YogaBellies

About Yoga for Children…

Our exercises aim to induce a state of ’relaxed alertness’ – the optimum frame of mind for easy learning and memory retention (also known as ‘the alpha state’ or ‘the zone’). YogaBellies exercises encourage the creation of new neural pathways and connections between the two hemispheres of the brain. In layman’s terms, we reach the parts other activities cannot reach! Yoga postures have been shown to improve grades by 18% after only one application. Meditation improves concentration and memory skills.

YogaBellies offer the following classes for kids:

YogaBellies Little Angels: For mobile toddlers 18-36 months.
YogaBelliesKidz: For active kidz aged 3-12 years.
YogaBelliesKidz Kalm: Our Kidz meditation programme.
YogaBelliesKidz Pre-Teen: For those tricky pre-teen years for ages 9-12 years.

To find your nearest Certified YogaBelliesKidz Teacher click here

What are YogaBellies Little Angels classes?

Little Angels classes are for babies and toddlers who can now move around by themselves by crawling, walking, running, bumping or whatever that means. This ranges from around 10 months to 3 years.

What is covered in the class?

The classes incorporate elements of yoga, massage, movement and music and continue the mum and baby bonding process while encouraging baby to express their new found creativity and freedom of expression.

These are generally taught as group classes and last around 45-60 minutes. The class includes yoga postures and dry massage strokes as well as stories, music, singing songs and rhymes and heuristic play. These elements together help baby’s vital development.

These classes encourage parents to ‘go with it’ and instead of trying to keep baby still, allow them to roam the room and explore – the room becomes your yoga mat.

What are the benefits of children attending YogaBellies Little Angels?

+ Helping babies digestion and easing windy pains
+ Helps their neuromuscular development
+ Increased self-confidence and positive body image
+ Helps strengthen the immune system
+ Encourages baby to sleep more soundly
+ Continues the parent-child bonding process
+ Encourages social interaction
+ Actively encourages self-expression and creativity
+ Promotes a healthy life style from the start
+ Strengthens and protects the immune system
+ Relief from fussiness and teaching baby to self soothe as they approach the terrible twos’, helping regulate their little emotions.

How does the course work?

The classes are rolling, so you can join at any time. They are often booked in blocks so you need to contact your local teacher in advance.

We teach Little Angels classes where the focus is just on your Little Angel, but of course you can join in and do the postures with them! Believe me, this is NOT a class where you will be sitting still for long 🙂

We do however run Little Angels classes where the class is a split hatha yoga class for mum AND yoga for toddler. So we switch between focusing on rebuilding (or beginning) mums yoga practice and in engaging our little angel in yoga too. Be sure to ask your teacher what the focus is in the class.

To find your nearest YogaBellies class click here.

How do I book a place?

Be sure to contact your YogaBellies teacher in advance as our classes generally book up pretty quickly.

To find your nearest YogaBellies class click here.

What do I need to bring to class?

Mats and cushions are provided during the class. Please bring a toy to distract your toddler if they become fretful. A clean nappy may also be advisable! 🙂

“Yoga can be a gentle method for your child to get more physical activity and enhance their wellbeing.” – Mayo clinic

What are YogaBellies Kidz Yoga classes?

YogaBelliesKidz yoga takes children age 3-12 years on a fantastical journey through the universe!

This programme has grown as our YogaBellies teachers children have grown, with our babies now at nursery and school, and encompasses all the things that this age group love in a super duper yoga class…

YogaBelliesKidz sessions are written in line with the UK National Curriculum for Excellence and can see children journey through space, dive deep in the depths of the ocean, meet the Romans, meet exotic jungle animals and much much more! These sessions are active and interactive with a typical class involving movement, music, mime and relaxation, instilling an early interest in personal health and wellbeing and teaching children to proactively deal with stressful situations in a positive way. YogaBelliesKidz sessions are typically 40 to 60 minutes long.

What is covered in the class?

YogaBelliesKidz yoga postures focus on the things that excite and trigger the imagination of today’s children. By engaging children in this positive way, we encourage them to use their imagination, become independent, resilient and strong. Each of our Kidz postures is grounded in traditional yoga with all of the benefits that adults can expect to see during a yoga practice, but with a much more gentle and fun approach.

