25 Best Animal Yoga Poses for Kids: Intrigue Your Kid’s Interest in Yoga

With all of the technology present in this day and age, children require a much-needed mindfulness break from their devices. And there’s probably no better way to do so than to introduce them to the world of yoga.

Yoga provides a time for inner focus, a chance to connect with their bodies, an escape from the stresses of daily life, and even an opportunity to experience a little silliness to lighten their environment. Moreover, we all know how much children love animals.

It’s no surprise, therefore, that animal yoga poses will intrigue your kid’s interest. As such, keep on reading as we’re about to show you our top 25 animal yoga poses for kids, so let’s get right into it, shall we?

Benefits of Animal Yoga Pose for Kids

Kids love to pretend they are animals.
It allows them to try different movements and body positioning to enhance coordination.
It connects them with nature.
It allows them to be a little noisy and be more creative when trying new poses.
It develops literacy growth.
It empowers your kid to be more mindful of their body so that they learn how to make good use of it.
Breathing and attentiveness can all help your kid manage stress.
It Increases your kid’s confidence and a positive self-image by improving their concentration.
It is a backup plan if you find your kid constantly engrossed in electronic devices.

Beginner Animal Yoga Pose: Warm-up

If you’ve ever taken a yoga class, you’ve most likely heard of the word “Chi.” While it may sound a little corny, it never hurts to set a pleasant mood before you begin. Here are a few options for your children to make it happen:

Choose a comfortable position to sit. This will help you retain your focus and concentrate on your breathing. This is especially important when you choose a pose that needs a lot of movement.
Set the mood: Dim the lights, light candles, and have a cold scented towel ready for when you’re done – This is something we like to do to help kids focus. Meditation is an important part of yoga, and it’s difficult to meditate while your mind wanders.
Even when the workout is finished, it’s important to establish an environment that will keep your kids engaged and comfortable.
Finally, yes practice makes perfect. The more your children practice their postures, the more comfortable their bodies will get with the motions.

25 Animal Yoga Poses for Kids

1. Monkey pose

This pose puts your acrobatic skills to the test! Some kids are born with the ability to do it.

The monkey pose stretches the thighs, abdomen, and groins while also increasing hip flexibility.

Keep your back straight and your eyes forward. Raise your hands to eye level and squeeze your fists as if you’re grasping some branches. Then, bend your knees slightly and turn your head right, left, and right again.

When looking right, leap to the left, and when looking left, jump to the right, as if you were a jolly monkey! This is a great form of yoga for kindergarteners. They’ll be divided into two. It allows for full neck mobility as well as lateral movement of the limbs.

2. Cat Pose or Marjaryasana

This cat pose requires you to get down on all fours with your knees and hands hip-width apart and your back horizontal. The next step is to arch your back upward as if you were a scared cat on Halloween.

This pose stretches out your child’s back and neck. It also helps them relax their spine and stomach.

3. Cow Pose

This one is similar to the cat pose, but the only distinction is the back arch.

Get on all fours with your arms and legs shoulder-width apart. Your back should be horizontal at all times. Raise your head and chest while arching your center back downward and dipping toward the floor.

Your child can switch between cow and cat poses by arching their back upwards and down again in this pose. Just make sure that they maintain a steady, quiet breathing pattern.

4. Puppy Dog Pose

This pose is a great way to warm up. First, get down on your hands and knees on the mat and walk forward until your chest reaches the mat. Then, maintain an outstretched-arm position, while keeping your knees on the mat.

5. Elephant Pose

This one will strengthen the arms and legs while also improving coordination and flexibility.

First, stand tall with your feet spaced slightly apart.
Stretch your left hand to the right, and softly grip your nose with your right hand.
Bend forward and swing from side to side as if you were an elephant. Your left hand should swing like an elephant’s trunk.
As you swing from side to side, make sure your knees are soft.
Enjoy the stretch and release the hands gradually.
Repeat the technique with the other hand.

6. Flamingo Pose

This yoga pose is a great foundation for all balance poses. Encourage your child to stand on one leg at a time. Bend the opposite leg with the top of the foot toward the ground with your support on their side body.

It won’t appear to be much at first, but the more balance practice your kid receives, the more confident they will be later on when they’re ready to try more difficult poses.

7. Butterfly Pose

This relaxing cool-down pose will bring a smile to your kid’s face. It will stretch the groin and inner thighs while strengthening their back and abdomen, in addition to improving hip flexibility.

Bring the soles of your feet together in a seated position.
Maintain a tall spine.
Grab each foot and rest your elbows against your inner thighs with your hands.
Inhale to prepare, then slowly drop your torso forward as you exhale while maintaining a straight spine.
Make sure to pause when you feel the stretch. Hold for at least 30 seconds.

8. Eagle Pose

Known as (Garudasana), this upper-body stretch is another animal pose that takes a lot of balance. You do this by standing on one foot while wrapping the other leg around the bent knee of the supporting leg. Then, you intertwine the arms in a similar way.

