| Have you ever noticed what a monumental task goal | | | | setting skills start to "take root." |
| setting is for anyone? Some adults have no goals at | | | | Yoga card decks are good tools for children to learn |
| all. So, why should we expect children to constructively | | | | postures. You could have them each randomly draw a |
| set goals, in the age of attention disorders? | | | | card and perform the particular posture from the card |
| Parents know that children need the best possible | | | | deck. This is just one of many games that children will |
| "head start" in the extremely competitive world of | | | | enjoy. |
| academics, athletics, and later on, in business. Hatha | | | | Kundalini Yoga is quite active; and although it is not a |
| Yoga classes, for children, offers them a chance to | | | | game, a Kundalini Yoga segment will change the pace |
| set their own goals, without a strict measurement of | | | | of your class. This change of pace is what you need |
| success. | | | | to capture a child's imagination. |
| Children do not have to worry about making the "next | | | | Finally, have them work off the floor - performing |
| cut" in their Yoga class. There is no worry about | | | | seated Yoga postures, table postures, other postures |
| reaching the next level, but every child wants to | | | | off the knees, prone postures, and finally, supine |
| perform better in his or her next Yoga class. A little | | | | postures. At this point, children will look forward to |
| competitive drive is healthy for all of us, and children | | | | meditation or relaxation. |
| are naturally competitive by nature. | | | | This is just one example of a way to arrange your |
| Keeping the above points in mind, Yoga teachers | | | | lesson plan for children who attend Yoga classes. |
| should design classes for children that contain "Yoga | | | | Children of various age groups will look at Yoga class |
| Games." Sure - parents are paying for Yoga classes, | | | | differently. As a general guideline, children who are four |
| but how do you capture a child's imagination for 45 | | | | to seven years of age should work well together. |
| minutes? | | | | Older children from eight to twelve years of age will |
| Firstly, explain to parents what they should expect to | | | | not be entertained by the behavior of younger children. |
| see in a typical Kids Yoga class. If you are working | | | | Young teens will tend to be very serious, so they |
| with 45 minutes, you can easily split the class into three | | | | should also eventually have their own time, if Kids |
| - fifteen minute segments. You could start with | | | | Yoga classes are full. |
| warm-ups, Sun Salutations, Vinyasa flow, or a standing | | | | Lastly, do not run Yoga classes much longer than an |
| sequence of Yoga postures. | | | | academic class in elementary school. Forty-five |
| Then, you could introduce a Yoga game. Games | | | | minutes to an hour is fine, but after that, you will lose |
| create a little friendly competition and, eventually, goal | | | | the attention of your youngest Yoga students. |