Group and Partner Work in Kids' Yoga Classes

Group and partner work in kids' yoga classes can be a fantastic way to build connection, confidence, and creativity. However, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to manage, and some teachers may worry about behaviour or organisation challenges.

From speaking with other kids' yoga teachers, I know these concerns can be a barrier to including group work—which is a real shame, as it’s often children’s favourite part of my classes!

I thought I’d share some strategies I use to help keep group work manageable, safe, and fun.

Roots and Wings: Finding the Balance

I like to think of the metaphor of Roots and Wings when guiding children to work together or independently. This means providing the structure (roots) they need to feel secure while also allowing for the freedom (wings) to explore and be creative.

Roots: Creating Stability and Structure

Giving Clear Instructions
Before children begin working in partners or groups, it’s vital that they fully understand the task. Provide step-by-step explanations and model what you expect. For example, if you're asking them to create a pose flow:

1. Explain the task – “You’re going to create a short flow of three to five yoga poses.”
2. Demonstrate an example – Show them a simple sequence.
3. Practise together – Do one as a whole group before they try it on their own.

Use Pose Banks for Guidance
Pose banks (collections of visual pose cards) can offer children a helpful reference. Make sure the poses included are ones they have already learned and can safely practise. You can create different pose banks for various age groups or ability levels. Why not save yourself a lot of time and get the ones I’ve created:
👉🏻Work with me as your mentor and get access to all of my stuff!
👉🏻Get the comprehensive training and resource bundle.
👉🏻Get just the resource bundle (cards and pose banks).
👉🏻Get just the pose banks.

Provide Boundaries
Boundaries help create a sense of safety and clarity. A few I use include:

• Time limits – Let children know how much time they have and give a warning before time is up. E.g., “You have one more minute to finish your flow.”
• Pose limits – Encourage creativity within set parameters. E.g., “Your flow should include at least three but no more than five poses.”
• Safety guidelines – Be clear about what is and isn’t allowed. In my classes, I always set the boundary that there’s no gymnastics in yoga.

Wings: Encouraging Creativity and Independence

Give Choices
Giving children choices allows them to feel ownership of their learning. You might let them choose:

• Who they work with – Encourage them to pick a partner or group where they feel comfortable but won’t be distracted.
• Where they work – Keeping mats in a circle can help with organisation, but if time allows, you might let them spread out.
• Group size – Some children prefer working alone, while others enjoy small group collaboration.
• What they create – With a variety of poses available, children can design flows that reflect their own creativity.

Encourage Responsibility Giving children autonomy fosters responsibility. When we trust them to make choices, they often rise to the occasion. If challenges arise, you can always adjust accordingly.
It’s better to give children the opportunity to work with friends and separate them only if needed rather than forcing them to work with someone they aren’t comfortable with.
I like to use the phrase:

“Work with someone you feel comfortable with but won’t be distracted by.”

Support Social Inclusion
If a child is alone and seems unsure, ask them:

“Who do you feel safe with?” rather than “Who are your friends?”

This opens up options without making them feel left out. Some children don't feel that they have any friends, but will know who makes them feel safe.

Celebrating Their Work
In my classes, sharing is optional but encouraged. You can explore different ways of sharing, such as:

• Two groups showing their flows to each other.
• The whole class performing their sequences at the same time.
• Groups demonstrating their creations to the whole class.

Acknowledge teamwork and effort with specific praise, like:

• “I love how in sync you two were!”
• “This group worked really well together despite having lots of different ideas.”

Final Thoughts
By balancing structure with freedom, you create a space where children feel supported and empowered to express themselves. Group work can be a positive experience for everyone, and I hope these ideas inspire you in your own classes.

How do you approach group work in your classes or clubs? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

When you've been teaching children's yoga for a long time—especially to the same group of students—it can be both a joy and a challenge. Familiarity brings connection, trust, and consistency, but it can also make things feel a little stale over time.

