Teaching Yoga and MIndfulness To Children, Pre-K - Grade 5
Embark on a joyful journey with Yoga Child RCYT’s and E-RYT’s Gail Silver, Maureen Heil and Heather Marie Miller, to acquire an in depth understanding of yoga and mindfulness as related to children as well as an appreciation of the developmental and behavioral needs of preschool and elementary children so that you are perfectly positioned to engage and educate your yoga students.
The Yoga Child training curriculum was developed by Gail Silver, the award winning author of the Anh’s Anger Children books. Lessons for integrating the teachings of these books into your yoga and mindfulness classes is a unique and integral a part of this training.
All Philadelphia area Level I trainings are 50 hours and taught by Gail Silver or Yoga Child, Lead teacher, Maureen Heil. Thirty-six of the training hours are contact hours and will vary based upon location. The remaining twelve hours are completed through reading, assignments and in-class observations for those taking trainings with us in the Philadelphia area. Trainings held in retreat settings may have varying hours. Upon completion of Level I you may enroll in Level II to complete the 95-hr Yoga Child training and become eligible to become a registered children’s yoga teacher with The Yoga Alliance.
As someone who’s taken a handful of children’s yoga trainings I can confidently say this one is worth the time. If you’ve never taught a class before, you’ll walk away with all the tools you need to get started. If you’re well versed and need a creative spark, you’ll get that too. I really enjoyed this training and highly recommend it.
Amanda Daley, 2018 Training Graduate
LEARN
How to teach a thirty six-week curriculum using Yoga Child lesson plans and methods, including:
- Inspirational Yoga Themes
- Magical meditations
- Yoga Games
- Original Yoga Child music and songs
- Asana Stories
- Yoga Journaling and thematically significant crafts
- Off the mat lessons in mindfulness
- And so much more
How to enable children to discover and enjoy the benefits of Mindfulness Meditation on and off the mat.
Mindfulness practice allows one to be fully present in each moment so that we are able to find more fulfillment in life, process our feelings with greater ease and communicate with others more compassionately. Many trainees learn and practice mindfulness for the first time when they enroll in the Yoga Child training and are pleased to find it to be a useful practice for reducing stress in their own lives as well as in the lives of their students.
How yoga and mindfulness can be employed as a behavior tool
Teaching yoga to children consists of more than teaching children yoga poses. You will learn how to tap into your own inner child and learn how to see the world through the eyes of your students so that you can communicate effectively, set appropriate limits, and enable your students to benefit physically, emotionally, and to look forward to the lessons you will teach.
How developmental anatomy relates to informed use of asana in children, and how to overcome the challenges inherent in working with children and to embrace the joy .
EXPERIENCE

A renewed relationship with your inner child
Mindfulness practice in your own life
In-school Children’s yoga classes as part of your training.
Hands on experience is a distinctive and essential part of learning to teach yoga. You will be introduced to this during the training with the opportunity to observe and participate in up to four in-school children’s yoga classes. Additional classroom experience takes place in our level II, Apprenticeship.
Upon Completion of the Level I training
You will be able to
skillfully create and teach
thematic yoga and mindfulness classes
that are safe, fun and
developmentally tailored for specific age groups
within the range of ages three to ten
I am so happy to have been part of such a welcoming, engaging, and fun training program and I’ve experienced the joy of integrating yoga into kids lives ever since!”
Courtney D'Avella
Enjoy A Peaceful Place Inside, our Parent’s Choice award-winning playlist of magical meditations and mindful movement, included with your enrollment in all in-person Yoga Child Level I Teacher Trainings.
Upcoming Level I Trainings
2021 Training Dates
at Amrita Yoga and Wellness
Philadelphia PA
TBD
This 50+ hour training includes
Two Hours of school yoga
classroom observation
Investment
$999 + $75 registration fee for early bird registration. Expires October 1, 2019.
$1499 + plus $75 registration fee thereafter
Registration Closes: January 2, 2020
Two Partial scholarships are available to PSD teachers. Email gail@yogachild.net for scholarship application and more information.
Two Work-Study internships are available. These reduce the cost of training by 50%, to $750. Email resume and cover letter to gail@yogachild.net.
As part of your registration we require you to complete these two registration forms and return via email to info@yogachild.net
YCTT Level I Registration and Waiver
YC Practice Guidelines
Enrollment In Level I In-Person Trainings Include:
- The Yoga Child Teacher Training Manual
- Sample lesson plans
- A Peaceful Place Inside, Yoga Child’s Original Instructional CD of music and meditations
- Guides for integrating Anh’s Anger and Steps and Stones into your classroom setting.
- A Yoga Child Tote Bag
For On-Line Trainings Registrants Will Need to Purchase:
- The Yoga Child Training Manual (Link Posted July 1, 2020)
- The Yoga Child PlayList
- Anh’s Anger as Listed Below
- All other reading materials are highly recommended, but not required for on-line trainings.
Required Reading Materials
Trainees must purchase these books prior to the training as we will reference them during the training. These books are available at local booksellers and on Amazon.
- Anh’s Anger, by Gail Silver
- Steps and Stones, by Gail Silver
- A Pebble for your Pocket, by Thich Nhat Hanh
- Spinning Inward, by Maureen Murdock
- Learn more about these mindfulness books for children at gailsilver.com.