based on poses, breathwork, and heart action. For weekly series, rotate through elements or chakras, repeating mini-flows and adding complexity. For monthly planning, align each class with a season, SEL goal, or developmental milestone. The Pose Cards and Superheroes Curriculum make it easy to organize class arcs around purpose—not just movement.

What are fun and effective yoga themes to use with children?

Popular Grounded themes include 'Pizza Party,' 'Chakra Quest,' 'Superhero Alignment,' 'Charlie and the Chakra Factory,' and 'Power in Your Belly.' Each theme supports alignment, emotional development, and class structure. Fun doesn't mean fluff. Our themes are layered with story, music, breath, and visual cues so that children engage their whole selves—not just their muscles. Use our template to match each theme to an alignment action and heart virtue.

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 templates, repetition-based sequences, and signature poses like Dark Seed Light and Washing Machine. You don’t need to know everything — you need to be open, grounded, and willing to practice teaching by teaching.

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. 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 do I teach yoga to toddlers, 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 toddlers and preschoolers, use songs, clapping games, and clear spatial cues like colored carpets or lines on the floor. Take turns for movement and speak from eye level. For elementary students, follow a consistent class rhythm: Opening → Adventure Flow or Solid Ground Flow → Rest → Closing. Blend creative themes, familiar rituals, and story-based flows. 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 (like Shimmy, Play with Fire, and Just Breathe), animal movements, and call-and-response sequences that engage the breath and body. Start with repetition, build into flow, and focus on fun. Cool-downs can include partner games like Ball Breath, visualization such as 'Be the Bubble,' gentle breath-based movement, and Resting Pose with guided imagery. Children thrive when transitions between energetic peaks and quiet grounding are deliberate and consistent.

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.

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.

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.

Is your training approved for CEUs or continuing education credits?

Yes. Our kids yoga certification training is approved for CEUs (Continuing Education Units) and PLUs for educators, therapists, and professionals depending on your state or licensing board. We also partner with organizations like Courses4Teachers to offer graduate-level credit options.

Can I take the kids yoga certification course online?

Absolutely. Our certification can be completed 100% online through a self-paced course platform. You’ll receive lifetime access to training videos, teaching manuals, and downloadable resources. We also offer live office hours and coaching support to guide you every step of the way.

Today Is National Cow Appreciation Day!

ByBruce Crawford July 12, 2013September 10, 2020

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Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Grounded Kids Yoga provides in-person and online training, professional development workshops, and ongoing support for educators, parents, and clinicians. We specialize in kids yoga, mindfulness, social-emotional learning (SEL), trauma and pain management, emotional regulation, and impulse control for preschool through high school students. Each year, we serve thousands of children and teens through school programs, after-school enrichment yoga clubs, summer camps, Girl Scouts, 4-H conferences, and yoga studios across Atlanta, the Southeast, and nationwide.

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