So how do we keep our classes feeling fresh and exciting for both ourselves and our students?

Our brains love novelty—we are wired to seek out new and interesting experiences. But our nervous systems crave familiarity and safety. Finding the right balance between these two is where the magic happens in a long-term children's yoga practice.

Here are some simple but effective ways to keep your classes engaging, even when you've been teaching the same children for years:

1. Rotate Your Props Props are a fantastic way to bring novelty into your sessions. The key is to rotate them regularly rather than using the same ones all the time.
For example, if you use scarves every single week, they may start to lose their appeal. But if you bring them out only occasionally, children will be thrilled to see them again. Think of it like a toy rotation system—keeping things fresh without needing to constantly buy new resources.

Every week, I introduce a different prop, cycling through a core set to maintain excitement and engagement. When the soft toys make a return after several weeks away, the children react as if they are reuniting with old friends!

👉 If you’d like inspiration on props, check out my free guide Top of the Props for a list of my favourite props and ideas on how to use them.

2. Change the Room Layout Something as simple as rearranging the mats can completely transform the feel of a class. It’s a bit like moving the furniture around at home—it makes everything feel new again, even if nothing else has changed!
Here are some layout variations to try:

• Circle formation (great for connection and inclusivity)
• Rows facing the teacher (adds structure and focus)
• Rows facing each other (perfect for partner or group work)
• Small group stations (ideal for rotating activities or group work)
  
• Horseshoe or half-circle (creates a sense of openness and focus)
  

Even flipping the direction you usually face in the room can offer a fresh perspective. If you normally teach with the door behind you, try switching to the opposite side—little changes like this make a surprising difference!

3. Introduce New Themes or Teaching Styles Consistency is essential in children's yoga, but small changes within a structured framework can keep things feeling fresh.
Here are some ways to mix things up:

• Try an obstacle course: Adding movement stations can be an exciting way to approach yoga sequences. If you want a ready-made guide, check out my free obstacle course printable.
  
• Experiment with storytelling: If you usually use a structured sequence, why not introduce a themed story-based session? Or if you normally use storytelling, try a more free-flowing movement class.
  

4. Get the Children Involved Children love having a say in their sessions! Asking for their input can bring fresh energy to your teaching while making them feel valued and engaged.
Some ways to involve them include:

• Asking, “What have been your favourite activities so far?”
• Letting them vote on a prop or theme for the next lesson
• Inviting them to create their own yoga sequences or games
• Revisiting past activities they enjoyed but tweaking them slightly

Often, the simplest ideas—like bringing back a long-forgotten prop—can reignite excitement in a way we might not have anticipated!

Keep Your Teaching Fresh & Inspiring Staying engaged and inspired as a teacher is just as important as keeping the children engaged. By rotating props, switching up your room layout, introducing new themes, and getting the children involved, you can maintain a balance of novelty and familiarity that keeps everyone excited to return week after week.

If you’re looking for resources to help you bring variety into your teaching, you might love Captivate with Cards—my go-to resource for structuring engaging yoga sessions with 52 pose-based activity cards complete with teaching ideas. It’s the foundation of every class I teach!

I’d love to hear how you keep your kids' yoga classes fresh!

Drop me a message or email me at [email protected]—I reply to every email, and your questions might even inspire a future blog post or video!
Happy teaching!
Julia 😊

As kids' yoga teachers and well-being professionals, we want our classes to be a safe and welcoming space where children feel free to be themselves. We aim to create an environment where they can express themselves fully and be accepted just as they are. However, sometimes, the way one child behaves can negatively impact the experience for others—especially when it comes to excessive chatting.

This is a common challenge that many children's yoga teachers face, and it can be frustrating when a chatty child disrupts the flow of your session. So, how do you balance being an approachable, compassionate teacher while maintaining the structure needed for all children to learn effectively?

Here are some tried-and-tested strategies that I’ve developed over my 20+ years in education and my 8 years as a kids' yoga teacher.

