18 Heart-Opening Valentine’s Day Yoga Poses for Kids (Printable Poster)

Valentine’s Day is almost here!

Even though every day is “love day” for those around us, this special day makes us stop and think about what love means to each of us. It’s also a great opportunity to talk to our children about love and happiness. As a teacher, I always looked forward to reading Frog in Love by Max Velthuijs. This is one of my favorite books of all time.

Another great way to honor Valentine’s Day is by opening our hearts through creative movement. Enjoy this heart-opening Valentine’s Day yoga sequence in celebration of Love Day.

Valentine’s Day Yoga Sequence

For this special love yoga sequence, there is a combination of backbends, chest openers, and shoulder stretches, all of which are great heart-openers.  The keywords are listed in a specific sequence to create a safe kids yoga experience that encourages flow from one pose to the next. Feel free to shorten or lengthen the sequence to suit your age group by changing the number of poses.  Focus on having fun with movement, not on practicing perfectly aligned poses.

18 Valentine’s Day Yoga Poses for Kids

1. Easy Pose

(Sit comfortably cross-legged and rest your hands facing up on your knees. Take a few deep breaths.)

2. Crescent Moon Pose

(From Mountain Pose, reach your arms up high over your head, bringing your palms together. Tilt your upper body to one side. Come back to center. Tilt your body to the other side.)

3. Warrior 1 Pose

(Come to standing in Mountain Pose. Step one foot back, slightly angling it outwards, bend your front knee, and bring your arms straight up towards the sky, and look up.)

4. Triangle Pose

(From Warrior 1 Pose, turn your upper body and take your arms out parallel to the ground in the direction of your legs. Bend at your waist, tilt your upper body, reach your front hand to gently rest on your shin, and reach your other arm straight up.)

5. Extended Side Angle Pose

(From Triangle Pose, bend your front leg, rest your front elbow on your thigh, and reach your other arm straight up high to the sky. Look up. Repeat Warrior 1, Triangle pose, and Extended Side Angle pose on the other side.)

6. Dancer’s Pose

(Come up to standing tall in Mountain Pose. Stand on one leg, reach the opposite leg out behind you, place the outside of your foot into your hand, bend your torso forward with your arm out in front for balance, and arch your leg up behind you. Switch legs and repeat the pose.)

7. Eagle Pose

(Stand tall in Mountain Pose, wrap one leg around the other, bring your bent arms out in front of you, wrap your arms together the opposite way, and slightly bend your knees.)

8. Chair Pose

(Stand tall in Mountain Pose with your feet hip-width apart, bend your knees, and bring your arms straight up in front of you.)

9. Standing Forward Bend

(From Mountain Pose, bend your upper body, and gently reach for your toes.)

10. Pigeon Pose

(From Downward-Facing Dog Pose, bring right foot to rest behind right hand, placing right foot slightly inwards, straighten your arms, and open your chest.)

11. Cat Pose

(On all fours, tuck your chin into your chest and round your back.)

12. Cow Pose

(Then look up, open your chest, and arch your back. Repeat the Cat-Cow sequence a few times.)

13. Cobra Pose

(Lie on your tummy, lift your head and shoulders off ground, place palms flat next to your shoulders, and open your chest.)

14. Bridge or Wheel Pose

(Come to lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Rest your arms down alongside your body, tuck your chin into your chest, and lift up your buttocks to create a bridge.)

15. 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.)

16. Happy Baby Pose

(Lie on your back with your chin tucked in, hug your knees to your chest, then grab the outer part of your feet with both of your hands and rock like a happy baby.)

17. Reclined Butterfly Pose

(From lying on your back, bend your legs and bring the soles of your feet together. Take your arms out to rest at your sides. Let your whole body melt into the ground and take a few deep breaths.)

18. Resting Pose

(Lie on your back with your arms and legs stretched out. Breathe and rest.)

See yoga pose images + descriptions here >>
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Valentine’s Day Yoga for Kids

 

LOVE Yoga Cards for Kids

Heart-opening yoga sequence to build confidence!

Download these 18 heart-opening yoga postures (backbends, chest openers, and shoulder stretches) to help release emotions, build confidence, and open your heart to receive love. Each yoga pose is coupled with 18 affirmations. An index, parent-teacher guide, and pose descriptions are included. The illustrated yoga kids are multicultural from seven countries.
Recommended ages: 3+.

Purchase your LOVE Yoga Cards for Kids here

Adapting the Valentine’s Day yoga sequence for younger children

With my toddler, we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day by reading a few love-themed books, making homemade Valentine’s Day cards, and doing a few heart-opening yoga poses.

Try picking five poses that you would like to do with your little ones. For example, you could try:  Crescent Moon Pose, Dancer’s Pose, Chair Pose, Cat/Cow Pose, and Happy Baby Pose. Then end in Resting Pose.  Follow the energy level and interest of your children.

 

Our daughter practicing a Crescent Moon Pose and Chair Pose.

 Other Valentine’s Day Ideas

• Make a list of random acts of kindness to do together.
• Create Valentine’s Day cards to share together.
• Write “I Love You Because…” books for the special people in their life.
• Design a special treat for their parents to show their gratitude (ex. Breakfast in bed or family hike).
• Research the origin of Valentine’s Day. Find out how Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world.
• Design a Valentine’s Day board game to play with the class or at home.
• Make handmade gifts to share with their friends and family.
• Plant a tree or do something positive to show their love for the environment.
• Give away children’s books about love and friendship.
• Do a community service project together.

For list of Books on Love and Friendship, click here.

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