Baby, Tot, & Tyke Yoga: Star Pose!

The other week when we went to the beach, we did a little yoga.  Miss Penelope and I love to do yoga outside spontaneously.  Yoga has so many benefits, but one of the reasons I love sharing it with Penelope is that it is a form of play.   And playing with your child is so important.  It shows them that they are important for one.  But it is also a way to work through any tension or stress from the day and reconnect.

Star pose is one of her favorites right now.  Especially, since she has been working on standing with her feet together and jumping in dance class.

For this pose, they start in mountain pose, with their feet as close together as possible and their hands in prayer position in front of their hearts.  Then they do an explosive jump and jump their feet into a wide angle and their arms out by their sides.

When you do it, to show them how, be very expressive, excited and always look them in the eye.  I am not sure why looking them in the eye helps them learn, but it does.  Say, Star Pose! As you jump into the pose and then wiggle your fingers as you say Twinkle! Twinkle!

Another variation is to move one hand up and one hand down, alternatively, as you rock from one foot to the other, all the while singing Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star, or the Itsy Bitsy Yoga version of it.

For babies or toddlers, you sit them in your lap or lay them on the floor on their backs and move their arms for them as you sing the song.

You can see a full list of all my yoga tutorials here.

What is your little one's favorite yoga pose right now?

You can find this yoga pose and more in the awesome book by Helen Garabedian.

By Best Kids Health Blog

Yoga for Your Child: Frog Pose

Frog Pose, for your child, is essentially Garland Pose (also known as Squat Pose.)  So Mamas, when you are demonstrating this pose for your child, YOU get all the benefits!  And whether you are trying to conceive, pregnant or somewhere on your post partum journey, this pose is SO good for you.

What I love about watching Penelope do yoga, and other kids for that matter, is witnessing how natural yoga comes to them.  Check out her form-absolute perfection on her first try!

Her heels are firmly planted on the ground, and the weight of her body is evenly distributed throughout her feet.

Her  knees are pointing up and her toes are directly forward.  Often times, the only way and adult with tight hips can get into this pose, is by turning the feet outward at angle and splaying the legs open a bit.

Her pelvis is under and her spine is perfectly straight.

She was even able to put her hands in prayer and balance.

When they are in frog pose, you can say "What does the frog say?!"  And reply with;  ribbit, ribbit!

I also will do the Baby Signs for frog (you just stick your tongue out.)

As they get older, they can start hopping and jumping around like Frogs!

Just FYI, most of the baby yoga poses I post, I learned at my Itsy Bitsy Yoga training. The founder and creator, Helen Garabedian, has a great book and dvds that you can purchase to help your home practice. Or you can go to her website and try and find a class near you!

Child Yoga: Donkey!

Donkey is the next stage of advancement after your child has learned Down Dog and later mastered. It's such a fun yoga pose for your child.  The pride they feel when they can accomplish it, is priceless.

So just like any other pose, you show them the pose first and then ask them to do it.

For Donkey, you show them Down Dog first and then say "lift your leg for Donkey!"
You can say; "What does the Donkey say?  He says Hee Haw!

This is the child version of one legged Down Dog, but when you show them, lift your leg slightly and keep it somewhat bent.  They are not going to be able to do a perfect one legged Down Dog, so show them the version of the pose that is attainable to them.

And remember, however your child express this pose or any other pose, is absolutely perfect. They are perfect, their little bodies are perfect, their individual gross motor skills development is perfect just as it is.

As long as you are breathing, you are doing yoga!

Just FYI, most of the baby yoga poses I post, I learned at my Itsy Bitsy Yoga training. The founder and creator, Helen Garabedian, has a great book and dvds that you can purchase to help your home practice. Or you can go to her website and try and find a class near you!