1. Be Positive and Firm Establishing and referring back to ground rules is essential in helping children understand boundaries while feeling secure in your class. I recommend using a simple rule like: "We respect ourselves and each other."

If a child is talking over others or preventing their peers from learning, they aren’t respecting themselves or those around them. Gently bringing their attention back to this rule can help set expectations without being overly strict or negative. If you'd like support in setting clear boundaries, my "Get Real with Rules" freebie includes a rules poster and guide to help you implement effective class agreements.

2. Involve Children in the Lesson Sometimes, excessive chatting happens because children are struggling to focus or stay engaged. Try incorporating more opportunities for interaction, such as:

• Partner or group discussions
• Call-and-response activities
• Short moments to share thoughts aloud

The key is to set clear expectations about when talking is encouraged and when it’s time to listen. Using a signal like ringing a bell or clapping a rhythm can help children understand when to refocus. Practising this signal as a game can make it fun and effective.

3. Praise Positive Behaviour First A simple but powerful strategy is to give three positives before addressing a negative. Before asking a child to stop chatting, acknowledge three children who are sitting quietly and listening. This positive reinforcement often leads other children to self-correct without needing a direct reprimand.
If some children are still talking, a friendly smile and a gentle look in their direction can serve as a subtle reminder.

4. Offer Choices and Encourage Self-Regulation Sometimes, children chat because they’re distracted by their friends. I like to have a few spare yoga mats available and let children know they are free to move if they feel distracted. If I notice persistent chatting, I remind everyone about the option:

"If you're finding it hard to concentrate, feel free to move to another mat so you can focus better."

This approach gives children autonomy and encourages self-awareness rather than making them feel singled out.

5. Address Chatting Privately If a child continues to chat despite multiple reminders, I take a moment to speak with them privately while the rest of the class is engaged in an activity. Rather than reprimanding, I approach with curiosity:

"Hey, I noticed you've been chatting a lot today. Is everything okay? Do you need any help?"

This makes children feel respected rather than shamed. If needed, I remind them gently:

"Remember, our rule is that we respect ourselves and each other. If I see you chatting again during teaching time, I’ll need to ask you to move."

Giving children a clear warning and explaining why helps them take responsibility for their actions.

6. Repair the Relationship If you’ve had to address a child’s behaviour, take a moment later to rebuild a positive connection. Find an opportunity to praise them for something they’re doing well:

"I love how focused you are now—great job!"

Acknowledging their efforts after correction ensures they don’t feel embarrassed or singled out.

Final Thoughts Chatty kids can be challenging, but it’s important to remember that their talking might be due to various reasons. They may simply be naturally talkative, they could be neurodivergent and struggling with social cues, or they might need extra validation due to circumstances we aren’t aware of. Approaching behaviour management with compassion and curiosity ensures that all children feel valued and respected while maintaining a positive learning environment.

If you'd like more support in managing behaviour in your classes, check out my free video: "Boost Behaviour in Your Kids' Yoga Classes". This free poster and guide may also be useful to you!

You might also find "Tame the Crowd Without Being Loud" helpful—an e-course designed to help you handle class behaviour with kindness and confidence.

Need personalised support? I offer one-off mentoring sessions and packages for kids' yoga teachers looking to refine their teaching approach. Get in touch, and let’s find the best solutions for you!

What strategies do you use to manage chatty kids in your classes? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Relationships are the most important thing to me in my classes. I believe that the main reason that my classes are so successful is because I value relationships and they are at the heart of everything that I do.

I LOVE this quote by Psychiatrist Bruce D Perry, whose clinical research and practice focuses on examining the long-term effects of trauma in children.

“The more healthy relationships a child has, the more likely he will be to recover from trauma and thrive. Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love.”

Even if you only spend a small amount of time with the children that you teach, it is still possible to build a healthy strong relationship in which children feel secure and can thrive.

