Teaching yoga to kids can be so much fun. When kids join you on the yoga mat, it’s easy for them to just plop down and dive into the movement. They curiously watch how you move your body and do their best to mimic the movement in theirs – monkey see, monkey do. You don’t see their minds spinning with responsibilities and to-do lists. Rightfully so, they are there in the present moment. You don’t hear lengthy explanations of why they can or cannot try a pose, they just go for it. There’s also a lot of laughter and sound effects.

If you have a chance to practice with or teach children yoga, I highly recommend it. That uninhibited playful spirit may just follow you into your practice on or off the mat. Need a little inspiration? Here are a few themes or ideas for yoga with kids.

Animals – Sound effects and movement in the poses are a must here. Sit in butterfly (Baddha Konasana) and flap your “wings”. Bark in down dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) and howl at the moon in up dog (Urhdva Mukha Svanasana). Wriggle and hiss on the floor in cobra (Bhujangasana).

Alphabet – Pick foods, animals or really anything and have the kids move their bodies to mimic the shape or action. A is for alligator (lay on their belly and snap their arms like jaws), B is for banana (find a standing crescent or locust posture), C is for cat (on all fours, arch the back and hiss), etc. The movement doesn’t have to be an “official” yoga pose. Just let your creativity take over and have fun.