Yoga is a fantastic exercise routine that combines stretching, deep breathing, and mindfulness, and it’s a great activity to get your children involved in, too. When kids practice yoga, they can improve their flexibility, strengthen their growing muscles, and develop healthy habits and a love of exercise. Consider signing your kids up for yoga classes at these five local studios in and around East Cobb and Marietta.
Be Yoga Atlanta
“Kids Yoga” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by Georgia National Guard
Be Yoga provides classes that inspire and challenge its practitioners all while teaching and embracing the core principles of yoga. While you can attend classes in hot yoga, vinyasa, yin yoga, and more, you can also bring your children along to the Be Silly Kids Yoga courses. These hour-long sessions teach kids basic poses to promote strong muscles, full-body flexibility, and endurance. In addition to the physical benefits, kids who attend the Be Silly classes also gain positive self-esteem, improve their focus, and practice social skills with the instructor and other students.
The studio also tries to schedule Be Silly classes at the same time as the beginner adult courses so parents and kids can practice yoga together. Plus, there are two levels of the Be Silly class — Be Silly I is for children ages 4 through 8, and Be Silly II is for kids 8 through 12.
This studio is located at 105 Church St. in Marietta.
Korsi Yoga
Korsi Yoga prides itself on offering many styles of yoga to give people a well-rounded practice and help all levels grow into stronger yogis. That’s why this studio offers many different kids’ yoga programs and classes! You can sign your children up for the weekly kids’ yoga sessions, which last 45 minutes to a full hour.
The littlest yogis in your family, ages 3 to 5, can attend Littles Yoga where they practice simple poses as a group and then have guided creative time with music and art. Kids Yoga is for ages 5 to 9, and this class focuses on self-expression and social skills, teaches breathing and relaxation techniques, and has time for music and art.
Older children can attend Tween Yoga for kids 9 to 13. This class challenges students with basic and advanced (but appropriate for their age!) poses, flow sequences, and breathing techniques. Kids practice both individual poses and partnered poses, develop self-awareness and positive relationships with their bodies, and have fun playing yoga games and making new friends.
Korsi Yoga also has a kids-only yoga camp in the summer that offers group yoga sessions based on age that includes crafting, nature walks, and guided meditations. Head to nearby Roswell at 555 S. Atlanta St. Suite B300 to check out Korsi Yoga.
Intown Tumbling and Yoga
Intown Tumbling and Yoga specializes in gymnastics, yoga, and ninja training for kids of all ages. Plus, there are many opportunities for parents to get involved and practice right alongside their kids. Bring the whole house to a Family Yoga class, which is for kids 4 and up. This high-energy yoga class shares yoga poses, games, and relaxation activities that you can try again at home.
For parents and their babies or toddlers, try out Grown Up and Me classes where you practice animal yoga poses, strengthen your muscles and that of your child, and bond through fun activity, guided breathing, and relaxation. This studio also offers Preschool Yoga, combining yoga practices like focused breathing and stretching poses with music, art, and games. These classes are great for improving body awareness, self-expression, and self-esteem.
There are two levels for school-age kids: Kids Yoga 7 – 9 and Kids Yoga 9 – 12. Both feature age-appropriate individual yoga poses, meditation, and breathing exercises alongside partner poses and games. Children learn a bit about anatomy and yoga’s benefits in addition to qualities like self-respect, respect for others, self-confidence, concentration, and trust.
You can find Intown Tumbling and Yoga’s studio at 828 Ralph McGill Blvd. Unit W9 in Atlanta.
Yoga 4 Families
Yoga 4 Families is a studio founded by a children’s yoga teacher who’s also certified in teaching special needs yoga practice. This makes Yoga 4 Families a truly inclusive space that offers a wide variety of yoga practices for everyone. And with the option of private lessons or group sessions, you can choose a practice type that works for your family.
The studio provides family yoga lessons where caregivers and children partner up to practice cooperative poses, play games, and try breathing and relaxation techniques. You can also sign your children up for the kids’ yoga lessons, where they can practice different poses and breathing exercises, learn techniques for relaxation, stress management, and physical health, as well as develop flexibility, self-awareness, compassion, cooperation, and focus.
Yoga 4 Families also offers Mommy & Me Yoga classes where parents can practice posses that incorporate movements to help strengthen the parent’s muscles and the baby’s, trust between caregiver and child, and physical health for both baby and parent. You can also attend special needs yoga courses with your child or train to help special needs children practice yoga and take advantage of the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of the activity.
You can contact the studio through their website to sign up for classes or private lessons.
Breathe Yoga Studio
Breathe Yoga Studio specializes in hatha, vinyasa, yin, restorative, and gentle yoga as well as Pilates. And you can bring your kids to the studio for Grounded Kids Yoga or Family Yoga. Both courses teach basic and age-appropriate challenging poses and breathing techniques. However, Grounded Kids is for children ages 7 to 12 and focuses more on individual poses with some practice with partnered and group poses. Family Yoga is for parents or caregivers and children of all ages to practice partner poses and play group games to promote bonding and cooperation.
Find Breathe Yoga Studio at 5522 New Peachtree Road Suite 118 in nearby Chamblee, Georgia.Those are just some of the local yoga studios that offer kids yoga classes, and you may be able to find classes at your local community center or after-school program. Did we miss any of your favorite places to take your children to practice yoga? Contact Crème de la Crème of East Cobb and let us know. We’ll be sure to add the location to our list!