What is Family Yoga?

I strongly believe that yoga is for absolutely everyone and there is much more to it than ommming and trying to get your foot behind your head!

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you have probably seen some of my posts about Family Yoga!

Even if you are very familiar with “regular” yoga classes you might not necessarily know much about this type of yoga which is why I wanted to explain what happens in our classes and what Family yoga is all about!

Why we do yoga

Yoga seems to be everywhere at the moment. Everyone does yoga… the English Rugby Team, Andy Murray, anyone who lives in Hollywood and even my Dad!

The benefits are well known nowadays:

• flexibility
• strength
• posture
• focus
• good for the heart
• good for the lungs
• regulates blood pressure

… to name just a few!

so what is Family Yoga?

Family Yoga classes are yoga classes that you enjoy together as a family. Kids, parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles or whoever you want to bring. Very simple!

Why should you do yoga with your family?

You might say yoga is time for myself so how can I get some me-time without my kids around? Yes, you are right, it is lovely to just focus on yourself in an adult yoga class. BUT for most families, especially once the kids are in school there is not much opportunity to do things together. Everyone has their own activities, weekends are short.

There is a real need to connect, to enjoy time together.

The other reason why kids really enjoy coming to family yoga is that their parents are equal for once. They are also yoga students - parents are usually not as flexible as the kids (which the kids love) and everyone is there to learn and do yoga together!

How is Family Yoga different to other yoga classes?

In Family Yoga we are connecting with each other, we share, we work together and we learn from each other. It can get loud and crazy and then peaceful and quiet. Kids need to move, they need be engaged and interact.

We do a lot through yoga games like for example “Musical Yoga Statues” where we dance and run around and when the music stops everyone has to be in Tree Pose or Dog Pose or any other yoga pose that is called out.

We do a lot of partner and group poses (see picture above). We are playful, pretending to be different yoga animals. There is dancing, yoga journeys and we are using our breath to blow out imaginary candles, flow around feathers. At the end we always finish with a few minutes of quiet time.

Who is Family Yoga for?

Family yoga is for everyone…. literally! If you’re young or old… right handed, left handed, special needs, flexible, not flexible. That is the beauty of family yoga as the whole family can enjoy it together. Some classes (like my own) mention an age range for the kids but that’s only a guideline. Younger kids will still get something out of the class but might not follow all of the poses. They will still learn by watching!

Will my child be quiet and better behaved after the yoga class?

We are not there to turn the kids into quiet little Angels! They will still be loud, they will still have tantrums, run around and do anything that is part of being a child.

BUT they will get the tools to manage difficult situations and emotions. They will learn how to use and listen to their bodies and they will spend time with their favourite person in the world: You!

And that’s what Family Yoga is all about.

Find out more about Christine Jaureguiberry and her Family Yoga classes