Why I Don't Teach You-Tube Yoga for Children

Let's me start with saying that yoga on You-Tube can be a great resource, and there is a place for that kind of yoga for children.
In general, the style of children's yoga on You-Tube is 'fun yoga'. What do I mean by that? Well, it's a class or program designed so that children have fun, and there happens to be yoga poses involved. And it's good because it introduces children to yoga poses and of course gets children moving.

As well as this, it can be really hit and miss to find a teacher on You - Tube who you like, who is engaging and knowledgeable.

Have you ever heard in adults yoga that if the only focus is on the asana(the poses) then you've missed the point of yoga altogether? Guess what? It's the same in kids yoga!

The asana or the physical postures you learn in yoga are just 1 of 8 steps of limbs of a yoga practice. In adults yoga, you learn about, breathing, meditation, relaxation, connection as well as a whole host of other important skills.

In my opinion, we do children a disservice by not teaching them all of yoga, just as you would in an adults class.

How many of you would have loved to learn how to relax your mind and body at a younger age?

How many of you would have benefitted from learning about the breath, and how to use it in everyday situations?

Yoga, when taught as a whole practice, gives the student(adult or teen or child) skills and tools to be able to deal with the stresses of everyday life. It teaches you how to self-regulate and to calm your whole system down. It allows you to better connect with yourself, to trust yourself and thereby connect better with others.

You just can't get this fullness of yoga from You-Tube. Why? Because the focus of most classes on You-Tube is at best the asana and at worst just fun. If any breath work or meditation is shown then it's only for a moment or two. So, it's impossible to get a child into that deep state of relaxation and meditation. That's where the magic happens!
I don't need to teach children how to have fun, they already know! I teach them yoga, and we have fun doing it.