The ABC’s of Yoga for Kids {Holiday Gift Idea}

By Contributor Jen Shragge

I think most parents would agree that the holidays are a hectic time of year. There are so many bright lights, events and activities for kids and adults alike. Children often have a harder time adjusting to the stimulation overload and it can be incredibly challenging to get an excited preschooler or elementary-aged child to just sit quietly and take a few deep breaths.

This holiday season, yoga can become your very best friend. You don’t need to be a yoga teacher to introduce yoga to your children. Teresa Anne Power has made it even easier with her award winning book The ABC’s of Yoga for Kids. This incredible book not only introduces dozens of yoga poses to readers, but also all the letters of the alphabet in an easy to read and lyrical rhyming prose. The illustrations are very cute and engaging for children, while the poses help to build balance, strength and focus, which results in greater relaxation and stress reduction.

As a certified yoga instructor I am very familiar with all of the immense benefits yoga has for children and the various ways it can be incorporated into their lives. With both physical (strength, balance, coordination and endurance) and mental (concentration, focus, meditation and relaxation) benefits, yoga really is a perfect activity for children of all ages.

You don’t need to be a yoga instructor to teach poses to your children. I asked my cousin and very busy mom of three children under age 6 to read the book and try out the cards with her kids. Her beautiful children (daughter aged 5.5 and twin boys aged 3.5) loved the book and had a fantastic time trying out the flash cards. When I asked her what she liked best about the book and cards, she told me that she surprised at how easily she was able to engage the kids and get them to focus on the poses. They absolutely loved trying out the different postures, even the quiet meditation ones which were definitely not their usual pace. I also asked a friend with two kids aged 2.5 and 5 to try out the cards. Her kids had a blast following along and when she asked her son why he liked doing yoga he replied, “because it makes me strong!”

I highly recommend the book and for anybody looking to incorporate yoga into a classroom, camp or daycare, the flash cards and calendar complement the book especially well. The book and flash cards would also make a wonderful gift for your own children or special children in your life. All of the items can be found at various retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, yoga studios, independent bookstores or on Teresa’s website. At a very reasonable MSRP of $19.95 for the book or the cards and $18.95 for the new 2015 calendar, this set would also make a fantastic gift for your child’s favourite teacher or daycare provider this holiday season.

I received a sample of a product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided and all views and opinions stated on this post are 100% my own.