How Can Yoga Teachers Assess the Readiness of Children for Certain Yoga Poses?

When it comes to teaching yoga to children, safety should always be the top priority. As a yoga teacher, it is important to only introduce safe and appropriate poses that align with a child’s abilities and developmental stage. The majority of teaching will be done in a group class, and as Yoga is non graded, and our agenda is not the complexity of poses, then you should always aim to teach foundation poses which suit the whole group, making it accessible to the youngest child in the class, whilst progressively stretching older children once you know the group well.

Here are some tips for teaching safe yoga poses to children:

1. Start with basic poses: Introduce simple poses that are easy to perform and understand, such as child’s pose, mountain pose, and downward-facing dog. As the child progresses, you can gradually introduce more complex poses.
2.  Check proper alignment: whilst it is not critical to teach children exact alignment in each pose, you should correct anything that could potentially hurt immediately. Encourage children to listen ad copy you well, and all should be safe as long as you demonstrate safely!
3. Use modifications and easier variations first: If a child is not yet ready for a particular pose, it may be helpful to modify the pose  and offer easier variations that is safe, encouraging and confidence building for all, for instance balance poses. Start very small and build up from there progressively.
4. Encourage breathing is poses: This will be easier dynamically or aim for a short hold of 3 breaths which will teach children to start paying attention to mindfulness and awareness in the poses.
5. Respect the children’s energy levels: It is important to be mindful of the group clues and sometimes change gear to introduce an early relaxation or a quiet game instead of another round of dynamic poses.

By following these guidelines, yoga teachers can help ensure that all children are practicing yoga safely and effectively. Remember that safety should always be the top priority when teaching yoga to children, and that a safe and mindful practice can provide numerous physical and mental health benefits.

However if you are teaching Yoga to individual older Children with a specialist goal in mind (such as Yoga for Sports) who are ready to practice more advanced poses, then do assess them just as you would for an adult, and work towards their goals, that is:

1. Take into account their age and developmental stage: Children develop at different rates, so it is important to take into account their age and developmental stage when assessing their readiness for certain yoga poses. Discuss goals and have a 6 weeks plan in mind then review.
2. Observe the child’s range of motion: Before introducing a new pose, observe the child’s range of motion in the joints and muscles that will be involved. For example, if you are planning to introduce a forward fold, observe the child’s range of motion in the hamstrings, hips, and back.
3. Check for previous injuries or medical conditions: Ask the child or their parents if they have any previous injuries or medical conditions that could affect their ability to do certain yoga poses.
4. Assess their balance: Balance is an important aspect of many yoga poses, so it is important to assess a child’s balance before introducing more advanced poses. Start with basic balancing poses, such as tree pose or warrior III, and observe the child’s ability to maintain their balance.
5. Check for cognitive readiness: Certain yoga poses require a greater level of cognitive readiness and attention than others. For example, poses that involve a lot of coordination or balancing require a child to focus their attention and maintain their concentration. If a child is easily distracted or has difficulty maintaining focus, it may be best to introduce balance poses (and other standing poses) and keep their attention with an added layer of intention, affirmation, imagination or breath,.

In conclusion, assessing the readiness of children for certain yoga poses is an important part of being a yoga teacher. By observing their range of motion, checking for previous injuries or medical conditions, assessing their balance, checking for cognitive readiness, and taking into account their age and developmental stage, yoga teachers can ensure that children are practicing yoga safely and effectively. With proper assessment and guidance, children can enjoy the many benefits of yoga for years to come.