In yoga classes for smaller children or toddlers stretches with arms can be aided by parents, encouragement should be given to the child to start to mimic parents actions in sessions so they can learn the action themselves.

Benefits: Opens up the chest cavity, strengthens the arms and shoulders, good for asthma

Cautions: As with all yoga, apply a little pressure but never force and if toddler resists then leave it until they are ready. If any toddler is unhappy then stop

Rainbow Arms

Lift one arm above the head and put the arm across the top of their head almost trying to touch the opposite ear. The other arm goes across their stomach cuddling it. Swap them over so the arms are the other way. Use the words 123 and swap.

Extended Rocket Arms

Starting out in the same position as rocket arms, hands on lap or floor if legs stretched out apart.  The arms are lifted up in to the air above the head, but encourage the toddlers to place the palms of the hands together when they lift them to the top. If this is comfortabe.

Spinal Twist

Child is sat spine to parent’s chest in between legs. Stretch child’s arms out to the side and twist, gently turning the upper half of the body to face the child on either side of them.  Games of “hello”/”peek a boo” can be played with a neighboring yogi if they are sat side by side in a group.

Lying Twist

Lying on their back, encourage toddlers to lift their knees, dropping them to one side and taking the arms over to the opposite side. Bring them back to neutral and swap sides.

Yoga Clock

Taking the arms out and move them up on one side and down on the other like the arms of a clock.  You can encourage the children to close their eyes to do it but judge on the age of your yogis.  Games can be played for example tick tock clock, the arms are ticking so moving up and down then the yoga teacher will stop at the end and say a time and the arms are put into that stretch to represent the time.