practice
Five animal poses to calm a busy little mind
Simple, giggly yoga poses children can copy on their own, perfect for winding down before bed or burning off a rainy afternoon.
Children do not need a yoga class to feel the benefits of moving and breathing, they just need it to feel like play. Animal poses are perfect because they are silly, memorable and easy to copy.
Start with the cat: on hands and knees, arch up like a grumpy cat, then dip down. Then the flamingo: stand tall and balance on one leg (wobbling is allowed and encouraged).
Move into the turtle: fold forward and tuck in small and quiet. Then the lion: take a big breath and roar it all out, brilliant for shaking off a tantrum.
Finish with the star: stand tall, stretch arms and legs wide, and shine. Five poses, five minutes, and a much calmer little person at the end of it.
