Benefits: These stretches strengthen the legs, relieve the spine and open the hips and are also good for digestion. They promote suppleness and flexibility and enhance relaxation.

Caution: As with all yoga, apply a little pressure but never force and if a child resists then leave it until they are ready. Stop if child is unhappy. Not for children with clicky hips or other hip problems.

Half Lotus

Sitting with child’s spine to parent’s stomach, bring them out into a Wide Leg Stretch. Bring one foot into the inside of the opposite thigh. Say ‘1,2,3 and swap’ and do the same on the opposite side. The foot and leg can be moved into a Half Buddha position so that the foot sits on top of the thigh, repeat on opposite leg.  Over time an Extended Lotus can be done so that the foot sits just off the thigh or into the crease of the opposite hip.  Work as progressive movements.  Work to toddler’s resistance.

Full Buddha

Sitting with child’s spine to parent’s stomach. Bring them into a half lotus and bring the opposite leg on top resting on the thigh or leg where it is comfortable.  Repeat on both sides. Encourage the 123 and swap method. Caution not to over stretch.

Foot to Cheek

Sitting in butterfly position, child in between parents legs so that they are supported if they tumble backwards.  Encourage or help aid the lifting of a foot to tickle the cheek.  The children can be encouraged to let the foot touch various parts of the face like nose, beep beep the nose, or give the foot a kiss!  Always repeat on opposite leg, and you can try to get parental involvement. Great hip opener.

Frog Squatting

This can be done in two ways with a parent for younger toddlers and without for older more independent ones.  Games can also be played encouraging jumping from lily pads.  For younger toddlers encourage the toddler to sit on parents thighs, as seen above in the photo, the parent sits with legs stretched out in front of them.  Let the child sit over smallest part of thigh.  Encourage the child to sit on parent’s lap and then to stand, this helps if the words are said and you can demonstrate squatting from small squat position to standing tall. Say the words “squat, stand” as you do it.  Parents can support the toddler around the hip area applying a little pressure to help sit and stand guiding them to the position. 

Once this has been achieved or the toddlers are at an age where they can start to do it independently, encourage the squatting unaided. This is malasana pose below in the photo, opening out the hips, you can get children to take hands in front to the floor to jump around or balance or in front of their chest in prayer position. It always helps if a children can see it demonstrated; as teachers we do this.

Japanese Sitting

This is a continuation from what is taught in our baby yoga training. Hero pose should still be practiced to discourage children from sitting in ‘w’ position as this can potentially be damaging for the hips.  Toddlers maybe able to sit unaided in this position or may need help to depending on age and development.  Toddlers don’t have much patience with this stretch so trying it in a circle from cobra position or singing how “much is that doggy” start lying them down on stomachs pushing up to a sitting position back on their heels to “woof woof”.  When in second sitting always remember to point out that the feet should be facing inwards and get parents to check. From a kneeling position or on all fours, sit back in between of the feet. The feet should sit either side of the bottom whilst knees stay close together. Can be strenuous on the knees.

Lion Pose

This can be also be done in second sitting/hero position and can help toddlers get into the habit of sitting this way using lion pose.  Lion pose helps stretch the face muscles out.  Toddlers can be encouraged to be noisy lions or quiet lions and this can be used to warm up or cool down or as an action to bring the group back together.  Parents should be encouraged to join in.  Ask the toddlers to sit look at their nose, open their mouth and stick out the tongue. They can pull a growling face with their tongues stretched out and their hands aside of their head, fingers stretched out.  It can be done in a circle or parent and child partners, saying “123, show me a lion… raaaaa!”