Tools within Saiyaara Yoga

Goal: To provide safety and comfort during lessons.

Examples:

• Yoga mats: Soft and non-slip mats for safely performing postures.

• Cushions and blankets: For support during relaxation exercises and meditations.

• Blocks and straps: For adapting postures so that each child can participate at his or her own level.

Goal: To promote calmness, focus and emotional regulation.

Examples:

• “Blow Up the Balloon” for young children: A playful way to practice deep breathing.

• “The sea breathing” for older children: Consciously inhale and exhale with attention to the abdomen.

• “Lion’s Breath” for Teens: A Powerful Breathing Technique to Release Tension

Purpose: Relaxation, focus and stimulating the imagination.

Examples:

• Visualizations such as “Imagine you are a strong tree with deep roots.”

• Guided meditations that correspond to a theme, such as “The Star” (for self-confidence) or “The Rainbow” (for emotional balance).

Goal: To combine movement and fun to make lessons playful and accessible.

Examples:

• Yoga games such as “Yoga Freeze” or “Animal Safari,” where poses are linked to a game or story.

• Creative activities, such as drawing, painting or making up stories, to express emotions and deepen the theme of the lesson.

Goal: To create a relaxed atmosphere and support rhythm and breathing.

Calm background music or nature sounds during relaxation exercises.

Mantras or simple songs to engage younger children, such as repeating “OM” or a short song appropriate to the theme.

Instruments such as a singing bowl or rain stick to enhance the sensory aspect

Objective: To provide a common thread throughout the lesson and connect with the children's world.

Themes such as animals, seasons, emotions (for example “joy” or “peace”), or adventures (for example “A trip to the moon”).

Stories that integrate yoga postures, such as a jungle journey or a visit to a fantasy world.

Goal: To increase awareness and strengthen inner peace.

Using a mindful jar to help children understand their emotions.

Attention exercises, such as listening to ambient sounds or consciously feeling your breathing.

Naming emotions using emotion cards.

Goal: To strengthen self-confidence and a positive mindset.

Each lesson ends with an affirmation such as “I am strong,” “I am enough,” or “I can handle anything.”

For teens, affirmations become more focused on self-acceptance and resilience, such as “I am perfect just the way I am.”

Goal: To support themes and stimulate curiosity.

Crystals, gemstones or feathers to help children focus during meditation or mindfulness.

Cards with yoga postures, emotions or short assignments to make the lesson interactive.

Seasonal objects, such as autumn leaves or flowers, to incorporate nature.

Goal: To delve deeper into emotional and social development, and to strengthen the mind-body connection.

“The Yoga of the Heart”: This book offers beautiful stories and exercises that help cultivate love, connection, and self-acceptance.

“Yoga for Children”: A book full of fun and accessible exercises specifically aimed at children, with a focus on emotions, self-confidence and balance.

Helen Purperhart's books are used as inspiration for developing themes and introducing techniques that promote both relaxation and focus.

Goal: To visualize the postures and promote awareness and concentration.

Yoga pose cards: Children can use the cards to visually identify the different poses and practice them themselves. This makes the class more interactive and encourages greater engagement.

Emotion cards: These cards help children identify and understand their feelings. They can be used during lessons or as a reflection to recognize and process emotions.

Theme Cards: These cards are linked to specific themes we're covering in class, such as "peace," "strength," or "friendship," and help make the concept visual and tangible for children.