Yoga Certification for Kids

Yoga offers children so many benefits, both physical and behavioral, that teaching yoga to children can leave a lifelong impression on them. Becoming certified to teach children yoga is an exciting time in any fitness enthusiast’s life. Certification is a long and hard road, but working with and influencing children in such a manner is worth the effort.

  1. Benefits

    • Yoga benefits children in physical, mental and emotional ways. Children who participate in yoga develop increased flexibility, strength and body awareness. Through movement and play, children are taught calmness and the importance of exercise and relaxation. Yoga builds mental focus in some children who have difficulty. Mental focus and body awareness together can combat some of the common symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Also children who participate in yoga are less likely to have common body image problems as teens and young adults.

    Teaching Yoga to Kids

    • Teaching yoga to children has specific challenges associated with it. Children bring to the class an innate creativity. That creativity breeds distraction. It’s difficult to teach a group of children the "downward-facing dog" pose without some barking in the classroom. People who teach yoga to children on a regular basis indicate that the teacher needs to let that barking happen. Teaching children is more effective and memorable if you incorporate stories and play into the routine. There is an entire style of yoga, Laugh Yoga, that is just laughing and breathing methods integrated with very basic movements.

    Reasons to Certify

    • Certification gives a business validity. There are some states where it is illegal to run a business or accept money for fitness instruction without certification. When a person becomes certified in a fitness field, she has been trained in the fitness method (such as yoga, aerobics or Pilates) as well as important safety techniques. Certified professionals go through training on human anatomy, how a fitness method will affect the anatomy and how to best avoid injury.

    Where to Get Certified

    • YogaKids offers a certification course in-person across the United States and Canada (see References). The first portion of its certification is a home-study program; once that is completed the potential instructor needs to complete a seven-day course before he can be considered a registered YogaKids instructor.

      Its Yoga Kids also offers a certification program in its studio. The company expects that the participant already has an understanding of yoga and preferably has a certification to teach yoga to adults. The courses are significantly shorter than YogaKids', as the courses range from four to 10 hours long but focus only on the children and how teaching children is different from teaching adults.

    What to Expect Afterward

    • After certification, the professional is free to find employment in major fitness chains or private studios. Some successful children’s yoga teachers have brought yoga into schools, both public and private, to assist with behavior issues as well as a common fitness class. Also, the certified professional is able to begin her own practice as a children’s yoga instructor.