HOW TO PREPARE FOR A KIDS YOGA TEACHER TRAINING:
Setting Yourself Up for Success
Founder The Lovely Little Lotus
But like any training, preparation can help you feel grounded, confident, and ready to fully immerse yourself in the learning process. Here are some ways to prepare for your upcoming training so you can make the most of your experience.
Clarify Your “Why”
Before diving in, take time to reflect:
- Why do you want to teach yoga to children?
- What age groups or settings excite you most (classrooms, studios, camps, special needs populations)?
- How do you hope this training will enrich your teaching journey—or your own personal practice?
For me, my “why” was being able to communicate and bond with my baby, who had just been diagnosed with a form of deafness/hard of hearing. The sweet giggles and smiles we shared during our baby and me yoga sessions were so precious and meaningful. I knew I wanted to train others to be able to share this work, since kids of all ages can do yoga! Having a clear “why” will anchor you throughout the training and help you stay focused on your goals.
Strengthen Your Personal Yoga & Mindfulness Practice
While kids yoga looks very different from an adult class, your own practice will serve as a foundation.
- Dedicate time to regular asana, breathwork, and meditation in the weeks leading up to training.
- Explore playful and creative variations of familiar poses.
- Notice how movement, stillness, and breath affect your body and mind—these insights will later help you guide children.
Familiarize Yourself with Child Development Basics
Understanding children’s developmental stages makes teaching more effective and safe. Before training, consider:
- Reading a short guide on child development milestones (ages 2–17).
- Observing how children naturally move, play, and focus.
- Noticing differences in attention span, coordination, and social interaction across age groups.
Gather Creative Inspiration
Kids yoga thrives on imagination! To spark your creativity:
- Collect a few children’s books, songs, or games that could be integrated into yoga.
- Notice how kids respond to music, rhythm, and storytelling in everyday life.
- Bring along props you already have (scarves, stuffed animals, rhythm sticks) that could be repurposed for yoga.
About the Author:
Larissa R. Noto (C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, RCYT, RPYT).
Larissa is a writer, published children’s author, yoga therapist, professor, wife, mom of 3, and disability/legal advocate. She is the Owner/CEO of The Lovely Little Lotus and Director of Trainings & Programming Partner at The Yoga Loft in Bethlehem. Larissa is also the writer and co-creator of Prema Kids Inclusive Yoga Teacher Training, along with long time collaborator, writer and co-creator, Camelia Felton of Mimi’s Yoga Kids. Learn more about this training here.