Gratitude Yoga Sequence: The Secret of Saying Thanks lesson plan printable
In today’s world, where my daughter has such an abundant life, I’m mindful of teaching her about gratitude. We honestly have so much to be grateful for.
So I was thrilled when kids yoga teacher, Joie Scott, recommended this darling book, The Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood and Greg Shed. We picked it up at our local library last week. This beautifully illustrated book is a spiritual journey of saying thanks for the wonders of the world that we sometimes take for granted.
Today, I’d love to share a gratitude yoga sequence that Joie Scott put together inspired by this gentle and inspirational book. I hope these gratitude statements coupled with movement will bring joy to you and your children this holiday season.
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Gratitude yoga sequence inspired by
The Secret of Saying Thanks
These twenty yoga poses for kids follow the sequence of the storyline. Feel free to change the order of the postures to create a logical kids yoga class. You can also add more or practice fewer poses, depending on the needs and ages of your children. Your children could also add their own yoga poses based on what they are grateful for. Make the experience relevant and meaningful for them, so they can embrace the idea of gratitude through movement. Use this gratitude yoga sequence as a guide, but adapt to suit your needs:
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1. SUN:Thank you, sun, for a new day and all its choices and challenges. |
How to do SUN BREATH:Inhale, lift your arms out wide overhead. Exhale, bringing your hands to your heart. Repeat this 3 to 5 times. |
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2. FLOWERS:Thank you, flowers, for your bright color, graceful blossoms, sweet breath, and for making me smile. |
How to do FLOWER POSE:Sit with a tall spine, lift your legs, balance on your sitting bones, and weave your arms under your legs, pretending to be a blossoming flower. |
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3. TREES:Thank you, trees, for giving me cool shade on a hot day, the sound of the leaves in the breeze, and roots to hold the earth in place. |
How to do TREE POSE:Stand on one leg, bend the other knee, place the sole of your foot on the inner leg, thigh, or calf (just not on your standing knee), and balance. Repeat the steps on the other side. |
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4. ROCKS:Thank you, rocks and stones and pebbles. Thanks for your silence and patience, for standing still and not changing in a world so full of noise, speed, and change. |
How to do CHILD’S POSE:Sit back on your heels, slowly bring your forehead down to rest in front of your knees, and let your arms rest alongside your body. |
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5. BIRDS:Thank you, birds, for your songs and the sight of you dancing in the wind. |
How to do EAGLE POSE:Stand on one leg, wrap your other leg around, bring your bent arms out in front of your torso, and wrap them together at elbows. Bend your knees and pretend to perch on a branch like a bird. |
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6. FISH:Thank you, fish. |
How to do LOCUST POSE:Lie on your tummy, lift your chest and shoulders, look up, clasp your hands behind your back, and glide through the water like a fish. |
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7. CRABS:Thank you, crabs. |
How to do REVERSE TABLE TOP POSE:Come to sitting with your palms flat behind you and the soles of your feet flat in front of you. Lift your buttocks to create a table, then walk like a crab. |
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8. SNAKES:Thank you, snakes. |
How to do COBRA POSE:Lie on your tummy and place your palms flat next to your shoulders. Pressing into your hands, lift your head and shoulders off ground. Hiss like a snake. |
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9. INSECTS:Thank you, insects. |
How to do HAPPY BABY POSE:Lie on your back with your chin tucked in, hug your knees into your chest, then grab the outer parts of each foot—right foot in right hand and left foot in left hand. Pretend to be a bug upside-down. |
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10. BUTTERFLIES:Thank you, butterflies. |
How to do BUTTERFLY POSE:Sit on your buttocks with a tall spine, bend your legs, place the soles of your feet together, and gently flap your legs like the wings of a butterfly. |
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11. HORSES:Thank you, horses. |
How to do HORSE STANCE:Stand with your legs apart, feet facing slightly outward. Bend your knees and stand firm like a horse. |
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12. COWS:Thank you, cows. |
How to do COW POSE:On all fours, look up, arch your back, and open your chest. Pretend to be a cow. |
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13. CATS:Thank you, cats. |
How to do CAT POSE:On all fours, round your back and tuck your chin into your chest. Pretend to be a cat. |
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14. DOGS:Thank you, dogs. Thank you to all you creatures that swim, crawl, creep, burrow, climb, or run. Thank you to creatures with fur or feathers, horns, hooves, scales, or shells. You remind us of the beauty and mystery of life. |
How to do DOWNWARD-FACING DOG POSE:Step back to your hands and feet in an upside-down V shape, with your buttocks up in the air, and stretch like a dog. |
