Cards anyone?

There are so many wonderful yoga props and games out there that will inspire your children & help them to learn about yoga. One of my favorite games comes from Spiraling Hearts, a company that encourages learning through play.

They sell a deck of yoga cards which can be used for several different games. One of which is always a big hit in my classes: I call it "go yoga." This game is played just like go fish, but instead of trying to match numbers to make a pair, your trying to match yoga poses. Each child gets 7 cards and takes turns asking the other children if they have a certain pose card to form a pair. Instead of asking with your words, you have to demonstrate the pose with your body. If the person you asked happens to have that card, they also do the pose, and then hand over their card. If not, they say "go yoga!" and you take an extra card from the deck. Every time you put down a pair, you demonstrate that pose for the group. Not only does this game get the children moving and practicing their asanas, but it also teaches them the names for poses they may not know.

Another way to use this deck is to place the cards face down and play a matching game. Each time a child turns over a card they do the pose. When they turn over two matching cards, they get to keep them as a pair.

Each pose in the deck has three cards: one shows a child demonstrating the pose and has the name printed on it, one shows the same child but doesn't have the name of the pose, and one shows the actual pose happening in nature (for example: a child doing butterfly pose, and a picture of a butterfly).

You can purchase these yoga cards online at https://www.spiralinghearts.com/index.php as well as browse through their other yoga games for kids.

Added bonus -- if you are a yoga instructor, studio owner, school teacher, or if you want to buy in bulk, you get an additional discount!

Until next time, play on yogis, play on!