Teaching Kids Yoga to Reduce Violence

By Eleanor Bartel 

Unfortunately, violence is all too prevalent in our society. It seems like no matter where you go, you can't avoid it. It is everywhere in the media, entertainment, and everyday life. Even children are exposed to violence from an early age, whether it's through television shows, school, or learned behavior. Luckily, there are ways to combat the violent images shown so often in society. For children, yoga can be a great way to learn how to appropriately manage emotions and deal with them in a way that doesn't harm anyone or anything. Yoga teachers can offer specific classes for children to help them learn how to acknowledge their feelings and emotions in a positive way.

Keep it Simple

You might go into your regular adult vinyasa class prepared with a list of poses and sequences you want to teach. Don't try to do this for a class with children. While having an outline can be a good idea, with children, you never know which way the class is going to turn! In an adult class, the students will follow your lead. In a children's class, it can be much harder for you to direct the flow of things. Instead of going in with a detailed plan, keep it simple with a few poses or breathing exercises to explore. Follow the lead of your students – if they seem particularly interested in one pose, stay with it for a while! Use this time to focus on what the children want to explore. Allow them to explore at their own pace, and you'll find the class will be more fun for the kids and it will transition more smoothly for you.

Make it a Game

It's important to remember that you are teaching to a different age group in a children's class. Kids are not going to be able to have the focus or attention span of an adult group. Their minds will wander and they will get bored easily. To keep the class fun and relevant for kids, make games out of certain poses! Try a game of Simon Says, where the actions they have to perform are certain yoga poses. Or, try a game of telephone, but with a yoga pose everyone has to copy instead. Encourage teamwork as you go through these games to foster kindness, respect, and friendship.

Relaxation and Soothing

Like adults, children can have issues with stress andanxiety. However, it can be harder for them to find a space to relax between school, extra-curricular activities, and home life. Your yoga class can be not just a place to have fun, but also a place to let go and unwind. After having an active and engaging class, your students can benefit from a small meditation or relaxation session, just like in an adult class. To help the kids prepare, try having fun pillows and blankets available. Your students can try savasana or even a seated position for some quiet reflection. Dim the lights to set the mood. You can even try out some simple chants with your class. Some children love to make noise, and chanting is a way to let them be heard while also relaxing!

You can't go from teaching adults right into a teaching a class for children. Take the time to mentally and physically prepare yourself for a different teaching experience. To help your students let go, you must first let go yourself. Getting to the mindset for a younger audience will help you create a yoga class that is fun, relaxing, and inspiring for your little students. Your yoga class can help young students find peace and strength in their physical and mental selves, and you can inspire fledging minds to make better choices when it comes to dealing with anger and violence.

© Copyright 2014 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division