Yoga Stories for Teaching Kids Yoga Poses

Yoga Stories for Kids: Teaching Yoga Poses

Can you tell stories to teach kids yoga poses? Absolutely.

Teaching kids yoga is way different from teaching adult yoga. Kids like to play, have fun, pretend, and be noisy. Not what you’d expect in an adult class with calm, quiet, controlled poses.

Yoga stories for kids is truly an art, requiring creativity and skill to design sessions that are both engaging and meaningful.

If you want to teach children yoga, you need to meet the kiddoss where they are and teach them in a way that fits their age.

Check out this post with yoga pose examples for kids of different ages.

But how do you explain how to do each pose in a kid-friendly way?

Imagine you have a whole group of kiddos, active and moving, needing something to hook them and keep them interested.

What do you do??

I highly recommend using a well know or made up story or book with poses added in.

It’s so simple and so fun, especially with littles ones as young as 2 and up to ages 9 or 10!

Introduction to Kids Yoga

Kids yoga is a wonderful way to introduce children to the world of yoga, blending movement, mindfulness, and storytelling into one engaging experience.

Unlike traditional yoga classes, yoga with little ones is all about sparking imagination and creativity—using stories, music, fun poses, and interactive activities to capture young minds. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or educator, you can create a playful and educational environment where children learn to focus, balance, and express themselves through movement.

By weaving yoga poses into stories, using card decks, or even adding props and music, you can make each class feel like a new adventure.

How do you teach yoga with stories?

1. Tell or read a narrative that you know, or make one up.
2. Put some movement with it, and some animal yoga poses where it makes sense in the story.
3. Tell the kiddos to follow along as storytelling and yoga movements are combined to create an engaging experience for kids, and, voila! You are the master of storytelling for kids yoga.

There’s something incredibly compelling about our voices as soon as we start telling a story that makes kids (and people) want to listen.

There is a reason so many cultures have folktales, creation stories and myths that are passed down in oral traditions. Stories are things that we remember, and when you add in movement it can be even more powerful.

Here’s a short video of myself doing a kids yoga story lesson to the book, I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen.

There are many videos available that demonstrate kids yoga stories and poses, making these videos a helpful resource for parents and educators looking to teach yoga to children.

It just so happens that telling yoga stories for kids really helps them learn and keeps them engaged.

Almost all yoga asanas are either animals or nature-related things with your odd transportation vehicle thrown in (boat, airplane, plow). These yoga poses, or asanas, are woven into the story to enhance engagement and make the session more imaginative for children.

Just learn the poses for animals, landscape features, and transportation vehicles and go with the flow of the mood.

Here’s a sample yoga story:

“Once upon a time, there was a curious little dog. Let’s all become dogs! Hands and feet on the ground, tails wagging high in the air. Woof, woof! As the dog wandered through the meadow, he met a sneaky cat. Meow! Let’s arch our backs like a cat and stretch into a cow, who is watching nearby. Moo! The dog and the cat decided to go on an adventure together. They hiked through the forest—marching in place—and stumbled upon a big, tall tree. Let’s grow into trees, standing tall with our arms reaching to the sky.

In the tree, they spotted a majestic eagle. Spread your wings wide and balance like an eagle soaring through the sky. The eagle swooped down and invited them to fly to a magical waterfall. Let’s stretch into Warrior 3 and glide through the air! When they arrived, they folded forward to admire the sparkling waterfall. Then, they all decided to go for a swim. Sit down in lotus pose and paddle your hands like you’re swimming in the cool, refreshing water.

Suddenly, a playful dolphin appeared! Let’s jump like dolphins, arching our backs and leaping high into the air. The dolphin was so excited, she jumped right over a boat! Let’s balance in boat pose and imagine the dolphin soaring over us.

And so, the adventure continued, with new friends and surprises around every corner.

Yes, it’s perfect to throw in some subjugated movement to act out specific parts of the story.

Make them do a little prancing, hopping, walking in place, etc… before, after, and during traditionally static poses. Kids have 10000000% more energy than you. Guaranteed. And you should let them use it.

So, there you have the start of a very appealing, interesting, and energetically balancing set of yoga asanas to hook kids on yoga and keep them moving and healthy.

But what if you think you aren’t creative enough to think these up in the moment??

Here are some ways to help you create yoga stories for your students

1. Pick a book you know, and act it out

This works really well with LOTS of library books!  All it takes is a book with a compelling plot line that is age appropriate for the kiddos you are working with.

It helps to choose a book that has lots of animals, or one animal going through an adventure. These tales become even more memorable for kids when they act out them outwhile you read.

It works really well to just pick one animal or object for each page. Do the pose after you read the page so the kiddos can watch and then they will feel free to try as well.

Some of the best “regular” books for yoga storytelling are:

Here are some recommended books that serve as excellent sources for kids yoga stories, helping you integrate storytelling and yoga in your classes:

• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
• Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
• The Mitten by Jan Brett
• Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter
• I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
• Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
• Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
• My Many Colored Days by Dr Seuss
• Journey by Aaron Becker
• Quest by Aaron Becker
• Return by Aaron Becker

The last three, by Aaron Becker, are my favorites because there are no words, just compelling characters going on an adventure. You get to create the narrative all by yourself, or have the students tell it!

Here are some ready-made lesson plans to go with some of our favorite books

Explore these lesson plans that use yoga stories set in different settings, such as rainforests, outer space, and more, to make each session engaging and varied:

• Journey: An Active Kid’s Yoga Lesson Plan to Build a Love of Storytelling.
• Kids Yoga Story Lesson Plan Based on the Book Not a Box
• Follow the Drinking Gourd: A Kids Yoga Story Lesson Plan with an Equity Mindset
• My Many Colored Days Yoga Lesson Plan for Emotional Awareness
• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein: A Free Lesson Plan for Teaching Kids Yoga
• Rain Forest Themed Kids Yoga and Literacy Lesson Plan
• Outer Space Themed Yoga Lesson Plan

2. Purchase pre-written books of yoga stories for kids.

There are lots of kids yoga books out there that have yoga poses already built into the plot line. They have become increasingly popular over the last 8 years, for good reason.

