Kids Yoga Teacher Training.

COURSE SYLLABUS

Weekend 1 (Focus on age 4 and under)

Day 1
08:00 - 09:15 Warm Ups, Openings and Introductions

Embrace your inner child as we start the day with a child friendly practice to warm up the body with opportunities to introduce yourself and share your journey.

• 3 warm up/welcome songs

• Getting the body moving

• Introduce yourself and your journey to get here

09:30 - 10:30 Principles of Yoga and Yoga for the Early Years

In this session we consider the main principles of yoga and how these apply to young children and families.

• Moving, breathing, meditation, and the parts of yoga we see

• The parts of yoga we don't see, yoga in everyday life

• The aims of yoga, why do we do it?

10:30 - 11:45 What to Expect (up to 4 years)

Looking at what is going on in the early years up to around age 4.

• Developmental milestones

• What you might see in a class

• What to expect from this age group

12:45 - 14:45 Teaching Yoga to Children

In this session we consider

• Ways to open your classes

• Yoga poses for little ones

• Movement in yoga poses

• Which poses to choose?

• Turning our yoga poses into different things, how to engage the imagination

• Use of language and teaching cues

15:00 - 16:00 Using Songs and Props for Little Ones

Ways to add fun into your sessions such as

• Songs (what, when and how!)

• Props (what to use and when)

• Useful (and maybe unexpected) props for adults

With a focus on children up to 4 years.

16:00 - 17:00 Endings

We finish our first day with a discussion of what we have learnt and a chance to ask questions.  Then tying things up with a few possible endings.

• Come into the beehive

• A goodbye song

• Ending classes for older children

Closing with a guided relaxation

Day 2

08:00 - 09:15 Child Friendly Sun Salutations Practice

Start the day with Surya Namaskar.  In this practical session we will include

• Sun salutations for different ages

• Using a sun dance song

• Sun Dance stories

• Games we can play with sun salutations

09:30 - 10:30 Bridging the Gaps

It's good to be able to share yoga with a broad age group as this can be most practical.  In this session we consider

• The overlaps as children grow from babies to toddlers and from toddlers to preschoolers.

• Discussion of how to include different ages in one group

• How to move on with children as they grow and change (and maybe stay in your class). 

• When adults are present in classes

10:30 - 11:45 Adults in Classes

When adults are present in your classes how can we make them feel included? 

• What might adults who are coming to your classes need?

• Ideas for mutual adult and child practices for young children

• Simple practice ideas for grown ups

• Advice/guidance to give to adults in classes to help them get the most out of their experience

12:45 - 14:45 Teaching Yoga to Children

Looking at how we can get creative when teaching yoga to children by

• Using themes

• Using different forms of movement

• Creative ways to find quiet and calm

15:00 - 16:30 Structuring Your Classes

Take part in a sample class with a theme aimed at children up to around age 4 before taking some time to plan and teach part of a class.  Considering

• Ways to structure your sessions

• Frameworks for lessons

• How the structure for children's yoga sessions differ from adult classes

16:30 - 17:00 Weekend One Closing

Finishing our first weekend with a chance to comment and reflect on what we have learnt with time to ask questions and discuss the homework tasks.  Ending the day with a guided visualisation.

Weekend 2 (Focus on age 4-8)

Day 1

08:00 - 09:15 Story Based Yoga Practice

Embrace your inner child as we start the day with a story based yoga practice.  Explore how we can weave movement and postures into a simple story to engage the imagination

Discussion of

• how to write a simple yoga story

• using books

• adapting well known stories

• ideas for different age groups

09:30 - 10:30 Beginnings, Middles and Endings

Looking at structuring classes including

• More ways to open and close your classes

• how to link postures and if this is necessary

• the flow of a children's yoga class

10:30 - 11:45 What to Expect (4-8 years)

Looking at what is going on in the years from around 4-8.

• Developmental milestones

• What you might see in a class

• What to expect from this age group

12:45 - 14:45 Teaching Yoga to Children

 In this session we consider

• More Yoga poses for children

• Partner and Group Yoga poses

• Which poses to choose?

• How much guidance to give children in their poses?

15:00 - 16:15 Finding the Fun

Looking at ways to add an element of fun into your classes such as

• Games

• Props

• Partner poses

• Group poses

16:15 - 17:00 Introducing Children to Yoga Philosophy & History

Considering how we might acknowledge the roots of yoga when working with children, and different ways to incorporate some yoga philosophy into our classes.

 Day 2

08:00 - 09:15 Themed Yoga Practice

Embrace your inner child as we start the day with a themed yoga practice.  Explore how we can use a theme as inspiration for planning a class

Discussion of

• ideas for themes for different age groups

• abstract themes?

• do we need a story?

• how to use your theme when planning

09:30 - 10:30 Affirmations & Breathing Practices for Kids

Moments of calm in our classes with children might include breath work and affirmations. 

• Child friendly affirmations and how to use them

• Child friendly breathing techniques

• Using props to help explain breathing

10:30 - 11:45 Ways to Get (& Keep) Attention

Discussion around managing a class, how to keep children engaged. 

• Repetition & Variety

• How much planning?  How much spontaneity?

• Children choosing not to participate

• Ways to get everyone's attention quickly!

• When things don't go to plan...

12:45 - 14:45 Planning Your Own Session
Time to work in small groups to create part of a lesson for children that you will then teach to the rest of the group.

15:00 - 16:00 Practicalities
Discussion and question time about any practical issues that are relevant to the group, including

·       Teaching in different environments (home, nursery, school, community classes, yoga studios, private groups, events, with and without parents, with and without adults)

·       Running a business

·       Marketing ideas

·       Practicalities (insurance, PVG etc.)

16:00 - 17:00 Weekend 2 Closing
Finishing our course with a chance to comment and reflect on what we have learnt with time to ask questions and discuss the homework tasks.  Ending the day with a group massage.