Research consistently shows that children who develop secure attachments early in life tend to have higher self-esteem, better emotional regulation skills, and healthier relationships later in life.

I’m going to be drawing on the work of clinical professor of psychiatry  Dr Daniel Siegel 4 S’s of secure attachment. This work really heavily influences how I am as a parent and as a teacher.

Dan Siegel outlines four key elements needed for secure attachment which are: Safe, Seen, Soothed and Secure. I’m going to talk about how we can achieve each one in our classes.

Safe

• Remind them of your name!
  
• Let children know what to expect from you and from the class.
  
• Being clear about your boundaries and sticking to them- if children see you maintaining a rule/ boundary they know they can trust you to mean what you say.
• Obviously, ensure that the practice is safe too: the activities that you use, the environment, that your lessons are safe and appropriate to the age group.
• Emotional safety- sometimes kids will get dysregulated within your class. How you respond to this will heavily impact how safe they feel. Responding in a calm and  non judgemental way is really important here.
• Explain what’s coming next, warn of any changes in the environment, for example, “I’m going to turn off the light now.” 
  

Seen 
Here we are talking all about making each child feel important and valued for who they are. This is easier in community classes or extra curricular activities, where numbers are likely to be smaller and you will often have more time to interact with each child and hear what they have to say on an individual level.
This can be tricky to achieve when you are teaching large groups, but here are some ways that you might try:

• Using names! Learn them if possible, if not use name cards and use every opportunity to use someone's name in a positive way.
• Gather opinions in small groups this is possible individually but in larger groups by voting- for example with their bodies, by ‘showing you’, for example, their favourite pose/ colour/ food etc. Playing games like ‘love it or lose it’ or getting children to vote by placing props on cards.
• Ensure every child gets a turn- keep lists if you need too.
• Walk around giving eye contact (where comfortable), praise, commentary, smiles etc. Give one on one time where you can.
• Little chats when you see children around the school or moments between lessons.

Soothed
This is all about helping children to regulate their emotions and teaching coping mechanisms. It also involves supporting children if they are upset or distressed, by offering comfort or reassurance.
This can be a tricky one, as when we are delivering a lesson, our main focus needs to be teaching the children. We can’t stop the class every time someone is upset because it will very quickly descend into chaos!
Also, with having a small amount of time with the children - we might not be the best person to ‘soothe’ if there is an issue at play.
The way that I view this is acknowledging and validating feelings of children. If someone is upset because they didn’t get the soft toy that they wanted- commenting on how hard it is when we feel disappointed. 
We can offer support and comfort by asking the child if they would like to sit next to us, by having a quick chat with them when the other children are involved in an activity, by checking in with them.
Ultimately though, it may be best to pass the information on to another adult who the child has a closer relationship with, such as a teacher, teaching assistant or parent.

Secure
Children feel secure when they know what to expect both from you and from the lesson itself. This means:

• Be calm and consistent in your approach-  no explosive shouting! Be predictable!
• Have routines: start your class in the same way, end in the same way, have systems that you follow so kids can feel settled and well orientated in the class.
• Have a clear structure to your classes so that children know what is coming next.

This was just a really quick overview of how we can foster healthy relationships in our kids yoga classes, I hope that you found it useful.
If you struggle with any elements discussed here, you may be interested in further training, or mentoring. Don't hesitate to email me at [email protected]

Using a theme for kids yoga classes and workshops can be a lot of fun.
It can also be a sure way to spend lots of money on a one-time class!
Take it from someone who has done this.

Today I’d like to share with you some things to consider about theming classes. I hope that you find these thoughts useful.

I have definitely had times when I have worked out that after I had spent money on resources for a particular class or workshop, particularly themed ones, I didn’t have much profit at the end of it.

It might sound a bit ‘icky’ to be talking in the way and using words like ‘profit’ might not feel comfortable for you. I know that I didn’t say that I had a business for a really long time, but as my own business mentor said to me, the fact is, if you aren’t making a profit, you haven’t got a business, and if that is the case then really what you have is a hobby. 