9. Crocodile Pose

It is a great resting pose for releasing tension and stress. While you may not look like a crocodile in this pose, which has you lying on your stomach with your head down and your arms folded at the elbow, rest assured that kids will love this pose.

10. Giraffe Pose

This is a fun and animal-themed yoga pose that kids of all ages will enjoy! It is a great way to enhance balance, strengthen the legs, and extend the upper body. Children’s coordination will improve as they work on balancing one arm.

Start with one hand on your mat, and reach up to the sky with the other, while holding this pose for a couple of breaths. Then, return your hand to your mat, and do the same on the other side.

11. The Cobra Pose or Bhujangasana

Place your hands under your shoulders and hug your elbows into the sides of your body while lying on your stomach. Lift your head and torso off the floor by pressing through your feet. Now, your kid should hiss like a snake.

12. Gorilla Pose

This one is a brilliant stretch for kids which promotes a healthy rush of blood to their heads and increases flexibility. Kids can hold onto their big toes or try to get their hands under their feet. These are the steps to follow:

Fold your hips and stand up.
Raise your toes and slip your palms up, fingers parallel to your toes, under them (or grab on to your big toes).
You should now have your hands beneath your feet.
Lift your hips to the sky or ceiling while breathing.
Hold the position for 10-20 seconds.

13. Lizard Pose

This pose stretches the hip flexors and keeps your kid’s leg muscles limber as they grow. In this simple pose, your kid will transform into a sunbathing lizard! To do so, you can have one child bend so that they form a rock.

The second child takes a seat on the rock and slowly reclines in the sun. Allow the rock to rise up to help the lizard in returning to a seated position.

14. Sea Turtle Pose

Sit back on your heels and reach your arms out in front of you, bringing your forehead down to rest on the floor in front of your knees.

Take a couple of deep breaths in and out. Basically, your kid will assume the role of a marine turtle.

15. Raccoon Pose

To do this pose, sit on your heels and take a few deep breaths to ground and center yourself.

Then, you will form Gyan Mudra (or ‘raccoon eyes’) using your thumb and index finger on both palms and lift them up to your eyes.

Stay like a sleeping raccoon for ten breaths.

16. Bug Pose

This pose is very beneficial for stretching the lower back, inner thighs, and hamstrings. Lie down on your back and raise your feet up high. Then, grab the inner sides of your feet and bring them down to the ground.

Try to align the ankles and knees as much as possible. Now, you can stay still like a patient bug soaking up the sun, or rock back and forth like a wriggly one.

17. Hare/Rabbit Pose

This one lengthens the spine and stretches the shoulders, arms, and back muscles while also stimulating the immunological and endocrine systems.

18. Heron Pose

It stimulates the heart and abdominal organs while stretching the back, hamstrings, hips, knees, and ankles.

19. Camel Pose

To practice the camel pose, kneel with your feet hip-width apart and lean on your knees. Then, take a deep breath and place your hands on your hips.

Exhale while arching your back and keeping your hips and thighs straight. Then, allow your head to fall back and lay your hands on your heels.

20. Scorpion Pose

This is a tough balance pose and kids will find it challenging and entertaining. It involves balancing on one’s lower arms, with one’s legs bent over the torso in the air.

21. Swan Pose

Kids are naturally flexible and will find this pose easy. To start, kneel down on your hands and knees, and stretch your legs out behind you. Then, bend one knee and cross it in front of you, ankle on the ground.

Lift your chest and head after lowering your hips to the ground.

22. Owl Pose

This is a fun one that most children appreciate. Bend down and place your hands on the ground while standing with your feet apart. Then, place your hands on your lower back, while straightening it.

23. Horse Pose

Stand with your feet spread wide apart and slightly turned outward and bring your knees to your chest. Then, place your palms together in front of your chest or lift your hands above your head.

24. Donkey Kick Pose

This one is a great exercise for both stability and toning. To start, place hands directly under your shoulders. Keep your back flat and tuck your chin slightly so the back of your neck faces the ceiling.

Curl your spine without engaging your lower abdominals. Pull your right leg straight back and up toward the ceiling, maintaining your right knee bent at a 90-degree angle.

You should achieve your maximum height before your back begins to arch or your hips begin to rotate. After that, you can return to your starting position.

25. Jaguar Pose

This one is similar to the cat pose in that you fold forward over your legs while standing with your feet wide apart. You sway to one side, bending a knee, and then the other as if you’re a jungle cat about to pounce.

All in all, we understand the importance of providing your child with all they need for their development and well-being. Daily practice of these yoga poses will help to establish a lifestyle that will benefit your child’s health in the long run.

We hope that you found the above animal yoga poses for kids beneficial. After you’ve tried them with your children, ask them to help you come up with new poses to help them expand their imaginations.

What is your favourite animal yoga pose? We would love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments section below! Ask your kid what animal do they feel the most connected to.

Summary

What is your favorite animal yoga pose? We would love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments section below! Ask your kid what animal do they feel the most connected to.