Yoga Classes

In Yogakidz classes all participants are introduced to challenging postures through fun class plans that stimulate the imagination and help to maintain natural flexibility.

Click here for a List of Baby, Toddler & Child Classes in your area

****Downloadable classes – coming soon!****

PARENT & BABY CLASSES:

Parent and baby yoga classes are popular with the newborn set. These classes are usually geared to accommodate babies aged 2months to 18 months.

The classes include yoga for the mum, baby and parent yoga postures, just for baby yoga, yoga for baby ailments, nursery rhymes and so much more……

In most parent and baby yoga classes, moms place a yoga blanket, usually covered with a blanket from home in case of spit-up or other spills, at the top of their yoga mat. Feel free to bring a couple of small toys too. In an ideal world, the baby will lie on the blanket happily for the duration of the class. This rarely happens. The nice thing about a parent and baby class is that you are totally free to pick up your baby and feed her, rock her, change her diaper, or walk her around the room if she cries. Teachers will also often hold the baby for you so that you can get a little yoga in.

Will My Baby Like Yoga? This depends a lot on the personality of the baby. Some delight in the new sights and stimulation of the classroom environment and are perfectly content to look around and take it all in. Others are freaked out by the very same stimulations and may cry a lot at first, but may eventually get used to it. So don’t give up if the first class doesn’t go well. A few may snooze happily through the whole thing.

Some classes are very gentle and/or focus a lot on playing little game with the babies. The parent(s) will also get out of the house to a non-stressful environment where you will meet other new mothers. The value of this should not be underestimated.

TODDLER & CHILDRENS CLASSES:

Lessons vary depending on the behaviours of the children from day to day, as well as the schools differing environments.

In most classes aimed at the toddlers/children, they will learn a little routine called the sun salutations and we are very keen for them to learn the breathing that goes with it, for example when to inhale and exhale. They always learn a variety of postures that will increase their flexibility and strength, and these then are incorporated into stories for them to act out which helps them to remember. They sometimes chop down the trees that they have just been practicing, turn themselves into bows, scare warriors by being tigers and lions and swim in the sea like fish and dolphins. All the while we are subtly educating them on how the postures received their names.

The toddler classes also have nursery rhymes (which are in the baby yoga classes) in where they sing and move through a variety of yoga postures as a part of the tune. These are so much fun and laughter is in abundance!

Balance and their bodies awareness in space plays a large part in every class (all ages), when we are busy focusing on others and what others are doing, we often neglect ourselves. They learn that balance is affected when they are looking at everything or everyone else and not concentrating on what they are doing in that moment and we encourage them to think about this when they are distracted in class.

With the older children (7-16yrs) the classes flow away from the stories and move into more involved yoga practices such as focusing more so inside themselves and practicing yoga themselves individually. The introduction of partner yoga is brought in which then encourages team work and understanding of working with another. Yogic techniques are taught and explained as to exactly how the breath and meditations help relieve stress (exam stress in particular) and calm a person in any situation. Relaxations are more detailed so they can do these themselves at home or whenever they need them.

All children of all ages will learn a variety of postures, breathing techniques, meditations, and relaxations, so they can take these away and practice at home if they like.

To discuss classes, or to book a class, please contact Yogakidz.