This is lovely if you can afford this, but if you- like me, need to earn money teaching kids yoga, then you need to consider where your money is going and for me- themed classes was a big one!

So today, I’ll be talking about some ideas that you might like to try to keep costs down and also reduce the impact of our business on the environment too.

Instead of this…
Buying lots of props that are specific to that particular theme
It can be tempting to buy a class set of soft toy hearts for valentines day, or lots of toy pancakes for pancake day (yes, toy pancakes are a thing and yes, at one point I almost bought some!). But before you pay lots of money for something, consider how much use you are likely to get out of it. If you can envisage lots of uses and you feel excited and inspired with lots of creative uses- then go for it.

If you can only really think of a couple of times that you would use it - or ways that you could use it- then consider alternatives.

Try  this…
Make your own, or get the kids to make their own
Children are so creative and they love using their imaginations. Kids love novelty, they aren’t bothered that a new thing has been home made. Instead of buying pancakes, make some paper or card ones. Instead of buying soft toy hearts, stick some paper hearts onto some bean bags or on soft toys that you already have. Even better, involve the children in some way.

Use props that you already have in creative ways,
Using your props in different ways is a great way to foster this creativity and imagination. It also saves space in your storage and also saves you money. 

For example:
Some simple artificial petals can be: blossom from trees, snowflakes, fireworks, flowers on the ground, clouds etc. That are fairly inexpensive but can be used in different ways.


Pose Cards
It can be tempting to buy themed pose cards for a particular class- there are many beautiful ones out there and I can definitely see the draw to these. In fact, my seasonal bundles have themed pose cards in them!

You can also use cards for multiple purposes. This is why I created my nameless pose cards which are included in the Captivate with Cards resource and training bundle. They can be used time and time again to represent whatever your theme is. The children can even pick out the pose to suit their ideas.
You don’t necessarily need these cards to do this, you could pop a new name over the original name of pose cards that you already have.

Picture Cards
Creating your own theme cards that you keep and use again in future is a low cost and sustainable way to add a bit of novelty. I have a cheap laminator and it has been really useful for me to laminate cards that I use for theme classes. 

Instead of ….
Buying/ using a book for every theme
Using a book can often make us feel organised and like we have a structure to stick to. It can be comforting to use and kids yoga teachers often use books to build their class around.

However, using a book every single time can sometimes miss the mark. The kids might not really like the story, they may think that it is beneath their age range, or they might find the structure rigid and boring. I’m not saying never use books, but you may like to consider mixing it up sometimes.

Consider….
Creating an adventure with the children around the theme. This could look like picking pictures or toys out of a bag that link to the theme and creating an adventure together. Co-creation is something that Rainbow Kids Yoga talk about in their trainings and I love the freedom and creativity that comes with this type of class. Allowing the kids to take ownership of the session/ class or workshop adds in an extra bit of magic and there will be things that come out of it that you could never have planned to achieve.

Instead of …
Single use craft activities
Surely I can’t be the only kids yoga teacher who has spent a small fortune on craft supplies?
I know how it goes, we want the children to take something with them, or we see a really cute craft in The Works or Hobby Craft and it’s reduced! It might be a bargain for one but when we are buying for a whole class it suddenly becomes less than cheap! I’m not saying never do this, but I am saying consider if there is a cheaper more sustainable alternative.

Consider…
Re-using, repurposing, recycling
Some of the most engaging activities that I’ve done in workshops have been the cheapest and simplest. 

Here are some ideas you might like to try:

• Decorating donated glass jars in a number of different ways -for example glass pens or tissue paper using them as a candle holder,  pen jar or memory jar.
• Decorating cardboard flower pots and planting a seed in them.
• Making mandalas that can be photographed, then taken apart.
• Making decorations that can be laminated and kept.
  