These resources are especially valuable for educators who want to introduce yoga stories to children in an engaging and structured way.

Read the book, learn the yoga poses with your kiddos or students, and do the pose right there on each page.

Here’s a huge (constantly updated) list of yoga books for kids with the stories and poses all in one.

3. Plan your own storytelling adventure ahead of time and use a cheat sheet

Write down 10-15 poses and tell a mini story to yourself while looking at the names of the poses.

Your IRL narration may change a bit, but the kiddos won’t notice, or care!

A good way to do this is to start with one animal character and keep coming back to that throughout the story as conflicts come and go.

Encourage parents and teachers to practice yoga with children by using their own stories, making the activity both fun and engaging.

You can draw out the stick poses or use a set of yoga cards (more info below!) to help you remember as you are teaching your lesson plan to kiddos.

3. Plan your own storytelling adventure ahead of time and use a cheat sheet

Write down 10-15 poses and tell a mini story to yourself while looking at the names of the poses.

Your IRL narration may change a bit, but the kiddos won’t notice, or care!

A good way to do this is to start with one animal character and keep coming back to that throughout the story as conflicts come and go.

Encourage parents and teachers to practice yoga with children by using their own stories, making the activity both fun and engaging.

You can draw out the stick poses or use a set of yoga cards (more info below!) to help you remember as you are teaching your lesson plan to kiddos.

Here are some examples of storytelling with yoga lesson plans that you can grab for free!

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4. Use a card deck of kids yoga poses to pull random characters

Then make up a sequence based on those characters on the spot. It’ll be really weird and not make sense but, trust me, the kids will find it funny if you give it a bit of emotion and play up how silly it is.

As young yogis, the children will love participating in this silly storytelling adventure together.

You can also put them in order ahead of time (like above) and hold them up one at a time as you tell the story, or tape them up on a wall so everyone can see.

Here is a list of some fun and easy to use kids yoga pose cards.

• Yoga Pretzels
• The Little Yogi Deck
• ABC’s of Yoga for Kids Cards
• Enchanted Wonders A-Z cards
• IMYOGI Original Card Deck

5. Let the students help you tell the story!

Remember how kids have more energy than you?  Their brains might be more creative than yours is too, hate to break it to you.

Once the kids know enough poses and/or just the idea that we stay on our mats and make shapes that (vaguely) represent parts of a story, then they will be able to help you tell the story.

Tell them to raise a hand to add on and tell what happens next in the story. Try to get them to pick one pose and tell what is happening with that pose.

Again, it will be convoluted and you may end up on the moon, at the mall, or in Candyland, but hey! We are using our imaginations! It’s the whole point!

We always end up laughing and creating for more time than I planned, and that creates the best space for trust and learning that I could ever hope for. These collaborative storytelling and yoga activities also help children relax, making it easier for them to unwind and enjoy the experience.

I’ve learned to give myself a lot of credit every time I simply make it through 10-15 poses and all the kiddos are in one piece at the end and still in my classroom.

We have fun, we learn together, and we tell stories together at the same time!  It’s always a blast.

Using Props and Music in Yoga

Adding props and music to kids yoga classes transforms the practice into a truly magical experience. Props like blocks, blankets, and bolsters invite children to explore yoga poses in new and creative ways, making each movement feel like part of a story or adventure.

Card decks and visual aids can help introduce new poses, spark imagination, and keep kids engaged as they move through different sequences.

Music is another powerful tool in kids yoga, setting the mood for relaxation, focus, or energetic play. Gentle tunes can help children unwind and find calm, while upbeat songs encourage movement and laughter.

By combining props, music, and storytelling, teachers and parents can create a world of yoga that feels both fun and meaningful.

These creative elements not only make yoga more accessible for all children, but also inspire them to use their imaginations and fully immerse themselves in the practice.

Whether you’re guiding a group through a beautiful story or letting kids invent their own yoga adventures, props and music help bring the magic of yoga to life—making every class a memorable journey of movement, creativity, and relaxation.

Benefits of Yoga for Kids

The benefits of yoga for kids go far beyond just stretching and moving their bodies. Practicing yoga helps children develop strength, flexibility, and balance, while also supporting their emotional and mental well-being. Through yoga stories and kids yoga poses, children learn to manage stress, build mindfulness, and connect with their own bodies in a positive way.

Yoga encourages kids to focus and concentrate, which can lead to better performance in school and other activities. It also teaches valuable life skills, such as empathy, kindness, and respect for nature and animals—lessons that are often woven into the stories and poses themselves.

By making yoga a regular part of their routine, children experience greater relaxation and calm, helping them handle big emotions and challenging moments with more ease.

Whether it’s through animal poses, nature-inspired movements, or imaginative yoga stories, kids gain tools for a healthier, happier life. The benefits of kids yoga are truly holistic, nurturing both body and mind, and setting the foundation for lifelong well-being.

Have you ever tried storytelling with yoga poses? To kids or adults?  What worked? What was hard about it?

Also, if you are just starting out as a kids yoga instructor, check out these popular posts below:

• Tips and Tricks You Need to Know to Teach Kids Yoga
• How to Teach Phenomenal Kid’s Yoga Classes Using Simple Themes
• 5 Fun New Ways to Teach a Kid’s Yoga Class

Thanks for being here!!

Interested in learn how to teach yoga to kids professionally?

Check out my Yoga Alliance accredited online kids yoga teacher training program here:

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