I grew up a figure skater! And once I aged out of competitive figure skating, I became a figure skating coach. So, not surprisingly, getting on skates now with my daughter in the winter is an absolute delight. And for some reason, every time I come into Warrior 3 Pose, I’m always reminded of practicing a forward spiral while gliding down the ice when I was a teenager.
Since it’s winter, you could add these ice skating yoga poses to your winter yoga theme or your sports yoga ideas. Or maybe you’re just looking for something new to engage your students into having fun with movement.
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Ice Skating Yoga Poses for Kids
Below are five figure skating-inspired yoga poses for children. For more yoga posture ideas, check out our Winter Yoga Cards or our Sports Yoga Cards—or make up your own. Grab your mats, jump in, and give it a go. Don’t worry about practicing perfectly aligned poses, but focus on fun and movement!
1. Warrior 3 Pose – Pretend to do a Forward Spiral.
Stand on one leg. Extend the other leg behind you, flexing your foot. Bend your torso forward and take your arms out to the side of your body. Pretend you are gliding on the ice like a skater doing a Forward Spiral. Switch sides and repeat the steps.
2. Dancer’s Pose – Pretend to do the Biellmann position.
Stand tall in Mountain Pose. Then stand on your right leg, reach your left leg out behind you, and place the outside of your left foot into your left hand. Bend your torso forward, with your right arm out in front for balance, and arch your leg up behind you as if you are a skater practicing the Biellmann position. Switch sides and repeat the steps.
3. Star Pose – Pretend to get ready to jump into a Split Jump.
From a standing position, step your feet out wide. Take both arms out to the side. Now, jump as high as you can like a skater doing a Split Jump.
4. Chair Pose – Pretend to get ready to do Shoot the Duck.
Stand tall in Mountain Pose with your feet hip-width apart, bend your knees, and keep a straight spine. Then hold your hands out in front of you, grab your right extended leg, and pretend to be a skater doing a Shoot the Duck. Switch legs and repeat the steps.
5. Lunge Pose – Pretend to do a Lunge position on the ice.
From Downward-Facing Dog Pose, step your right foot forward to rest just inside your right hand. Keep a flat back and open your chest. Pretend to be a skater practicing a Lunge position on the ice. Switch sides and repeat the steps.
Which was your favorite ice skating yoga pose? Do you have any more to add to the list?
Ice Skating Books for Kids
My daughter and I took out a bunch of ice skating books from our local library, and below are our favorites. Grab a book… and cuddle up in front of the fire with your little one or on the reading mat in your classroom. 😉
Bunnies on Ice
by Johanna Wright
This is a great introduction to ice skating for very young children. The very-confident bunny has to wait through the seasons before winter finally arrives and she can skate again.
Sophie Skates
by Rachel Isadora
Sophie’s first experience skating in on a frozen pond, and as she grows up, she dreams of being a professional skater. This story took me back to my skating days while growing up, practicing five days per week. The book also explains basic figure skating moves. This is a great book to talk about the figure skating life as a youngster.
Callie Cat, Ice Skater
by Eileen Spinelli and Anne Kennedy
This is a sweet story about a cat who learns that her love of ice skating is a bigger reward than winning a competition. This is a great book to talk to children about doing things they love for the beauty of doing it, not just to be the best.
Henry Holton Takes the Ice
by Sandra Bradley and Sara Palacios
Henry comes from a hockey-loving family, and he has to convince them that he would prefer to try figure skating. It’s a lovely story about a boy who sticks up for what he loves and wins over the support of his family.
Big World, Little Pig
by Kristi Yamaguchi and Tim Bowers
A fun story about a pig who travels to the Olympics to compete in the figure skating championships. I used to watch Kristi skate in the Olympics when I was a kid, so absolutely had to share her children’s book with my daughter. Also, check out her other book in the series, Dream Big, Little Pig.
DK Ice Skating School
by Naia Bray-Moffatt and David Handley
For avid figure skaters, this DK book has loads of beautiful photos and information about figure skating for children. A visually-appealing introduction to ice skating.
Do you have any other favorite ice skating books for kids? Tell us in the comments below!
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Check Out Our Winter Yoga Cards for Kids
Learn about winter animals and snowy activities through simple yoga poses!
Stand tall like an Eastern moose, glide like a downhill skier and have fun doing snow angels.
Download these 53 winter 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 Winter cards. The yoga kids are multicultural from seven countries. Age 3+
Purchase Winter Yoga Cards for Kids here.
You May Also Enjoy Our Sports Yoga Cards for Kids
Pretend to be a soccer player, windsurfer, and a volleyball player!
Instantly download these 53 sports yoga 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 Sports cards. The yoga kids are multicultural from seven countries. Act out various sports with fun and easy yoga poses! Recommended age: 3+
Purchase Sports Yoga Cards for Kids here.
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