Kids

Yoga for Kids with our Kids Yoga Collection

First, the understatement of the year: kids have a lot of energy. Second, a no-nonsense fact: kids are busier than they’ve ever been. American families are living overloaded, stressful lives—and that goes for both the parents and the kids. Between their high-energy buzz and their jam-packed schedules, modern kids are under mounting pressure to perform and succeed. With children affected by the speed at which their families move through life, more parents are looking to lessen their kids’ stress and anxiety, and bring a sense of calm and control back into their lives. How are they doing it? One word: Yoga.

In the past ten years, the popularity of kids yoga has been rising steadily. We’re seeing more and more classes popping up in daycares, schools, after-school programs, and yoga studios around the country. Even Yoga Alliance, American yoga’s governing body, is on board; yoga teachers are now required to enroll in at least 95 hours of kids yoga training in order to be registered as a kids yoga teacher.

What are the benefits of yoga for kids? First of all, they’re aplenty. Yoga allows kids to bring more awareness to their emotions, discovering how to recognize and control them. It’s also a great way to explore self-expression, build confidence, and increase self-awareness. Through kids-themed activities like songs and games, they’ll find their creativity and tap into their imagination, which can get bogged down by mounting responsibilities and stress. And most importantly, it gets them to move their bodies. Amen to that.

At Gaiam, we’ve got a vast kids yoga collection, offering everything from headbands, socks, and water bottles to backpacks, floor cushions, and kids yoga mats. Our active sitting collection, featuring the Kids Classic Balance Ball Chair, the Kids Stay-N-Play Ball, the Kids Balance Ball, and the Kids Peanut Ball, offers new and fun ways for kids to take their seat. These inflatable options encourage good posture while keeping the body active and the mind engaged. Who knew sitting could be so much fun? (We did. Rhetorical question.)

And for the kiddos who are ready to roll out the mat, we have a collection of cute and sassy kids yoga mats. Sized just right for kids five- to eight-years-old, our grippy, no-slip mats keep little ones grounded in cobra, soaring in eagle, and sleepy in savasana. All of our kids yoga mats are latex-free, as well as free of the the six most harmful phthalates, and feature fun patterns and prints that jazz up any kids yoga class.

And speaking of kids yoga class: for parents who want their tinies to try yoga at home, our Yoga For Kids DVDs bring you fun, safe instruction in the comfort of your living room. With classes like Outer Space Blastoff, Dino-Mite Adventure, and Classic Balance Ball, your little ones will get their bodies moving and their imaginations soaring with simple and fun instruction from kids yoga teachers Jodi Komitor and Madeleine Lewis.