Yoga for Children & Families

yoga for children & families

Sessions for children range from Early Years classes for 2 to 5 year olds, right through Primary until Pre-Teens (beyond that please see 'Teen Yoga'), as well as sessions for families to share together.

Béa is a specialist teacher of yoga for children, with a focus on exploring yoga and relaxation in ways which are engaging and accessible to young people, helping to build a foundation for life-long wellbeing and support the development of healthy minds and healthy bodies. This isn't about finding the 'perfect pose' but about children enjoying moving their bodies, understanding their breath and connecting with themselves and the world around them. Through yoga practices, children can also explore and recognise their emotions and begin to cultivate their own toolkits of skills for now and for the future.

An invitational and explorative style helps to nurture and embrace the natural creativity of children (and their grown-ups!), helping to inspire curiosity, confidence and compassion. This approach to sharing yoga with children has been greatly influenced by my training with Ayalá Homossany (‘Empowering Children through Yoga and Creativity').

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."

Benjamin Franklin

Additionally, Béa is a Special Yoga Practitioner - Autism & ADHD, having trained with Jyoti Jo Manuel and the Special Yoga Team on the foundation course in Special Yoga and Mindfulness for Autism and ADHD (SYMA).

The yoga and mindfulness practices and methodology of Special Yoga have become significant in both my personal practice and my approach to sharing yoga with others, as well as being particularly relevant to children and young people who are autistic and/or have ADHD.

Yoga has the potential to enhance wellbeing when attention is given to exploring an individual need at any given moment. Everyone can benefit from finding their optimal state in which to thrive, and from moving from a place of stress to the most relaxed state possible, whether that is through grounding, calming, soothing or sensory input.

I have continued to add depth to my knowledge of Special Yoga practices with a Special Yoga for Dyslexia short course and CPD in Special Yoga Practices for Autistic Girls and Practices for Down syndrome.

The'Hoglets' sessions (Yoga & Movement) are specifically designed with 2-5 year olds in mind, during which we share yoga in ways which are enjoyable and relevant to younger children. Together we create a safe space for little explorers to discover movement, breath and relaxation with curiosity and creativity.

Inspiration for the sessions may come from books, themes, music and the world around us. They encourage the development of communication, imagination and social skills.

These sessions also run successfully in nurseries and pre-schools and can be tailored to current learning themes within the setting.

"Every child should have the opportunity to develop lifelong skills to support their physical and emotional health and wellbeing in a fun and friendly way, which Béa delivers brilliantly."

~ Pre-School Manager

"I love that my 4 year old is learning to do some calm breathing herself as well as having a wriggle and stretch. All mixed in with some creative time and bonding with me."

~ S, parent

family yoga sessions are informal and fun, inviting children and their families to move at their own pace and enjoy connecting with each other while exploring yoga creatively.

Whether some, all, or none of you have experienced yoga before, you will be very welcome! A great way to spend some time together in a relaxed space.

Sessions run monthly, usually on the first Sunday.

The hour-long family sessions welcome children from 4yrs up to around 10yrs. We discover a range of yoga poses, sequences, movements and breathing patterns, alongside other elements of yoga such as focus and relaxation. Some sessions may incorporate an additional creative or making activity.

Shorter (30 minutes) sessions are also available, which are particularly suited to younger children - from 2 to 5 years - and their families. A great introduction to yoga, movement and breath awareness for little ones!

family flow sessions (1hr) are for young people 8-12yrs and their parents/carers to share yoga together, joining alongside each other and encouraging time for connection. With a little more structure than the Family Yoga sessions, 'Family Flow' incorporates some elements linking movements, connecting poses, and co-ordinating movement and breath. There is space to rest too, offering a balanced hour together. This class may also offer a stepping-stone for young women 11-12yrs who would prefer to try a session alongside a family member before booking for Teen Yoga.

All of our small, group sessions provide an inclusive, relaxed and non-competitive environment to:

Develop balance, co-ordination and proprioception
Help young people to build strength, especially at their core, which can support healthy posture and aid concentration
Promote a positive attitude towards both physical activity and relaxation
Encourage young people to learn about how their bodies and brains move and function
Develop communication skills and emotional learning
Help young people learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them
Build the foundations of mental health by validating emotions
Encourage young people to learn to self-regulate and channel their energy
Explore mindful behaviours
Develop ways to cope with stress more effectively

Private 1:1 sessions are also available by arrangement.