Namaste Yogis’ children’s yoga programs are interactive, engaging and fun. Classes encourage working together, self-expression and creativity. This helps children develop social skills while learning tools to help manage their mental health and wellbeing. Classes are tailored to the children’s energy and group dynamics on the day.
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga can help children self-regulate, instil a sense of calmness, build self-confidence, resilience and optimism. Children go home calmer, happier and centred. They learn techniques that they can use anywhere and anytime. Yoga can also help enhance children’s flexibility and strength while refining their balance and co-ordination.
School Readiness
Yoga can help children develop the appropriate skills required for optimal learning in school:
- Self-confidence
- Self-regulation
- Receptive language
- Expressive language
- Social skills
- Gross motor skills
- Independence
Class Structure
Yoga warm up and breathing exercises, followed by yoga poses (done individually, in partners and in groups), yoga games, mindfulness activities and relaxation.
Classes are themed based on the children’s interests, books, and kindergarten curriculum. For example, Diwali, Halloween, Christmas, NAIDOC and books such as Wombat Stew etc.
Access and Inclusion
Yoga is a practice available for all. It’s a holistic practice that looks at the whole child. Our yoga classes acknowledges that children learn in different ways and we deliver classes that cater for visual, aural, verbal and physical learners. Our classes are flexible and can be easily adjusted based on the children in front of us.
Yoga is a practice that can also support children with additional needs.
Language
We explore different languages in our classes. Our founder comes from a Filipino background and incorporates basic Tagalog (Filipino language) into the classes such as counting and greeting. As some of our teachers speak Hindi and yoga is from India, we also incorporate some very basic Hindi into our classes.
We also explore other cultures that the children are from, helping them feel that they Belong.
School Readiness Funding
Children’s yoga is a good use of your kindergarten’s school readiness flexible funding as it aligns with the three priority areas: communication, wellbeing, and access & inclusion.
Free Adults or Family Yoga
Kindergartens / ELCs who have regular children’s yoga classes with us get free quarterly yoga sessions which can be used for educators (during or after team meetings to help educators with their health and wellbeing) or for the centre/kindergarten’s families to help strengthen relationship with the children’s families. Sessions are subject to instructor availabilities.
