It all started when the founder of Yoga Bears (Kids Yoga), Simon Kerle thought about the benefits he was gaining from practicing yoga and asked himself ‘why can’t children also enjoy these benefits?’
Fast forward to 2023 and Imagine Childcare has formed a strong partnership with Yoga Bears to bring children’s yoga (and its many benefits) to 17 of its early education centres across Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.
“We believe that you’re never too young to benefit from and fall in love with yoga. This is why we collaborate with Imagine Childcare and their early learning centres across the country, and place our accredited children’s yoga teachers into their centres to host classes for 1–5-year-old children,” said Simon from Yoga Bears.
Children’s yoga is emerging as a popular way to promote physical fitness and nurture the emotional and mental well-being in little ones. Most excitingly, the yoga program at Imagine Childcare & Kindergarten Rochedale South was featured on Channel 7’s ‘The House of Wellness’ TV show. This episode outlined the benefits of children’s yoga and filmed some of our little superstars practising yoga with Miss Ashleigh (Accredited Children’s Yoga Instructor) from Yoga Bears.
Simon thinks that providing children’s yoga as an extra-curricular activity in our centres is a great reason for parents to choose an Imagine Childcare centre for their little one.
“If parents see the benefit of yoga for children and realise that they (Imagine Childcare) are offering something different in their childcare centres that will really help their kids, I think it would be an easy choice for them,” he said.
“Knowing we are both on the same page to help improve the well-being of the children is very important to us and Imagine Childcare as early education leaders in the childcare industry,” Simon continues.
Not surprisingly, children’s yoga is very different to a yoga session you would experience as an adult. Children’s yoga incorporates games, storytelling, singing and other means to keep the children engaged, as their attention span is shorter than an adult’s.
Simon describes their Yoga Bear classes as “A mix of song, dance, yoga postures, stories and games all feature – designed to keep children engaged and aware. Relaxation time with breathing & meditation techniques brings about mindful behaviour at the end.”
Although children’s yoga is very different to the yoga that adults would practice, the benefits are still clear… higher engagement, regulated nervous system, improved concentration, the list goes on…
The Benefits of Children’s Yoga
Physical Health: Children’s yoga poses are designed to enhance flexibility, balance, and strength. Through these gentle exercises, children develop better coordination and body awareness, laying a foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
Emotional Regulation: Yoga encourages children to connect with their emotions and understand them better. Through breathing exercises and mindfulness, they learn how to manage stress, anxiety, and anger, promoting emotional resilience.
Improved Concentration: Yoga teaches children to focus on their breath and body, enhancing concentration and mindfulness. These skills can translate into improved behaviour.
Boosted Confidence: Mastering yoga poses boosts children’s confidence and self-esteem. As they achieve physical milestones, they develop a sense of pride in their abilities, fostering a positive self-image.
Social Skills: Children’s yoga classes often involve group activities, encouraging social interaction and cooperation. This collaborative environment helps children learn important social skills like communication, empathy, and teamwork.
Children’s yoga is more than just a physical activity; it’s a holistic approach to nurturing the mind, body, and soul of a child. Fully qualified yoga instructors attend our Imagine Childcare centres on a weekly basis to deliver the yoga program as an extra-curricular activity, which is included in our daily fee
We are proud to provide children’s yoga as an extra-curricular activity at the following centres:
- Imagine Childcare and Preschool Nowra
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Holmview
- Imagine Childcare and Preschool Tamworth
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Rochedale South
- Imagine Childcare and Preschool Grafton
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Maryborough
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Doncaster
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Oakleigh South
- Imagine Childcare and Preschool Orange
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Coburg
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Collingwood Park
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Jensen
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten West End
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Blakeview
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Werribee
- Imagine Childcare and Preschool Ballina
- Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Fairfield Waters
By incorporating yoga into our weekly routine, we are providing children with invaluable tools to navigate life’s challenges with grace and resilience and guiding them towards a healthier, happier, and more balanced future. Namaste!
If you are interested in finding out more about our children’s yoga program and other extra-curriculars we offer as part of our early education program, please phone us on 1300 001 154.