Columnist: Olivia Goldrick Barefoot Yoga: Yoga for Kids: Focus, Fun and Flexibility Over the Summer

The school year is over, and routines are shifting. For many families, summer is a welcome break — but it can also bring challenges. Without the structure of the classroom or extracurriculars, children can become restless or spend more time on screens. Yoga offers a simple and effective way to support children’s physical and emotional wellbeing during the holidays.

The Benefits of Yoga for Children

Yoga helps children build strength, flexibility, balance and coordination, but its benefits go well beyond the physical. Through mindful movement and breathing, children learn to recognise how they’re feeling and respond in healthy ways. Regular practice can improve focus, build resilience and support emotional regulation — key skills for life, not just the mat.

Yoga also helps children to slow down, connect with themselves, and take a break from the fast-paced world around them. It provides a space that’s non-competitive and inclusive, where each child is encouraged to explore at their own pace.

How Yoga for Kids Works

A kids’ yoga class is very different from an adult class. It’s interactive, imaginative and full of variety. A typical session might include movement, storytelling, songs, partner poses, breathing games and guided relaxation.

Younger children are naturally curious and love to move — so kids’ yoga taps into that energy in a playful way. The goal is to introduce them to concepts like mindfulness and self-awareness through fun and creative expression, rather than expecting stillness or perfect poses.

Yoga at Home: Simple Summer Practices

You don’t need to be a yoga teacher to introduce some basic practices at home. A few minutes of gentle movement or breathwork can make a big difference in a child’s day.

• Tree Pose: Great for focus and balance. Ask your child to stand tall like a tree, one foot on the opposite leg, hands together or stretched like branches.
• Belly Breathing: Have them lie on their back with a soft toy on their tummy. Encourage them to breathe slowly and watch the toy rise and fall.
• Yoga Storytime: Tell a simple story and invite your child to act it out with poses — a jungle adventure, a trip to the beach, or a journey through the seasons.
• Relaxation: End the day with a few minutes lying down with soft music or a bedtime visualisation. Many children love this peaceful pause.

These small rituals help children to wind down, reconnect, and feel safe in their bodies   

Supporting Teens with Yoga – On and Off the Mat

As children grow into teenagers, their physical, emotional and mental worlds become more complex. The teenage years can bring increased academic pressure, social comparison, body image concerns and emotional highs and lows. Yoga offers teens a powerful set of tools to support self-awareness, reduce stress, and promote a more positive relationship with their bodies and minds.

In a classroom setting, simple yoga and mindfulness practices can help teenagers develop better focus, manage anxiety, and improve concentration. Breathing techniques and gentle movement can be integrated into the school day as part of PE, wellbeing programmes, or even a short morning routine.

Outside of school, teens benefit from yoga as a space to move without judgement and learn to listen to their bodies — something especially important in a world dominated by performance and perfectionism. Whether it’s restorative yoga to help with sleep and recovery or a dynamic practice to build confidence and strength, yoga can meet teens where they are.

Our teacher training includes specific modules on teaching yoga to teens, with age-appropriate techniques and guidance for working with this unique and often underserved group.

Bringing Yoga into Local Schools

Over the past few years, we’ve had the privilege of bringing yoga and mindfulness into primary and secondary schools around our area. From Wellness Week sessions to regular movement and breathwork classes, we’ve seen first-hand how even short practices can support focus, calm, and emotional wellbeing in a school setting.

Training to Teach Yoga to Children & Teens

Interest in kids’ yoga is growing rapidly in schools, studios, and community settings. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, early years educator or yoga instructor, learning how to share yoga with children can be a deeply rewarding skill.

Our next Kids & Teens Yoga Teacher Training begins this September. This certified training is suitable for those who want to teach formally, as well as those who simply want to gain tools for home or classroom use. The course covers child development, age-appropriate practices, classroom management, and how to create safe, engaging yoga experiences for different age groups.

The training is a hybrid format, combining live Zoom sessions with in-person training days at our Lucan studio. No prior teaching experience is required — just an interest in working with children through yoga and mindfulness.

Places are limited, so early booking is recommended if you’re considering joining us this autumn.

A Summer to Move, Breathe and Play

While summer brings a break from academics, it’s also an opportunity to support children in other ways — helping them to stay connected to their bodies, emotions, and imagination.

Whether it’s a weekly class, a few simple poses at home, or the start of a new teaching path, yoga can be a powerful support for children’s growth and wellbeing.

As with all of our trainings, the focus is on real-world application, supportive learning, and leaving with tools that make sense in your own body and your own life.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, get in touch.

Because in the end, practice isn’t about being better at yoga. It’s about being better at being yourself.

Namaste!

Olivia

Join Our Community

At Barefoot Yoga Studio, we believe yoga is more than just a practice; it’s a way of life. We are dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where everyone can thrive. Whether you’re interested in our 200-hour teacher training program, which offers a comprehensive understanding of yoga philosophy and teaching methodologies, or our specialized courses for teaching kids yoga, we have something for everyone. We are excited to see our community grow and evolve, and we encourage you to take the next step in your yoga journey.

*To register for the course or learn more about our offerings, please visit our Instagram and Facebook pages or stop by the studio. We look forward to welcoming you into our community!

Barefoot Yoga Studio
Unit 13, Millbank Business Park
Lower Lucan Road,
Co. Dublin
k78 DK30

Tel: 083 804 1873
Email: info@barefootyogastudio.ie
Website: http://www.barefootyoga.ie
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