Heart-warming Yoga Fun for Parents and Children this Valentine’s Day!

Okay, I’m going to be honest with you. Valentine’s Day doesn’t really hold much significance for me. As a single mom for over six years now, it’s just another day on the calendar. But you know what truly fills my heart? Love and connection. And guess what? We can celebrate that any day, not just on Valentine’s Day (although sometimes, a gentle reminder doesn’t hurt).

So, the practices I’m excited to share with you today are all about cultivating that love and connection with your child. These are moments you can cherish together, time and time again, without waiting for a specific date on the calendar. Because every day is an opportunity to share your love with each other, and I’m thrilled to be able to guide you through these practices that can bring you closer, no matter what day it is.

Heart to Heart

For this practice when we say place your hands on your heart, we mean our energetic heart space in the centre rather than slightly to the left. There is also the option of bringing your hands to your own heart for this practice.

Sit comfortably facing each other with eyes closed or making eye contact.

• Take three deep breaths together, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.
• Place one hand on your heart and the other on each others heart (or on their hand). If more than two of you, you can hold hands in a circle instead.
• Take a moment to feel your heartbeat and imagine matching each others heart rhythm by breathing together.
• As you inhale, imagine love and kindness filling your hearts. As you exhale, imagine sending that love and kindness out into the world.
• Take a few more breaths together, noticing how you feel.
• When you’re ready, slowly open your eyes (if they were closed) and give each other a big hug.

Love Flow

Throughout this sequence, focus on breathing deeply and maintaining a sense of playfulness. Use gentle cues and encouragement to guide your child through the poses. No need to correct them, as long as they are practicing safely, let them find their own expressions of the pose as you model this flow. It will help to practice this sequence regularly together so that they can get used to it. The repetition and familiarity will help children to focus on the breath as they move as they’ll know what is coming next. Not only will this help with feeling connected with each other, it can also be soothing for the nervous system.

1. Seated Side Stretch:

• Begin by sitting cross-legged on the yoga mat (or in another comfortable seat), facing each other.
• Inhale as you reach your arms overhead, lengthening through your spine.
• Exhale and gently side bend to the right, placing your right hand on the mat beside you.
• Reach your left arm over your head, feeling a stretch along your left side.
• Hold for a few breaths, then repeat on the other side, mirroring the movement with your child.

2. Tabletop Pose:

• Come onto your hands and knees, aligning your wrists under your shoulders (or slightly forward) and your knees under your hips. I like to use a blanket on the mat here for extra support for my knees too.
• Spread your fingers wide and press firmly into the mat.
• Encourage your child to mimic your posture, finding stability and balance in Tabletop Pose.

3. Cow Pose:

• As you inhale, drop your belly towards the mat, arching your back and lifting your gaze towards the ceiling.
• Let your chest open up and shoulders roll back.
• On the exhale you’ll move to cat pose.
• You can move between these two poses for a few breaths, or as long as it feels good or you can find a creative expression of this movement, changing it up and moving in a way that feels good with the breath.

4. Cat Pose:

• On an exhale, round your spine towards the ceiling, tucking your chin to your chest.
• Feel the stretch along your back as you draw your belly button towards your spine.
• Inhale and return to cow pose or once finished flowing between the poses, come back into table top.
• Animal noises are of course welcome with the younger kiddos 😝

5. Downward Facing Dog:

• From Tabletop Pose, bring your hands slightly forwards, tuck your toes and lift your hips up and back towards the sky, keeping a generous bend in the knees.
• Keep your hands shoulder-width apart, pressing into all your fingers and thumb, and your feet around hip-width apart.
• Press your chest towards your thighs and lengthen through your spine.
• Pedal out your feet and find a comfortable stretch in your calves and hamstrings.
• Children can join in with this pose or even go under ‘the tunnel’ as you hold the pose. You can get them to hold the pose by seeing if you can drive a car under the tunnel or rolling a ball through.

6. Child’s Pose:

• Lower your knees to the mat and send your sit bones towards your heels. I like to bring my knees wide as I find that more comfortable for me. Some people like to keep their knees together. Find what your body prefers today and invite your child to choose what works for them.
• Exhale as you fold forward, resting your forehead either on the mat, your hands, a yoga block or just towards the ground and extending your arms in front of you.
• Take 5 to 10 slow breaths here together.

Yoga Hearts

Take it in turns to flip one of the hearts over, and then which ever pose is chosen, you practice together. I also like to add in a few funny ones or ‘your choice’ ones to change things up.

Affirmations and Kind Notes

Another wonderful way to utilize these hearts, especially if you have extras, is to infuse them with affirmations or kind notes for your loved ones! Imagine the joy on your child’s face as they discover these heartfelt messages scattered around the house or tucked into their lunchbox. It’s a beautiful way to spread love and positivity not just within your own family but to extend it outward to friends and family members as well.

Consider involving your child in this activity by encouraging them to write their own affirmations or kind messages on the hearts. You could even turn it into a game where you take turns reading out loud the affirmations written on the hearts. This not only reinforces positive self-talk but also nurtures a sense of kindness and empathy towards others.

Here are some affirmation ideas for children to get you started:

1. “I am loved and valued.”
2. “I am capable of achieving my dreams.”
3. “I am kind and compassionate.”
4. “I am brave and strong.”
5. “I am unique and special, just the way I am.”
6. “I am grateful for all the good things in my life.”
7. “I am smart and capable of learning new things.”
8. “I am surrounded by love and support.”

Feel free to customize these affirmations based on your child’s interests, strengths, and areas where they may need a little extra encouragement. The power of positive affirmations can have a profound impact on a child’s self-esteem and overall well-being, so let’s spread some love and positivity together!”

Looking for more ideas?

I hope you found those practices helpful, let me know in the comments if you are going to be trying them out!

Any concerns about practicing, please see notes below and ensure you always practices safely! Enjoy!

Love and gratitude, Natasha

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Notes before practicing:

Before engaging in any physical activity or exercise, including the yoga poses and sequences provided, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional, especially if you or your child have any pre-existing medical conditions or concerns.

The information and guidance provided in this blog post are intended for general informational purposes only. While the yoga poses and sequences offered are generally safe for most individuals, it is essential to listen to your body and your child’s body, and to modify or avoid any poses that may cause discomfort or strain.

By choosing to participate in the yoga poses and sequences outlined in this blog post, you acknowledge and accept full responsibility for your and your child’s well-being and safety. The author of this blog post shall not be held liable or responsible for any injuries or damages that may result from the practice of these yoga poses and sequences.

It is recommended to practice mindfulness and awareness throughout the yoga session, ensuring that you and your child are practicing within your respective physical limitations and abilities. If at any point you or your child experience pain, discomfort, or dizziness, please stop the practice immediately and seek appropriate medical attention if needed.

By continuing with the practice, you agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless the author, their affiliates, and any other parties involved in the creation or dissemination of this content from any and all liabilities or claims arising from your participation in the yoga poses and sequences provided.

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