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How to Run a Successful Sports Day Yoga Session in Schools | Top Tips for Kids Yoga Teachers10/6/2025 If you’re thinking about offering yoga or well-being sessions as part of a school’s Sports Day, Activity Week or Health Week, this blog is for you. It’s packed full of practical advice to help you navigate the school system, run a smooth session, and get invited back again and again. This is the fourth blog in the series, if you haven't already done so, you might want to check out the previous ones: 1️⃣Why Kids Yoga Deserves a Place in Sports and Activity Weeks 2️⃣Teaching Yoga in Schools for Sporting Events: What Should We Actually Teach? 3️⃣How to Organise a Successful Kids Yoga Day in Schools Let's get straight in to the tips!
1. Discover What the School Needs I know we’ve all got our favourite breathing games, postures or yoga philosophies to share – and that’s wonderful – but your number one job is to meet the school’s needs. What do they want the children to experience? Is this a calm-down session after a busy sports circuit? A high-energy movement break? A ‘mindful PE’ lesson for a specific key stage? The key is to ask clear questions and tailor your offering. If you miss the mark, schools may simply not re-book – and you may never know why. They’re not being unkind; schools are just incredibly busy. So the more we can show we’re meeting their goals, the more likely we are to build a lasting relationship. Also, be mindful of the language you use. Some schools (especially religious ones) may be sensitive about the word “yoga” – even some community schools can be too. You might want to call it “movement and mindfulness”, “stretch and relax”, or simply “a well-being session”. I share a “Yoga and Religion” letter in my Document Bundle resource that’s really helpful for these situations. 2. Communicate Clearly and Professionally Having worked in many different schools (large and small), in many different roles: classroom teacher, a PE coordinator, a science lead, PSHE lead, a senior leader, specialist group teacher etc etc. I can say this with certainty: communication in schools is hard. Even the best intentions can get lost between the many different people in a school. So, it’s essential to:
I like to send teachers who are involved in the event a short letter or email in advance to let them know what to expect. Included in the Document Bundle resource is a Frequently Asked Questions letter that I use for this purpose- so that everyone understands what the lesson will entail (and what it won't!) and it helps staff to know how they can best support the children within the lesson. I find this so useful, as we are all on the same page. 3. Financial Clarity Let’s talk money for a second. If you’re doing a one-off workshop, I highly recommend requesting a deposit. After an experience I had where I was chasing payment for a last-minute cancellation, I learnt to ask for 50% up front – and the workshop isn’t confirmed until that’s paid. For regular termly work, I invoice at the beginning of each term, but for one-offs, I ensure that I’m paid at least some of the amount before teaching. Schools are happy with these terms when they are explained clearly and professionally. 4. Prepare Like a Pro! On the day, arrive early and be ready for the unexpected. Here are some practical prep tips that I've discovered are vital for me!
5. Expect the Unexpected – and Go With the Flow Timetables change. Classes swap. Rooms double-book. It’s not personal, it’s just school life. One class might need to swap because a child has a SEND observation. Another might be running late because assembly overran. Instead of stressing (easier said than done!), try to be the flexible, friendly professional so that they want to invite you back. I keep my props and themes consistent across the day, so I can adapt quickly if needed. A sense of humour helps too! 😊 6. Maximise the Opportunity When you are in the school, with all of these new people, don’t forget to let people know what else you offer! If you run:
Final Thoughts Working in schools can be incredibly rewarding, but it does take preparation and flexibility. I hope these tips help you feel more confident, clear and excited about offering your yoga or well-being sessions during Sports Week or any other school activity day. Here are some resources that you may find helpful: 📃Free Key Stage One Sports Day Plan: See the kind of lesson that I teach and adapt it to make it your own. 📂Document Bundle Resource: Get lots of useful documents and letters that I have created and use in my own business. 🧠Tame the Crowd without being Loud: E-course to support you to understand and manage children positively in all of your classes (including large groups) 💫Personalised Support: Book a call with me and I can help you with whatever it is you are struggling with right now in your business. Am I new to you? Hi! I’m Julia Hankins, children’s well-being consultant, founder of Well-Being Adventurers, and someone who works in schools a lot! I also support other kids’ yoga teachers to thrive in their work, it's great to connect with you! Why not join the free community of yoga teachers working in schools.
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This blog is part of a mini series designed especially for kids yoga teachers who have been invited into schools to deliver yoga sessions during PE, sports days, activity weeks, or wellbeing days. Whether you're brand new to this or just curious about how others do it, I hope this gives you some practical guidance and reassurance. This blog is focused on something often overlooked but absolutely vital: how to organise the day. What Does a Kids Yoga Day in a School Look Like?
