If you love the break from your otherwise-hectic life yoga provides, you might wonder if yoga can have similar benefits for your child. Thanks to the intentional breathing and movements explored in a yoga class, your kid can enjoy the same calming effect that yoga brings you. Yoga can help kids focus their energy while building flexibility, strength, and balance.
But when you don’t know where to look, finding the right yoga style for your child can feel overwhelming. That’s where Crème de la Crème of West Chester comes in. We’ve put together this guide to finding the right yoga class for your child, complete with some amazing local studios offering kid-friendly classes and spaces to practice yoga.
Choosing A Yoga Style for Your Child
Image via Unsplash by hopefilmphoto using Unsplash License
You can keep a few guiding principles in mind when considering where to sign your child up for a class:
Match the Yoga Class to Your Child’s Age
Until they’re around three years old, many kids don’t have the skills to learn all the poses and follow a teacher’s ongoing instructions. If you have a younger child, look for Mommy and Me-style classes before signing your child up for a solo class. Yoga takes more concentration than other activities, so tots will start reaping the full benefits of yoga classes once they’re a little older.
Keep Poses Age-Appropriate
Certain poses that are just fine for adults aren’t safe for younger kids as they put pressure on the shoulders and neck. Trained yoga instructors know which poses kids can try. Of course, you want to look for classes that explore beyond yoga poses, as breathing and meditative exercises are just as useful for kids.
Look For Simple Yet Playful Styles
Go for a simple style or practice pieces from different yoga styles. This way, you can ease your child into a yoga practice. Instead of sticking to one specific type, try various combinations of relaxation, meditation, and yoga poses.
Embra
Look no further than Embra if you’re seeking a go-to spot for yoga and wellness close to home. This greater Cincinnati-area mainstay has two studio locations, one in Cincinnati and another in Northern Kentucky, plus a variety of online offerings ideal for practicing yoga from the comforts of home.
You’ll find the Embra Cincinnati studio located at 3527 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226. The 60-minute Kids’ Yoga class is designed for kids ages four to eight years old. The course is interactive and creative, introducing yoga to kids through age-appropriate postures, breathing exercises, and eco-friendly activities. The class aims to increase young yogis’ focus, deep breathing, and body awareness. Embra even offers this class to coincide with a hot yoga class, so you can get in on the yoga action in the next room if you’d like.
Grace Tree Yoga Studio
West Chester’s very own Grace Tree Yoga Studio makes completing yoga as a family practice easier than ever before. The studio is located at 8933 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd. West Chester, OH 45069, but they also offer various in-demand yoga options through at-home streaming so that you can practice alongside your kids with your favorite instructors. Just purchase a pass option and get ready for an at-home yoga session perfect for the whole family to enjoy.
Once you purchase a pass, you’ll have access to their library of classes. You can go for a monthly pass that renews each month or an annual pass that gives you access to unlimited on-demand yoga for a whole year. In other words, you can try out different yoga classes with your kids to find a style and practice that suits your family’s needs. You can even login on the go whenever the mood strikes for a family yoga session.
Not sure if these classes are right for you? Go for a day pass that gives you 24 hours to enjoy as many on-demand classes as you want. Then, once you and the kids are hooked on yoga, you can sign up for one of the other passes for even more yoga fun!
Kids First Sports Center
You might already know and love Cincinnati’s Kids First Sports Center from one of their excellent kid-friendly classes, like swim sessions, fencing lessons, ninja classes, and more. Located at 7900 East Kemper Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45249, Kids First is a great place to have in mind whenever your kiddos want to get active. Kids First also offers facilities to rent. So, if you have a yoga instructor in mind or want to set up your own yoga class for your child and their friends, you’ll also want to have Kids First in mind.
The Kids First Cultural Arts Room is a great place to check out if you’re seeking a venue with the feel of a small classroom. The space is ideal for low-impact activities such as workouts, dance, and of course, yoga! With easy-to-clean padded vinyl flooring, a mirrored wall, a drinking fountain, and more, this room makes for a great space when you want to organize your own yoga class.
Shine Yoga
Whether it’s their prenatal yoga offerings or their Baby and Me classes, Shine Yoga tends to have something on the calendar ideal for mothers looking to explore yoga with their young children. First up are the prenatal yoga classes, designed specifically for pregnant people. These classes don’t just modify a regular yoga class. Instead, the sessions focus on pregnancy and preparation for birth, bringing comfort and joy to participants from yoga beginners to advanced practitioners. You can go for an in-person or live-streaming option or check out the prenatal classes available in the studio’s on-demand video library.
You can also find Baby and Me yoga classes here. These sessions focus on post-natal nurturing while building community with other young families in the area. The classes are best for attendance with infants under a year old.
There you have it. Crème de la Crème of West Chester just gave you some places to check out when you’re looking to introduce your child to yoga. Did we miss your favorite local class? Drop us a line if you have another go-to yoga studio your family loves!