Toddler Yoga

Yoga has so many benefits for young children! Beyond working on gross motor skills such as strength, flexibility and balance, yoga helps improve emotional regulation, body awareness, increases mindfulness, concentration and memory.

When I first introduced A to yoga around age 2, I had no idea it would become one of her favorite things to do. Like most children, she is very active so it started off as a fun way to get her body moving but it has evolved into something deeper – a way to slow down and tune into our bodies, to cultivate mindfulness and so much more.

I first introduced Yoga to my daughter with the book  “Yoga Babies” by Fearne Cotton, which is a fun, relatable and diverse book we’ve loved for a while. There is a very relatable scene in which a cat climbs on one of the character’s back and she loves to recreate this with our own cat.

We love this yoga kit by Mini Yoga Club which comes packed with fun goodies, including a yoga board (which makes it a fun game that can go on her shelf), cards with fun illustrations and positive affirmations, a meditation, and so much more.

Meditation is a work in progress! She still can’t sit through too much of it but she now understands the concept and every time we try it she stays a little longer… and that’s really all I could hope for. She sits with her hands on her knees, closes her eyes (still a struggle because something about it makes her uncomfortable) and takes deep breaths. I have no expectations here, my only goal is to expose her to it.

If your little one(s) feels uneasy closing their eyes to meditate, how about meditating with eyes open? Nature appreciation, enjoying moments of silence, watching a candle burn or simply sitting quietly listening to soothing music can also be used as moments of meditation.