It’s no secret that yoga is becoming an increasingly popular activity for adults, but did you know that it’s also great for kids? There are many benefits of yoga for children. According to Shari Vilchez-Blatt, the founder and director of New York’s Karma Kids Yoga studio, yoga can help with “building concentration and focus, flexibility, balance, and coordination.” Yoga can also improve breathing—which helps little ones de-stress.
Lauren Chaitoff and Alexa Klein, co-owners of the Yogi Beans studio, explain the many ways yoga can aid kids, even beyond the physical aspect. While yoga can be a healthy exercise, it can also provide children with a release from their stressful, busy schedules. According to Klein, teachers should encourage kids to “take yoga off of their mat.” “How,” she asks, “can they implement the breathing we do at the end of class in their life?” Regardless of the child’s schedule, yoga can be done at any time and place, making it a great way to relieve stress and help children relax.
A variety of yoga studios focusing on families and children also provide a comfortable space for all members of the family. Alexandra Huzar, the marketing and outreach coordinator for the Prenatal Yoga Center, mentions the positive atmosphere for moms in post-natal yoga programs. “For post-natal yoga, you can bring your baby,” she says. “It gives moms a place where they can put themselves first, because they don’t have to give their baby to a babysitter.”
The new yoga-for-children trend is also reaching classrooms and schools throughout New York. “Teaching yoga in a classroom or during P.E. helps kids stay fit, because it forces them to participate in a class that introduces a plethora of yoga poses,” Samara Pearlstein, of Lil Yogi’s NYC, says. Additionally, yoga techniques can be taken from the classroom to the home where kids can practice yoga with their parents.
Here, we spotlight a handful of studios throughout the city where little ones—and new and expectant moms—can study yoga. Namaste!
Bend & Bloom
In addition to their robust prenatal yoga program, Bend & Bloom offers a holistic approach to childbirth education and postpartum support including post-natal yoga, moms’ groups, and lactation consulting. Their family focus continues with lively family yoga classes. Children age 3 and up can also take part in yoga fun after school while parents and caregivers enjoy their own serene practice in the adjacent studio. Park Slope, Brooklyn; bendandbloom.com
Bija Kids
Classes include yoga poses, breathing activities, guided meditation, story time, bubbles, music, games, and more. Designed to be developmentally aware, Bija Kids yoga is an active and joyful interpretation of yoga that can improve flexibility, strength, and balance. Classes for students ages 0-3 are with parents or caregivers while classes for all other ages are drop-off. Clinton Hill, Brooklyn; bijakids.com
Bread and Yoga
In their kids’ yoga classes, children learn to stretch, breathe deeply, relax, and concentrate. They start touching on concepts like peace, being healthy and strong, and just having fun. They also offer special prenatal yoga classes focusing on helping women adjust to the changes their body goes through during pregnancy and Mommy/Baby yoga classes designed to support and nurture bonding and build community between mothers. Inwood; breadandyoga.com
Harlem Yoga Studio
Their kids’ classes utilize songs, games, and discussion, to introduce yoga and mindfulness, while helping children become comfortable with how they feel and how their bodies move through space. Balance, flexibility, and coordination are explored as poses are practiced. Conscious breathing is introduced to focus the mind and feel peaceful. Family yoga, prenatal, and post-natal classes are also offered. Harlem; harlemyogastudio.com
Karma Kids Yoga
Karma Kids Yoga is New York’s only yoga studio dedicated to kids and families. Offering yoga for babies, toddlers, kids, teens, and families, as well as circus yoga, prenatal yoga and pilates, special events, and yoga birthday parties. Give your child the tools they need to build confidence, self-esteem, concentration, and focus, and to find their inner-peace. West Village; karmakidsyoga.com
Lil Yogi’s NYC
Lil Yogi’s NYC offers fun-filled introductory yoga classes and yoga hip-hop classes for children ages 1-10. Children will be introduced to yoga through songs, adventures, games, and stories. Students will also enhance their flexibility, coordination, and fine and gross motor skills through yoga stretches and imaginative play. Expect lots of music, props, and age-appropriate exercises. Upper West Side; lilyogisnyc.com
New York Yoga
New York Yoga’s prenatal yoga classes are designed to give mamas-to-be the strength they’ll need to go through pregnancy and labor. They work on alleviating common (and unusual) pregnancy-specific side effects, such as lower back pain, night-time leg cramps, and shortness of breath. Every mama deserves to move, breathe, and—most importantly—have fun during pregnancy. Yorkville & Upper East Side; newyorkyoga.com
Next Generation Yoga
Next Generation Yoga engages children in creatively moving their bodies with the influence of traditional yoga. NGY ‘s Katy Mason teaches yoga to children in schools, as well as group and private classes throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Multiple locations;Pure Yop nextgenerationyoga.com
Prenatal Yoga Center
The PYC is the first yoga center in NYC to focus on moms and moms-to-be. Offering pre- and post-natal yoga, mommy and me classes, and workshops for moms and families, PYC strives to educate moms through this most excellent and life-changing period. Through community building, childbirth education, and specialized yoga practice, they provide moms with the tools to help make their labor and birth the best experiences they can possibly be. Multiple locations; prenatalyogacenter.com
Pure Yoga
Pure Yoga offers a variety of pre- and post-natal classes including Baby and Me Yoga, Momma Core, and Prenatal Yoga. With an emphasis on the core, Baby and Me Yoga is a multi-level yoga flow class designed to strengthen a parent’s body as they practice yoga with their baby. Momma Core is a multi-level Anusara Yoga class to help new moms feel strong and centered as they resume their yoga practice during the postpartum months. In prenatal yoga, moms learn to safely strengthen their abdominals to maintain postural integrity during pregnancy and labor. Upper West Side & Upper East Side; pureyoga.com
The Sivananda Yoga Center
The Sivananda Yoga Center offers one prenatal class once a week. The traditional yoga focuses not only on postures but also on deep relaxation and serenity of mind. The Center also runs popular meditation and positive thinking courses, which help mothers alleviate anxiety before and after giving birth. All stages of pregnancy are welcome. Chelsea; sivananda.org/ny
Yoga For Two
Yoga For Two—developed by Mary Barnes—offers a variety of yoga classes for moms, babies, and couples at Pure Yoga East and West, the JCC, and the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy in NYC. Prenatal Yoga is an invigorating class that helps women gain and maintain strength and flexibility during pregnancy, as well as teaching them to use yoga during childbirth. Baby and Me Yoga is specifically designed to strengthen a woman’s body after giving birth, while practicing yoga in the presence of her baby. This flowing yoga class focuses on strengthening abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Baby Yoga, massage, and songs are included (babies are newborn until crawling). Momma Core Yoga is an invigorating postpartum yoga class for moms only. Multiple locations; yogafortwo.com
Yogi Beans
Founded in 2007, Yogi Beans is an educational and engaging yoga-for-kids company. Yogi Beans’ mission is to introduce children of all ages to a healthy, life-long yoga practice that is non-competitive, physically challenging, and a ton of fun. Professionally-trained, caring Yogi Beans instructors develop children’s abilities to focus, stand up straight, move with control and grace, and find inner strength and self-confidence. Upper East Side; yogibeans.com
