In a world where children are constantly surrounded by screens and multiple activities, yoga appears to be a real breath of fresh air for their overall well-being. Born from a centuries-old practice, this gentle discipline adapts perfectly to the needs of children, offering them a playful and calming space that promotes their physical and emotional development. In 2025, more and more schools, daycare centers, and organizations like Namaste Kids or Yoga Enfant Bonheur are integrating yoga into their programs, aware of the essential role it plays in stress management and the personal development of young children. But how can we make this activity appealing to them? How can we respect their rhythm while still sharing the profound benefits of yoga? I invite you to explore these dimensions through my experiences and observations, to better understand why and how you might offer yoga to the children in your life.
The Essential Benefits of Yoga for Children and Their Overall Development
Yoga for children is not limited to a simple introduction to physical postures. Above all, it is a complete experience that accompanies their physical and psychological growth in gentleness and play. My two decades of practice and teaching have shown me that yoga, in adapted forms, plays a fundamental role in the balance of children, whether they are hyperactive or reserved.
Physically, yoga enhances their motor skills. Schools like MiniYogi and Petit Yogi emphasize the development of flexibility, coordination, and balance, which are built through postures. For example, the tree pose, in addition to working on stability, proves to be a first lesson in concentration and patience. Each posture, even simple ones, is an invitation to better understand their body and gently strengthen the muscle groups essential to their growth.
Emotionally, the practice regulates their emotions and energy. I’ve often met young practitioners who, through the breath and movements offered in a caring environment such as Atelier Yogi Junior or Yoga en Herbe, learn to channel their excess energy and soothe their minds. Yoga then becomes a refuge, a space of calm in an often hectic life. This regulation promotes better stress management, essential from a young age.
Furthermore, yoga develops key psychological skills such as self-confidence and concentration. With tailored exercises, the practice encourages children to refocus, listen to their bodies, and dare to speak up within a group. This social dimension is important: participating in sessions with others, under banners like Souffle de Bambin, helps create bonds, strengthen self-esteem, and a sense of belonging. These benefits are all the more valuable in the context of 2025, where the mental agitation of young people continues to increase.
Finally, yoga stimulates creativity through the imagination brought to bear during sessions. By embodying animals, natural elements, or fantasy characters, children joyfully discover their inner world. This playful approach, implemented at Namaste Kids and other organizations, makes all the difference between an imposed discipline and an activity chosen and loved by young children. This creativity is supported by materials such as songs, stories, and games, making each session unique and captivating.
At what age should you start yoga with children? Adaptation and progression according to development
One of the crucial points when offering yoga to children is to respect their age and abilities, knowing that this discipline is not experienced the same way at age 2 as at age 10. In my experience, a gentle and gradual introduction is the key to establishing yoga in their lives. From 18 months, toddlers can benefit from yoga exercises adapted to their motor and sensory development. Sessions then focus on physical play mixed with nursery rhymes or puppets. At Yogamini or Mon Petit Yoga, we favor simple postures inspired by the animal world to awaken curiosity. The goal is not perfection but the joyful discovery of one’s body and breath.
Between the ages of 4 and 6, children become more adept at following a structured sequence. This is the time to introduce basic breathing exercises and awaken a deeper sense of body awareness. Sessions are kept short, often around 20 minutes, to maintain their interest. These moments are ideal for incorporating elements of playful meditation, strengthening attention and emotional management. Zen Enfant, for example, offers workshops that combine breathing, postures, and imaginative visualizations for this age group.
When children reach 8 years and older, they can enter into a true practice ritual with longer sequences, memorization of postures, and even participation in group games. At MiniYogi, sessions often include balance challenges or shared stories that encourage cooperation and socialization. At this age, yoga becomes more of a routine, a school of life, where children learn to listen to their bodies and integrate the notion of respect for themselves and others. These age progressions show that yoga can be adapted to all stages of childhood, as long as the teacher or parent takes care to modulate the practice while maintaining a playful atmosphere. Experience also shows that the setting and quality of support are decisive: good teaching, such as in the renowned organizations Namaste Kids or Souffle de Bambin, prevents yoga from becoming a chore and transforms it into a true pleasure.
Creating an atmosphere conducive to children’s yoga: the importance of the setting and playful teaching
For yoga to find its rightful place with children, we need to consider more than just the poses: the atmosphere and the teaching methods that accompany them are crucial. As a teacher, I place great emphasis on this aspect because it determines the enthusiasm and commitment of young yogis.
The setting must be reassuring and stimulating. It must provide a calm space, free from excessive distractions, where children feel safe. I’ve seen how a warm, colorful, and appropriate environment, like the one found at Yoga Enfant Bonheur, can transform a session. The layout of the mats, the soft lighting, and the appropriate music contribute to an atmosphere that encourages calm and relaxation.
The teaching method must incorporate imagination, a powerful motivator for children. Stories that incorporate a pose, such as the story of a little lion who adopts the warrior pose, captivate their attention. This method, which I teach in my workshops and which Namaste Kids applies extensively, helps foster a desire to practice without it feeling like rigid schoolwork. Children forget they’re doing an exercise and are immersed in the game. Incorporating visual or tactile elements, such as soft props or puppets, amplifies this playful experience.
Another essential point is to respect each child’s personality. In a class classified as a Junior Yogi Workshop, I often encourage children to make the poses their own, giving them the freedom to modify them, slow them down, or integrate them into their own spontaneous movements. This flexibility is also a lesson in self-kindness, a rare occurrence in many activities.
Finally, punctuating the session with dynamic moments and relaxation phases helps maintain the necessary balance. For example, starting with gentle stretches, introducing a few fun postures, and then ending with a short visualization promotes deep relaxation. My daycare students at Yoga en Herbe always leave feeling calm, ready to continue their day with serenity.
Practical advice for introducing yoga to children at home or at school
Offering yoga to children outside of professional settings is possible and undoubtedly very beneficial, provided you adapt your approach. I always encourage parents to start with short, relaxed sessions to avoid any pressure.
At home, there are many good times, such as right after waking up to gently prepare for the day or late afternoon to calm the mind after school. The setting should remain informal: setting up a yoga corner with colorful mats and a few props like those used at Petit Yogi encourages spontaneous practice. No matter how rigorous the postures, the most important thing is that the young practitioner feels good about the activity and develops a positive relationship with it.
The sessions can be supported by adapted videos, particularly those offered by Mon Petit Yoga, which offer a variety of fun postures and easy-to-follow breathing exercises. Using music or singing the postures together also reinforces the shared enjoyment of yoga.
In schools, yoga is increasingly gaining its place as a tool for well-being and concentration. Integrating a short session into the day helps children better manage their attention and reduce stress. It can be a weekly workshop of around twenty minutes, where the teacher guides simple postures and breathing exercises. Programs such as Souffle de Bambin or Zen Enfant provide clear educational resources adapted to teachers.
One last piece of advice that I always give: be patient and listen. Each child progresses at their own pace. Some are quickly won over, others need more time to master this discipline. Child yoga is not measured in performance but in wonder and serenity gained.
