Do you have memories of fishing when you were young? I remember fondly going camping with my dad when I was probably about twelve years old. After we pitched our tents, we went out on a canoe to catch fish. The point was not actually to catch fish, but to bob in the water and enjoy the peace and quiet.
I remember being surprised when we actually got a tug on our line and then being concerned we were hurting the fish. Needless to say, the trip was more about dad-daughter bonding than catching fish.
Going on a pretend fishing journey in your kids yoga class is a fun way to take children out to nature in their imaginations. And hopefully, it will bring that sense of calm and quiet that you feel when you’re out on a canoe in the middle of a lake. Ask your students to imagine what they might see and hear on their fishing trip.
Extension ideas:
- Take it a step further to talk about the difference of catching a fish to eat versus catch-and-release fishing.
- Discuss the different locations for fishing, including off the shoreline, in a canoe, or in a large fishing boat.
- Talk about the environmental impact people have on the quality of water in our lakes and how that affects the fish population.
- Research the various types of fish.
- Make a checklist for your day of fishing, which might include sunscreen, hat, bug spray, lunch bag, tacklebox, bait, gloves, life jacket, net, and fishing gear.
Fishing for Kids: 5 yoga poses for kids inspired by a fishing trip
Follow the five-pose flow below to imagine all the things you’ll see and do on a fishing trip. You could start your pretend journey by getting into a car and driving to the lake or taking a plane to a special destination. Make the fishing journey meaningful for your children.
Don’t worry if you haven’t tried yoga before—just jump in and give it a try. Clear the space, practice barefoot, and have fun. The focus is on introducing yoga to children, not on perfectly aligned poses. Be safe, but also encourage them to explore their creativity.
1. Pretend to be a fishing pole.
How to practice Standing Split: Stand tall then bend your upper body and place your fingers on the ground. Inhale and shift your weight to the right foot. Lift your left leg out behind you. Switch sides and repeat the steps. Pretend to be a fishing pole casting a line into the lake.
2. Pretend to be a fish.
How to practice Locust Pose: Lie on your tummy, lift your chest and shoulders, and look up. Pretend to be a fish gliding through the water.
3. Pretend to be a fishing net.
How to practice Swan Pose: Lie on your belly. Place the palms of your hands next to your shoulders and look up. Then straighten your arms and expand your chest. Bend your knees and bring your feet up toward your head. Gently take your head back toward your feet. Hold this position for a few breaths and then rest flat on your belly. Pretend to be a fishing net scooping a fish out of the water.
4. Pretend to be bait on a hook.
How to practice Child’s Pose: Press back to sit on your heels, slowly bring your forehead down to rest on the floor in front of your knees, rest your arms down alongside your body, and take a few deep breaths. Pretend to be a worm (or other bait) curled around the hook.
5. Pretend to be a canoe.
How to practice Boat Pose: Balance on your buttocks with your arms and legs straight out in front of you in a V shape. Keep a straight spine and open chest. Pretend to be a canoe bobbing in the calm waters.
You can finish your fishing yoga experience by lying in Resting Pose. Think about a fishing journey you’ve been on or would like to go on. Take a few deep breaths and relax. Try placing a fish toy on your stomach to feel the rise and fall of your belly.
What are other things might you see and do on a fishing trip?
5 Fishing Books for Kids
We borrowed a number of fishing books from the library to get in the mood for our pretend fishing trip. This was sparked by a conversation my husband and daughter were having about the possibility of going fishing on their camping trip this summer. Here are our five of our favorite fishing picture books:
Down by the River, by Andrew Weiner and April Chu
The Berenstain Bears Gone Fishin!, by Mike Berenstain
Just Fishing with Grandma, by Gina and Mercer Mayer
Hooked, by Tommy Greenwald and David McPhail
Hand Over Hand, by Alma Fullerton and Renne Benoit
Do you have any other favorite fishing books for kids?
PIN IT FOR LATER
Check Out Our Tropical Island Yoga Cards for Kids
Pretend to be tropical showers, a surfer, and a sailboat!
Download these 47 Tropical Island digital yoga cards to learn through movement in your home, classroom, or studio. Includes an Index Card, Yoga Tips, Pose Instructions, 18 Yoga Pose Cards, and 18 matching Tropical Island animal cards. The multicultural yoga kids are from seven countries. Ages 3+.
Purchase Tropical Island Yoga Cards for Kids here.
You May Also Enjoy Beach Yoga Cards for Kids
Have fun in the sun at the beach anytime of the year through engaging, fun, and simple yoga poses!
Pretend to be a lifeguard, sea urchin and a beach tent. Download these 52 beach digital yoga cards to learn through movement in your home, classroom, or studio. Includes an Index Card, Pose Instructions, 20 Yoga Pose cards, and 20 matching Beach cards. The yoga kids are multicultural from seven countries. Age group: Toddlers to Early Primary, Ages 3+
Purchase Beach Yoga Cards for Kids here.
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