5 Simple Yoga Poses To Try With Kids

Yoga can sometimes feel intimidating to try for the first time, especially if you're used to other kinds of physical activities. Here are five simple poses that beginner and expert yogis alike can benefit from! Try these kid connected poses with your little ones for some fun, relaxation and bonding. 
Benefits
The yoga tree pose is a basic pose for practicing balance and increasing flexibility. For kids it is especially beneficial to help with focus, on and off the mat.
How To
 First standing up straight with your foot on your ankle, bring your foot up to your calf, then your thigh. Never put the foot or pressure on the knee. Place your palms in front of your chest, then lift them up and spread your arms out into branches.
Kid Connection 
"Pretend your arms are tree branches!" "Shake the leaves out of your tree and wave your arms side to side." "What kind of tree can we pretend to be?"
Benefits
This pose is great for the spine and stretching the back of the legs. It is also good for grounding and strengthening.
How To
In this position the body is in an inverted V shape, with the head facing downwards with your feet reaching down toward the floor but not touching- lift your hips and balance your weight equally between your hands and feet. Shake your head, yes & no... Take 5 long deep breaths in this pose.
Kid Connection 
Pretend you're a real doggy and "wag your doggy tail" or "eat from your doggy dish". "You can bark like a dog, too! Woof, woof."
Benefits
This pose is great for the spine and stretching your back.
How To
Taking a deep breath out while on your hands and knees, arch your back like the letter "C", then look toward your belly button. "What does a kitty cat say?"
Kid Connection 
Arch your back and say meow. If you're an angry cat, you can hiss.
Benefits
Going from cat pose, directly to cow pose or "cat-cow" is one of the most important moves when starting yoga. This pose helps with back pain, stiffness and tension. Doing this movement regularly provides a good stretch for spinal health.
How To
Staying with your hands and knees under your shoulders and hips, lift the crown of the head up and the tail bone up as you take a deep breath in. Flow through a few, cat-cow poses and follow your breath with each movement.
Kid Connection 
"What does a cow say? Moooo", "Let's try to do five cat-cows. Count with me."
Benefits
This is one of the most relaxing, resting poses to do after doing other yoga movements. This pose is a great place for kids to come if they are overwhelmed or need to rest. It is an introspective pose.
How To
From the downward dog pose you did earlier, lower yourself down, resting your knees and backs of your feet on the mat and sitting on your heels. Reach your arms out in front. 
Kid Connection 
 Take five deep inhales and exhales in child's pose. This pose is sometimes called rock pose or seashell.