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Gratitude Yoga

Are you looking for easy yoga ideas to practice with your children?

One of the challenges readers have shared over the years is how to add yoga into their curriculum, classes, or home life with ease and simplicity. There are tons of ways to integrate yoga, but adults with limited time (and that’s just about everyone these days) are finding it difficult to focus on quick ideas.

That’s why I’m excited to have partnered with Spanish Playground on a new monthly theme project that will focus on a single breathing technique, yoga pose, and yoga book. It will also include a 3-pose flow sequence, a Spanish-integration idea, and links to other theme resources. This way, I hope it will give you one thing to focus on each month and make it easier to bring the benefits of yoga to your children.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

November’s Theme: Gratitude

“Gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilled life.”
Jack Canfield

Our first theme is “gratitude.” This is a perfect opportunity to talk to your children about family, friends, sharing, giving and receiving, and Thanksgiving.

The yoga principle Aparigraha can be translated as “greedlessness” or “gratitude.” As a mom, I am always thinking about ways to help instill the value of gratitude in my daughter. I agree with Jack Canfield—gratitude is an important ingredient to a successful life.

Because of my world travels, I am very conscious that my family is very privileged. We live in a safe place, in a comfortable home, where we have healthy food and access to quality education. I hope to model gratefulness so my daughter grows up appreciating the fortunate life we lead, regardless of the obstacles that she will face in her life.

Learning about gratitude can come from discussions, reading books, doing related kids’ activities, and sending thank you cards. It can also come from doing breathing techniques and practicing yoga poses. Gratitude can then be integrated into our thoughts, words, and actions, ultimately becoming part of our lifestyle.

Gratitude Yoga Practices

The “Gratitude” Focus Breath is deep belly breath.

Choose a comfortable upright position, such as sitting in a chair, sitting cross-legged, or sitting on your heels. Place your right hand on your belly and your left hand on your chest. Take a deep breath in for 4 counts then exhale through your nose for 4 counts (with your lips closed). Feel the rise and fall of your chest and belly.

Do this deep belly breathing for a few minutes. Give your child a few times to get comfortable with this style of breathing. You could use a Hoberman sphere as a visual cue to show your children the inhaling and exhaling action. Children can think of different things that they are grateful for during each inhale and exhale.

 

The “Gratitude” Focus Yoga Pose is Child’s Pose.

From all-fours, come back to resting on your heels, with your arms stretched out in front of you and palms flat on the ground. Gently bring your forehead to rest on the ground in front of your knees and lay your chest on your thighs. Slowly bring your arms to rest back alongside your body.

Take a few long, deep breaths. Feel your body rising and falling with your breath. Stay in this resting posture for a number of breaths. Children can think about what they are grateful for while they are resting in the pose.

How to do Child's Pose with children (benefits, description, and pictures) |Kids Yoga StoriesHow to Do Child’s Pose

 

The “Gratitude” Focus Yoga Flow is Child’s Pose, Hero Pose, and Kneeling.

1. Child’s Pose: Sit on your heels, slowly bring your forehead down to rest in front of your knees, rest your arms down alongside your body, and take a few deep breaths. Pretend to be a seed planted in the earth.

2. Hero Pose: Come back to rest upright on your heels and pretend that you are the stem of the growing plant.

3. Kneeling: Stand on your knees, open your chest, look up, and reach up. Pretend to be a blooming flower.

You can flow gently over and over through the three poses, pretending to be a plant growing in the garden. Talk to your children about how grateful we are for plants, flowers, trees, and other living things in nature.

 

Gratitude Yoga Flow | Kids Yoga Stories

 

The “Gratitude” Focus Yoga Book is Hello, Bali: An Island Adventure Yoga Book for toddlers and preschoolers.

As you talk about family holidays, you can join one of Yoga Kids, Anamika, and her family on their vacation around Indonesia in our Hello, Bali yoga book. Say good day to this magical island through these energizing yoga poses for kids, as you pretend to be a surfer, a Balinese dancer, and a monkey. Included in this island-adventure yoga book is a list of kids yoga poses, basic Indonesian phrases, and a parent-teacher guide with tips on creating a successful yoga experience.

Hello, Bali yoga book |Kids Yoga StoriesHello, Bali

 


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.

gratitude yoga, yoga cards for kids, gratitude practice | Kids Yoga StoriesGratitude Yoga Cards


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 ImageThanksgiving Yoga Cards for Kids PDF Download


DOWNLOAD MONTHLY KIDS YOGA THEMES EBOOK

Quick and easy monthly kids yoga ideas!

To spark your imagination, each monthly theme includes one breathing technique, one focus yoga pose, a three-pose flow sequence, and one focus yoga book. This 55-page eBook is for teachers, parents, kids yoga teachers, caregivers, and health practitioners looking for simple, convenient ways to add yoga into your curriculum, classes, or home life. Age group: Toddlers to Early Primary, ages 3 to 8.

“Great resource for children’s yoga teachers, preschool teachers, classroom teachers, and parents.” – Anita

Monthly Kids Yoga Themes PDF Download (English) ImagePurchase your Monthly Kids Yoga Themes 55-page eBook here


Spanish and Yoga Gratitude Activities

Spanish Thanksgiving Activities with Natural World Vocabulary, Spanish Playground
Find coloring pages, a Spanish Thanksgiving yoga sequence, a gratitude game, and Gracias book to teach children vocabulary in Spanish that is related to the natural world.

Thanksgiving yoga for kids: give thanks to nature through yoga poses for kids | Kids Yoga StoriesThanksgiving Yoga  Happy Thanksgiving coloring page | Kids Yoga StoriesThanksgiving Coloring Page
Teaching Your Child GratitudeTeaching your Child Gratitude Gratitude Yoga Sequence inspired by The Secret of Saying Thanks book | Kids Yoga StoriesGratitude Yoga Sequence

 

Other Gratitude Links

Make a Gratitude Tree for Kids, Kids Activities Blog

Made Gratitude Stones, Fireflies and Mudpies

Send a Gratitude Gift, Growing Book by Book

Make a Gratitude Advent Calendar, Pragmatic Mom

10 Gratitude and Thanksgiving Books for Preschoolers, Totschooling

Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude, Childhood 101

Write in a Gratitude Journal, Greater Good Berkeley

Have a Gratitude Garage Sale, The Educators’ Spin On It

Printable Thanksgiving Placemats, Mama Papa Bubba

 

Popular Yoga Books for Kids

You might like our popular yoga books for kids to add to your kids yoga toolkit this holiday season:

Sophia’s Jungle Adventure
Anna and her Rainbow-Colored Yoga Mats
Rachel’s Day in the Garden

Popular Yoga Books Pack (English) ImagePopular Yoga Books Pack by Kids Yoga Stories


You Might Also Love

Seasonal Kids Yoga Lesson Plans

Monthly Kids Yoga Themes

Holiday Kids Yoga Lesson Plans

List of 58 Yoga Poses for Kids

Kids Yoga Ideas Using Children’s Books

 

Get Updates from Kids Yoga Stories

How did you go with your Gratitude Yoga theme?  For more yoga tips and kids yoga resources, sign up for our weekly Kids Yoga Stories newsletter by adding your email address to the box at the top of the page.

 

Yoga Kids holding Kids Yoga Stories books

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