A typical session may include a flight to the moon, whizzing past the many colourful planets, meeting interesting space creatures, shooting past the stars, looking for hidden treasure and returning to the beautiful earth that we live in. Each week covers a new theme grounded in the national curriculum, which means not only does your child have an exciting session encompassing both and action and relaxation but YogaBelliesKidz sessions also support their nursery and school based learning.

What are the benefits of children attending YogaBelliesKidz?

We all know that yoga has benefits beyond the physical alone and that if you’re a yoga enthusiast, you’re likely to be in the fittest of both physical and mental health. But how many of us think of the benefits that this ancient eastern art holds for kids? When it comes to health and fitness for children, we focus on a sport and outdoor play rather than think of exercising at the gym or following a workout routine. But another form of exercise that offers them various advantages is yoga, a fact that is not as well known as it should be. Yoga helps children by:

Enhancing concentration: When your child gets used to the asanas or postures of yoga, they automatically improve their concentration skills. Ancient sages used yoga as a form of meditation, and their powers of concentration are legendary. Your child learns how to sit still in one place and focus on what’s important as opposed to letting their mind wander and be distracted easily. This helps them in their lessons and at school, boosts their attention span and improves their grades.

Increasing flexibility and balance: Yoga helps improve flexibility and balance and tones their muscles too. It makes them stronger and less likely to suffer sprains and fractures through accidental falls.
Improving general well-being: Kids who practice yoga regularly feel good about themselves and are healthier and happier than those who don’t. They feel both mentally and physically rejuvenated after a yoga session and this improves their mental and physical health.

Boosting confidence: When your child is able to display great agility and flexibility, it does wonders for their confidence. Their improved performance at school also helps boost their popularity and their self assurance. They become more poised and start to believe in their abilities. This feeling provides them with the adrenaline they need to achieve success in all their endeavors.

Relaxing their minds: Even kids are subject to a great deal of stress these days because of their workload at school and the high expectations that their parents have for them. They are pushed to be achievers at every single point of their lives, and when they fail, they take it to heart and become depressed. Yoga helps them relax and de-stress when they feel upset or depressed. It soothes their frayed minds and helps them get back to a normal mental state.

Children are more flexible and agile than adults, so the earlier you get kids started on to yoga, the more benefits they gain.

How does the course work?

The classes are rolling so you can join any time you want.  They are often booked in blocks, so contact your local YogaBellies teacher to book in advance as the classes generally fill up pretty quickly.

To find your nearest YogaBellies class click here.

How do I book a place?

Be sure to contact your YogaBellies teacher in advance as our classes generally book up pretty quickly.

To find your nearest YogaBellies class click here.

What do I need to bring to class?

Just bring yourself and/or your kid depending on the class format! A water bottle and towel may also be useful but mats will be provided.

To find your local YogaBelliesKidz Teacher click here

Optimum Learning

Our exercises aim to induce a state of ’relaxed alertness’ – the optimum frame of mind for easy learning and memory retention (also known as ‘the alpha state’ or ‘the zone’). YogaBellies exercises encourage the creation of new neural pathways and connections between the two hemispheres of the brain. In layman’s terms, we reach the parts other activities cannot reach! Yoga postures have been shown to improve grades by 18% after only one application. Meditation improves concentration and memory skills.

Improved Behaviour

Stress is the main cause of challenging behaviour. When stress is released through the combination of our Little Angels and Angel Bear techniques, children experience the best of themselves. Meditation creates a ‘feel good’ effect and helps to create a positive outlook on life.

More FUN!!

After all the scientific research is said and done, YogaBellies sessions, from a child’s point of view are just FUN! It feels good to act out adventures, it is wonderful to lie down and relax with a beautifully scented lavender bag over our eyes and it’s reassuring to begin to understand ourselves and those around us.

Childhood Health

Meditation has been scientifically proven to increase immunity. In Holland, people are given cheaper health insurance if they practise meditation! Yoga helps to tone the muscles of the body so reducing the chance of childhood obesity and stress related behavioural problems.

Increased Strength, Flexibility & Coordination

Yoga strengthens the core stabilising muscles of the back and abdomen through its use of deep stretches and stamina building postures. Children’s natural flexibility is decreasing due to modern sedentary lifestyles. YogaBellies sessions get kids moving in fun, engaging ways. Yoga improves co-ordination and can enhance a child’s performance and reduce the risk of injury from other physical activities.

