4 Yoga Songs for Kids to Build Community and Connection

To start and finish your yoga experiences with the same yoga songs for kids or ritual is such a gift.

Children love the consistency and connection.

Singing or chanting together brings everyone close and helps to create a safe and comfortable environment.

It’s also a lovely way for you as the yoga educator to look into the eyes of each child and “see” them.

Below are four songs that were generously shared by our Kids Yoga Stories community members. We know there are loads of yoga songs out there. Feel free to add your yoga song into the comments or email me directly so I can share with our community, as well.

#1: Opening Yoga Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It (Yoga Style)

Karen B. sings this song in her Yoga Story Time at the San Antonio Public Library. She works with children ages four to ten and their family members. Together, they practice yoga and then do a craft. Below is the opening yoga song. It’s such a fun way to start the session using a familiar tune while adding yoga moves.

If you’re happy and you know it, stand real tall! (Mountain Pose)
If you’re happy and you know it, stand real tall!
If you’re happy and you know it, then your body will surely show it!
If you’re happy and you know it, stand real tall!

Alternate with:

“breathe real big!” (Take a big breath in, hold it, and let a big breath out)
“stretch up high!” (Reach your arms up)
“do all three!”

#2: Opening Yoga Song: Are you Sleeping, Brother John? (Yoga Style)

Marla F. from Wish Yoga sings this opening song with her class of children ages 2 to 7, to the tune of “Are You Sleeping, Brother John?” (or “Frere Jacque”).

Namaste to child’s name, ring the bell… (continue around circle)
For example: “Namaste to Marla,” and ring the bell. “Namaste to Bobby,” and ring the bell… and so on.

The children pass the ringer or shaker around circle after ringing the bell or shaking the shaker. Marla finds that this action helps to create community and learn the children’s names.

After passing the object around and singing each child’s name, they sing together with hands pressed together at heart region:

Namaste! Namaste! How are you? How are you? I respect the light, I respect the light, in me and you, me and you!”

#3: Closing Yoga Chant: Thoughts, Words, and Actions

Genevieve B. does a closing chant with her students at the end of class.

With hands in Anjali mudra:

First, at your head, saying, “Peace in my mind.” (children repeat it)

Second, at your lips, saying, “Peace when I speak.” (children repeat it)

Third, at your heart center, saying, “Peace in my heart.” (children repeat it)

Finally, saying, “Namaste” with a seated bow. (children bow in response)

#4: Closing Yoga Song: “My Little Light”

Sarah M. sings the following yoga song to tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”:

My little light bows to your little light…

Your little light…

My little light bows to your little light…

Na…Ma…Ste

Don’t forget to add your yoga song into the comments below or email me directly so I can share with our community. Music and yoga together is magic!

Yoga Songs to Build Community and Connection

You Might Like our Breathing Exercise Cards for Kids

Don’t forget to breathe! Help children to calm down and focus!

Practice any one of these forty breathing techniques to release stress and tension. Help your children feel calm and focused with breathing exercises like Balloon Breath, Bee Breath, and Bunny Breath. Download these Breathing Exercise Cards (66 cards in total) to use in your home, classroom, or studio. Index, Breathing Exercise Tips, and Breath Instructions are included. Recommended ages: 4+.

Joanna says, “I have loved looking through the breathing cards, with excitement. I haven’t come across breathing cards before, and this is EXCELLENT for children. Such an important exercise that even small children can do with confidence, and we all know how vital correct (and fun!) breathing is for our overall health. So I am so excited you have done all this work. I love the cards, the look and feel of their use.”

Purchase the Breathing Exercise Cards for Kids PDF Download.

Breathing Exercise Cards for Kids PDF Download

Get Updates from Kids Yoga Stories

To find out about other yoga tips and kids yoga sequences, join our weekly Kids Yoga Stories newsletter by adding your name and email to the box at the top of the page.