Mini beanbags are a fabulous prop for your kids’ yoga classes! Here’s how I use them; I’d love to hear your ideas too—tell me in the comments below.
Obviously: sit up tall, while balancing a beanbag on your head—a classic. Hold this for ten deep breaths in and out.
Make this (lots) harder: keeping it on your head, try to stand without using your hands, and without the beanbag sliding off.
Stand in mountain pose with it. Maybe try an easy walk…or tree pose (hold it during my tree song “Kings & Queens of the Forest!”)
Put one beanbag over each eye at rest time, or in savasana. (Always an option, never an instruction, as some children do not feel comfortable closing their eyes.) It will block out the light and, for most kids, make rest time feel like a soothing break from the day.
Place a beanbag on the belly as you lie down and breathe deeply, and watch it rise and fall.
Toss a beanbag from one hand to the other to improve hand-eye coordination. Or toss it lightly back and forth with a partner, moving farther away from each other with each successful toss.
Add in some math: face a partner, and count slowly together. On every three, (or four, or five) toss the beanbag, trying to maintain a steady rhythm.
Put a basket on the floor in the middle of the room, and everyone toss it in! Now do it while standing in a balance pose, and try not to fall over as you toss!
Please let me know how it goes!
(You can easily find these mini beanbags on Etsy, or if you’re the crafty type, make your own - lots of ideas on Pinterest.)