Toddler Yoga
A Classroom Activity Designed by:
Alicia Crowl & Amy Bullerman
Student Physical Therapists
Yoga
Benefits
 Improves strength, balance,
coordination, and social skills
 Promotes concentration and
focus
 Encourages kids to follow
directions
 Early research has shown that
daily yoga in the classroom
may reduce kids’ aggressive
behavior, social withdrawal,
and hyperactivity.
Directions
 Perform each pose 3-5
times each
 Hold each pose 5-10
seconds each
Butterfly
 Sit on the floor and place
the soles of your feet
together
 Reach forward while
wiggling your fingers like
butterfly wings
 Then reach to each side
with butterfly fingers
Cat
 Get down on all 4’s like a
kitty cat
 Arch your back and bring
your head between your
arms
 Then bring your belly
towards the floor and your
head up until you feel a
good stretch
 Make it more fun by
making cat sounds “Meow”
Child’s Pose
 Starting position is on all
4’s
 Next lean back onto your
feet and keep your arms
above your head
Cobra
 First lay completely on
your stomach
 Next keeping your legs on
the floor, use your arms to
push up and raise your
head up tall like a
cobra/snake
 Make hissing sounds to
make it more fun
Downward Dog
 This pose resembles that of
an upside down letter V
 Stand with feet apart
 Then place hands on floor
also keeping knees, back,
and arms straight
Sunrise/Sunset
 Stand up tall
 Bring your arms out to the
side and then above your
head making a big circle
like the sun
 Then gently lower
 Lift your arms above your
head
Wave the Wheat
 Stand up tall with feet
apart
 Now place your right hand
on your hip and reach the
left arm overhead
 Reach towards the right
side to get a good stretch
 Repeat on the other side
Airplane
 Stand up straight and tall
 Reach your arms out to the
sides at shoulder height
 Lean forward and lift one
foot up off the ground
 Stretch your arms to the
sides and try to maintain
your balance
 Now try Airplane pose on
the other side
Gorilla
 Stand up tall with your legs
wide apart
 Bend forward at the waist,
bending your knees a little
bit
 Let your arms hang down
in front of you and swing
your upper body back and
forth like a gorilla
Tree
 Stand up tall
 Lift your right leg and
place it on you left leg,
above the knee (or below
the knee if that's more
comfortable)
 Now stretch your arms up
like branches
 Then try the Tree pose on
the other side
Volcano
 Start by rubbing your hands




together like lava bubbling
before the volcano erupts
Get into a squatting position
(while still rubbing hands
together)
Count to three outloud
Then stand up fast and raise
arms overhead like a volvano
erupting
Make an exploding sound as
the volcano erupts