Let’s say a school has asked you to deliver yoga workshops as part of a special day. This could be:
You might be delivering sessions all day, or just for part of the day. The way I usually work is that I’m based in one location—usually the school hall—and the children come to me on a rota or timetable throughout the day. Sometimes I’m in a hall, sometimes outside, and at one school I even teach in a teepee (which is magical!). What Kind of Timetable Works? Sessions can range from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the children's age or developmental stage, the school’s timings, and how many classes they want you to see. The average duration of lesson that I teach in a typical day like this is 30 minutes, but the following timings give a guide for what I personally have found works well: * 20 - 30 minute lessons work well for younger children (Nursery, Reception) * 30 -minute lessons are perfect for key stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) * 30 to 60-minute lessons suit Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6) Some days I teach 10 sessions back-to-back—and occasionally, I even teach 11 (which I wouldn’t recommend! 🙃😴). For most one- off special event days, I teach between 6 and 9 lessons. Either the school or I create the timetable. If I am creating the timetable, I always tailor it to their schedule and needs, making sure that I consider break and lunch times, start of the school day, end of the school day, and whether I need to vacate the room for anything (for example, if the hall is also used for lunchtime). Keeping Lesson Content Manageable I like to keep the day manageable for me by delivering similar sessions to grouped year bands:
This structure keeps the content appropriate for the age group, but also protects my energy. Delivering a totally different lesson to every class would leave me completely depleted. 💫Reuse core structures and simply adapt slightly to suit each age group. That way, you can stay focused, present, and relaxed throughout the day. If you’d like to see what a lesson might look like, you can grab a free Key Stage 1 Sports Day Yoga lesson plan. Energy Management Tips Teaching back-to-back yoga sessions all day can be physically and emotionally intense, even when it’s fun! Here are some things that I find help me keep my energy sustainable: 🌟 Join in with breathing exercises to ground yourself 🌟 Let children take the lead in some activities to reduce your physical load 🌟 Keep some activities consistent throughout the day 🌟 Pack plenty of snacks and water 🌟 Take proper breaks—sometimes I even have a little yoga nidra or nap in my car! You can’t pour from an empty cup, and showing up with, balanced energy really makes a difference to the quality of what you are able to deliver and also your own health. Keep It Simple (Especially with Props & Plans) I know how tempting it can be to bring everything—scarves, feathers, chime bars, glitter jars… the works! But I’ve learnt that simplicity is key. Bring what you need, but don’t overwhelm yourself. I tend to use mostly the same props for all year groups, only changing the pose cards (and often soft toys to accompany them) for each year group. You can buy the gorgeous pose cards that I use in three different ways: 1️⃣All of the resources, manual and comprehensive training on how to use them in your classes. 2️⃣Just the resources (four sets of printable pose cards and 5 posters) and a simplified manual. 3️⃣Just the pose banks / posters. Want Some Help Planning? If this kind of day is new to you—or if you’d just like a peek at how I do it—I’ve created a free resource called the Sports Day Yoga Plan to get a taster of the type of lesson that works for me. Let’s Keep Supporting Each Other I hope this blog has given you a helpful starting point. You’re doing such valuable work, bringing movement, breath, and well-being into children’s lives—and it matters more than ever. Have you joined the fabulous, helpful and friendly free community? If you’ve found this post useful, I’d love it if you’d leave a comment or share it with a fellow kids yoga teacher. And if you’ve got any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] —I’m always happy to help. If you'd like some tailored support, book a chat with me here. x Julia Am I new to you? Let me introduce myself ... I’m Julia Hankins, founder of Well-Being Adventurers. I work as a children’s well-being consultant—spending most of my time in schools delivering well-being workshops, teaching yoga and mindfulness sessions, and training school staff to support children’s mental, emotional and physical health. I also mentor other kids yoga teachers, helping them grow in confidence and flourish in their own unique way. I love to connect with other kids yoga and wellness professionals, why not drop me a line and tell me about your work with children? If you're interested in delivering yoga during the school day—perhaps for sports day or as part of an activity week—this blog and video is for you. It’s part two in a four-part series, so if you haven’t yet read or watched the first one, you might want to pop back and start there. In the last video and blog, I talked about why I believe that yoga and mindful movement deserve to be part of schools PE offerings. I shared the benefits to the children, the school and to you and your business. In this blog and video I’m going to be sharing some considerations for the content of what to teach in yoga classes that are designed to fit into a school sporting or physical activity event. "I Know What to Teach in a Club… But What About in School?"