  

There are many more ideas included in my seasonal bundles to support you to make your classes more sustainable and profitable for you. So if you struggle to think of ideas, these are a great place to start.

It is important to remember why we are doing what we are doing. 
Why are you giving children this experience? Is it so that it looks picture perfect on Instagram? Or is it so that the children enjoy an experience that feels good within. 
Because if it is for the second reason, we don’t need lots of expensive props for that.

If you are interested in using props effectively in your classes, you might find the training Props like a Pro useful, or this free video or this free guide.

Thanks for watching this video. I’d love to know how you make your themed classes sustainable and fun.

This is something that I was talking about recently, with someone who I mentor. I was actually joking at the time, but many a true word is said in jest, and this is really true. For me anyway, I wonder if you feel that way too?

I don’t see this talked about a lot within the kids yoga teacher world.  I wanted to talk about it today, because I think it is really important that we acknowledge it as it can really be quite unsettling!

When I set up my business eight years ago, I thought that I would simply move from being a school teacher to being a yoga teacher. I worried about the business side of things as this wasn’t my background. But generally, I just thought I’d be less stressed, less busy and that my health would be positively impacted.

I had NO IDEA what a deep journey it would take me on and how it would lead me to such a transformation of who I am in the world.

When I look back to the person that I was eight years ago, I am so different. You could say that everyone changes over a period of eight years. But if I compare how I changed in the eight years as a self employed business owner to the previous sixteen years of being a teacher there is no comparison.  So many internal shifts!

So why is running a business so inextricably linked with personal development?

Deep rooted beliefs about ourselves, habits and patterns are brought to the surface. We are forced to face them and deal with them whether we like it or not.

Here are some personal examples of issues that arose for me. I wonder if they resonate with you:

😟A fear of not being good enough/ knowing enough
Leading to:

• Taking way too many courses in the hope that they would make me feel ‘ready’ or more competent.
• Holding back on putting things ‘out there’.
• Seeking validation of others rather than trusting myself.

🫤Comparison with others
Leading to:

• Going on training courses and running classes because I thought that’s what I SHOULD do.
• Thinking that others have it all figured out and I’m behind where I should be.
• Feelings of not being enough.

🫣 Feelings of vulnerability, fear of judgement and fear of rejection
Leading to:

• Resistance to show up in my business on social media, or even just talking about it with other people- especially those who don’t GET what I do. 
• Barriers to putting a new offer out or reaching out to schools or potential clients.

🤯Workaholic and perfectionist tendencies
Leading to:

• Spending longer on tasks than I truly needed to.
• Holding off sharing things because they aren’t yet ready!
• I should be able to do everything for myself. 
  
  

🤑Money blocks

• Thinking that it isn’t ‘yogic’ to want to earn money (and I’m not talking about 6 figures here- just enough for a comfortable life)
• Believing that I need to work harder to deserve to earn money
• Believing that helping others shouldn’t have a financial gain.
  
  

There are many many more!

All of these issues still arise for me! I am not perfect and I don’t have it all figured out. I’m still very much on the journey. But I am far more aware of my own sh!t than I was at the start of this path!

To be honest, I don’t really believe anyone who makes out like they have it all sorted, because we all have our issues that we are working through. We are all human!

When we create something and bring it into the world, we are sharing something of ourselves- which can feel incredibly vulnerable and uncover issues, patterns of behaviour and thought processes that we didn’t even know were there.

I’m sharing this today, because I just wanted to normalise the process and the thoughts and feelings that might be happening for you too.

If you resonate with any of what I’m saying and you’d like some support to accompany you on your journey you may benefit from mentoring. 

Would you like to schedule a free chat to see if working with me could help you?

Maybe you are ready to say YES! to some support? Get 7 months of mentoring for the price of a 6 month package here. As soon as you buy, you will get lifetime access to all of my resources and training.

Thanks for reading, I'd love to know your thoughts on this, has your business been a personal development journey for you too? Email me at [email protected]