30 Children's Yoga Picture Cards

The cards are divided into seven color-coded categories and ordered (see the contents card) to lead the children from activation to relaxation, from easy warm-up sequences, through standing, hand-supported, seated, and floor poses, to the more dynamic counter-poses, and finishing with the relaxation exercises. Depending on time limitations, cards can of course be omitted from each category. Regardless of time limitations, each session should always include warm-up sequences at the start, some balancing poses in the middle, and relaxation exercises at the end. Children love to be involved in building the sequence for the session. For example, at the start, children can draw a card each, and each of these exercises, for example the dog or the stretching cat, then forms part of the yoga story developed by the children. The story is then narrated, and whenever the exercises are mentioned in the story, the children move into the appropriate position. The visualization aids on the back of each card also add an imaginative element to the exercises. Yoga works! Children benefit from practicing yoga, as their natural urges to move are fulfilled and developed. Through the different poses, children can express themselves in a playful manner. Movement and stillness complement each other in yoga, thus improving the child's physical and mental wellbeing.