So, what do we actually teach in these sessions? It’s a really common question, especially if your yoga teacher training focused more on games and community classes. You might be wondering how to bridge the gap between small, playful sessions and whole-class lessons during the school day—particularly those that link with physical education (P.E.). You’re not alone in that. One of the main things I do when mentoring kids yoga teachers is help them make this very transition—from small, cosy classes to confident, curriculum-aligned lessons in front of a whole class of thirty children! If You're Just Starting with Whole-Class Yoga... If you’re new to teaching yoga to larger groups, you might find my self-paced online trainings really helpful:
School Day ≠ After-School Club This part’s important: delivering the same session you’d offer in a club just won’t cut it during the school day. School lessons need to feel different. You’ll likely need to:
This can feel intimidating—but it’s completely doable with the right support. If you'd like an example of how I approach this, I’ve created a free downloadable Key Stage 1 Sports Day Yoga Lesson Plan. It’s one I’ve used in schools myself, and you’re welcome to use it as inspiration, tweak it, or take what works for your style. (Or, you might read it and think, “Not for me”—which is totally fine too! we are all different 🙃 and my style is not for everyone) Remember: The School Is Your Client This is a mindset shift that changes everything. In your community classes, parents are your clients. But in schools, it’s the school itself. That means your sessions need to meet their expectations, goals, and curriculum links. When you do that well, schools are much more likely to invite you back again and again. One school has me in every year for their sports day—because what I offer works for them and their pupils. Start with the Lesson Objective Ask yourself (or ask the school): What’s the goal of this session? Some examples:
Once you’ve got clarity on the goal, you can shape a lesson or workshop that delivers just that. This conversation with the school is key. Don’t be afraid to ask:
Four Physical Benefits I Focus On If you’re offering yoga as part of the P.E. curriculum, then it helps to focus on the physical benefits of yoga—especially in language schools already understand. Here are the four pillars I centre my sessions around:
Of course, if your teaching style focuses on different benefits, that’s absolutely fine! The key is clarity and consistency. Key Takeaways for Teaching Yoga in Schools To wrap up, here’s a quick checklist if you're planning yoga sessions in schools:
Thanks for reading—and for the important work you do 💛 Is this the first thing you are reading from me? Hi, I’m Julia Hankins – Children’s Well-Being Consultant, former class teacher and senior leader, and the founder of Well-Being Adventurers. I spend most of my time supporting schools with well-being training and workshops. I also mentor kids’ yoga teachers who want to support children’s well-being —and thrive while they do it. Why not join the lovely community of yoga teachers who work in schools (or want to). If you’re a kids yoga teacher and you’ve ever thought about offering your classes as part of a school’s PE provision – especially around sports days or activity weeks – then you’re in the right place. In this blog (the first in a four-part series), I’ll share why this can be such a powerful opportunity – for children, schools, and you as a teacher and business owner. Why Now is a Brilliant Time to Offer Yoga in Schools
Let’s talk timing. In the UK, June and July are buzzing with activity in schools – and that includes all things PE. Why? Because of events like:
I often get booked for one-off events in schools I don’t usually work with – on top of the schools I support all year round. It’s a great time to reach out to new schools who might be looking for exactly what you offer. Top Tip: I’ve created a Special Dates Marketing Plan to help you know when and how to tie your offerings into key events in the school year. But… Isn’t Yoga More PSHE than PE? A lot of people think yoga is better suited to PSHE. While it does fit nicely into this subject, I passionately believe yoga is also an ideal complement to physical education. Here’s why it can be great to offer yoga as part of a sports day or activity week within the school curriculum time: The Benefits for Children When we go into schools, we’re reaching children who may never otherwise get the chance to experience yoga or mindful movement. In after-school clubs or community classes, we often attract the same types of families. But a school-based class means every child gets to try it – regardless of background, beliefs, or ability to pay. As a yoga teacher, you will already know how yoga supports:
The Benefits for Schools Schools love to show families and communities that they offer a rich and varied curriculum. Yoga ticks that box – it's something parents often find reassuring and impressive. Plus, yoga can engage children who might not enjoy competition or traditional sports. It helps them feel part of PE in a meaningful way. And, of course, yoga classes can be adapted for all children – including those with additional needs or physical differences. This makes it a more inclusive option during busy school activity weeks. Yoga naturally links physical, mental, and emotional well-being – something schools are under increasing pressure to prioritise. The Benefits for You and Your Business Let’s not forget you! Bringing yoga into schools:
Ready to Give It a Go? I’ve created a free Key Stage 1 Sports Day Yoga Lesson Plan to help you get started with planning a simple, engaging session. You can download it, along with the Special Dates Marketing Plan, using the links provided. In the next few blogs, I’ll be sharing:
If you have questions, I’d love to hear from you. Or if you'd like tailored support planning your school offering, get in touch or book a meeting and we’ll explore what might work for you. Is this the first time 'meeting' me? Hello – I’m Julia! I’m Julia Hankins – a children’s well-being consultant, kids yoga teacher, and founder of Well-Being Adventurers. I spend most of my time delivering training and workshops in schools, and I also support other kids yoga teachers to do the same and thrive in their work. Why not join our community of yoga teachers who teach in schools. |
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