Confidence, Self-Esteem & Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Yoga strengthens the core stabilising muscles of the back and abdomen through its use of deep stretches and stamina building postures. Children’s natural flexibility is decreasing due to modern sedentary lifestyles. YogaBellies sessions get kids moving in fun, engaging ways. Yoga improves co-ordination and can enhance a child’s performance and reduce the risk of injury from other physical activities.

More About YogaBelliesKidz

How do I get YogaBelliesKidz in my school?

If you are a teacher, administrator, principal or parent, please contact us today to learn how your school can benefit from yoga! The first class session is always FREE! Remember that our programmes are written in line with the National Curriculum for Excellence meaning that our yoga classes enable your children to imagine, visualise and actively participate in what they are learning.

YogaBelliesKidz After School Clubs

Due to the overwhelming response and positive feedback we receive from our in class visits, YogaBellies Kids are excited to offer our after school yoga program. We also have literature available to help promote the club in your school.

YogaBelliesKidz PE Classes

YogaBelliesKidz is a great option for a P.E. class in schools as all children can take part it and enjoy all of the benefits of, without even knowing! We can tailor the class plans to suit your school by using key text from the curriculum.

YogaBelliesKidz in Nurseries

In their busy little worlds, children often find it difficult to switch off and take time out. Their brains are active and they are subject to all sorts of stimuli and as a result can become difficult to calm down. This makes for a very difficult teaching environment. To combat this, YogaBellies®Kidz has created a Kalm Meditation toolkit to help you in your classrooms.

What is YogaBellies®Kidz Kalm Meditation?

It is a series of 5 steps from guided meditation to bringing awareness back to the mind and using their new energy in a creative way. Essentially, children are taught to clear their minds and create a new, calmer sense of awareness through a series of steps.
We use tried and tested, practical methods of calming children and provide you with the training to do this.

YogaBelliesKidz Kalm for Schools and Nurseries

YogaBellies Little Angels and YogaBelliesKidz provide a dynamic class experience for nursery school students from ages 18 months to 5 years. The class incorporates: dramatic play, music, stretching, art and relaxation. Please contact us today for a FREE trial in your nursery school.


For More Information Please Contact YogaBellies HQ
Contact YBHQ

Yoga in Schools and Nurseries

Research has shown that school curriculums incorporating stress management programs such as yoga, improve academic performance, self esteem, classroom behaviours, concentration, and emotional balance. In addition, there is a decrease in helplessness, aggression, and behavioural problems.
(“Effects of Stress Inoculation Training on Anxiety, Stress, and Academic Performance Among Adolescents.” Journal of Counselling Psychology).

The beauty of yoga is that its benefits are available to children of every age group. For younger children, yoga creates a framework for total body movement and gross motor development. Children moving towards their teens benefit from yoga by building on their gross motor skills, while taking on challenges in strength, agility, and endurance, as well as cooperation.

Though yoga, children with ADHD can learn how to focus, practice stillness and manage aggression. In the US researchers found that children with autism spectrum disorder who did yoga at school behaved better than children with autism who weren’t doing yoga. The researchers surveyed teachers at a school in the Bronx, who said a daily yoga program reduced the children’s aggressive behaviour, social withdrawal and hyperactivity.

Yoga can also aid children’s performance in sports, by helping a child’s endurance, flexibility, strength & focus. Yoga gives children the tools they need to tackle life’s challenges. It teaches them critical techniques for self-health, inner fulfilment, and relaxation and may help them to handle the obstacles they will face in life. Yoga gives them an opportunity to connect more deeply with their inner selves and the world around them.

It’s Party Time with YogaBelliesKidz!

If you have a child aged 3 years to 8 years, why not try our YogabelliesKidz Parties using a theme of your choice from the Ocean, Space & the Jungle. Children will enjoy our great yoga sessions, yoga based games and getting creative. And before the sugar high we even provide some guided meditation to give you a break from the noise.

We provide party bags, colouring sheets, stickers and balloons and before the big day you can use our printed colourful invitations. You can also request a visit from our Yoga Boy Bodhi character who will come along and play with the kids throughout the event 🙂

You can choose a YogaBelliesKidz party theme too, choose from:

+ Pirate Pete
+ Farm Yard Friends
+ Space Invaders
+ Journey to fairy land
+ Jungle Adventure

YogaBelliesKidz® Party Outline for Parents

Click to download this colouring page

Click to download this colouring page

Click to download this colouring page

Click to download this colouring page