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15. STARS:Thank you, stars, for giving us enough light for wishing and dreaming. |
How to do TRIANGLE POSE:From a standing position, step one foot back, placing the foot facing slightly outwards. Take your arms up parallel to the ground, bend at your waist, and tilt your upper body to the side. Reach your front hand to gently rest on your shin and reach your other arm straight up reaching for the stars. Repeat the steps on the other side. |
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16. MOON:Thank you, moon, for giving us the soft shining light that helps us find our way in the dark. |
How to do CRESCENT MOON POSE:Stand tall with legs hip-width apart, feet facing forward, and straighten your arms alongside your body. Reach your arms up high over your head, bringing your palms together. Tilt your upper body to one side, pretending to be the moon. Come back to center. Tilt your body to the other side. |
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17. EARTH’S WATERS:Thank you to the lakes, rivers, and ponds for making the magic of life possible. |
How to do 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. Then pretend to rock in the water like a boat. |
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18. FAMILY DINNER:Thank you for all this bountiful food. Thank you to the good earth that gave us this food. Thank you, family, for sharing this special meal together. |
How to do an ENERGY CIRCUIT:Sit in a circle with a tall spine. Cross your legs, rest your left hand with your palm up and your right palm down, connecting to the palms of your neighbors. Pass the squeeze or secret around the circle. Imagine the energy going around the group. |
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19. THE SECRET OF GIVING THANKS:The heart that gives thanks is a happy one. |
How to do RESTING POSE:Lie on your back with your arms and legs stretched out. Breathe and rest. |
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20. GRATITUDE:“We don’t give thanks because we are happy. We are happy because we give thanks.” |
How to do EASY POSE:Sit cross-legged and rest your palms on your knees. Close your eyes, if you are comfortable doing so. Bring your palms together in the front of your heart and offer Namaste. |
You could also end in Resting Pose to give your children a chance to integrate what they have experienced and think about what they are grateful for. You could go around the group, asking them to share their own gratitude statements.
Download the Gratitude Yoga Sequence Printable:
DOWNLOAD FREE GRATITUDE YOGA SEQUENCE PRINTABLE
Lesson plan was put together by Joie Scott
All the yoga pose images are from Kids Yoga Stories,
but the Energy Circuit image is from Grounded Kids Yoga.
Buy yoga poses images here >>
See yoga pose descriptions here >>
Buy yoga cards for kids here >>
About the Author
Joie Scott received her Hatha Yoga RYT-200 certification from teachers Todd Norian and Ann Greene. This Anusara-based training led her to the Grounded Kids program developed in Atlanta, Georgia, by Cheryl Crawford and Amy Haysman, where she completed the ninety-five-hour certification for Children’s Yoga designation (RCYT). Joie, a former kindergarten teacher, now works for Zenworks Yoga as a founding board member, teaching children’s yoga classes, mentoring our team of teachers, and directing program development. She also co-founded AmaZEN U, a web-based subscription program geared toward K-12 classroom teachers. Teachers can use a smartboard, tablet, or phone to pull up one-to-five-minute yoga and mindfulness video breaks for their students throughout the day.
Check out our Gratitude Yoga Cards for Kids
Be grateful for the teachers who help you learn, the trees that provide us with oxygen, and the many friends who make you laugh!
Find creative ways to appreciate the good things around you by practicing gratitude yoga. The practice of both gratitude and yoga are gifts we can give our children that will last a lifetime.
Download these 56 digital Gratitude Yoga cards to learn through movement in your home, classroom, or studio. The deck includes an index card, yoga tips, pose instructions, 20 yoga pose cards, and 20 matching gratitude cards. The multicultural yoga kids are from seven countries. Recommended ages: 3+.
Purchase Gratitude Yoga Cards here.
Download our digital Thanksgiving Yoga Cards for Kids
Celebrate Thanksgiving through yoga poses for kids!
Practice these 12 yoga postures to celebrate this special occasion through movement. Each yoga pose is coupled with 12 Thanksgiving-themed keywords (ex.be a turkey, pumpkin, and sunflower). End your yoga session with a Gratitude Meditation. An index, yoga tips, pose descriptions, and guided meditation are included. The illustrated yoga kids are multicultural from seven countries. Recommended ages: 3+.
Purchase the Thanksgiving Yoga Cards for Kids PDF Download here.
Thanksgiving Yoga Cards for Kids PDF Download
Autumn Yoga Book for Kids
Don’t miss our autumn yoga book for kids, Trish’s Fall Photography:
“This book is a gem on so many levels. It reminds us of the breathtaking beauty we experience in the fall, the joy of experiencing this beauty with a loved one, and how we can incorporate it into our daily yoga practice.” – Kathy
“Fall, photos, and yoga…what a creative, fun combination.” – Dee
Other Thanksgiving Links
Thanksgiving Yoga | Gratitude Yoga |
Thanksgiving Coloring Page | Teaching Gratitude to Children |
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