I don’t always want to practice Yoga with my Children

This might surprise you, especially coming from someone who talks about yoga together sooo much, but I don’t always want to practice yoga with my children.

And sometimes… they don’t want to practice with me either.

The other day, I rolled out my mat ready for my own practice. And like a moth to a flame, my nearly 8-year-old appeared 😂

(As I’m typing this, he’s actually just run in and hidden under my desk, right by my feet… so there’s that.)

He said, “I’ll do yoga with you.” And I said, “Okay but I’m just doing my practice right now. I’m not doing the games.”

He paused… “No thanks.” And went off to play with his toys.

And honestly… That was okay.

I really needed my practice in that moment. And he really didn’t need that practice.

This is something family yoga has taught me again and again:

✨ We can practice together and still have different needs. ✨ We can both benefit from shared practice but it’s okay to still have my own solo practice.

Because adult yoga just doesn’t meet children where they are.

They’re not mini adults. Their bodies, brains, nervous systems, and lives are different.

And that matters.

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What’s actually different when practicing yoga with children

This isn’t about what activities to include, it’s about understanding who children are.

Here are just a few things I always hold in mind:

– Growing bodies Children’s skeletal systems are still developing. Their bones are softer, proportions are different, and strength is built naturally through movement, play, and exploration.

– Developing strength & coordination What looks like “wiggling” is often the body learning. Falling, climbing, balancing, pushing, and pulling are all part of healthy development and yoga can support this when offered playfully.

– Developing brains Children learn best through engagement and play. Movement, imagination, and connection help information land in ways lectures never will.

– Growth spurts & hormones Energy, balance, emotions, sleep, and coordination can all shift… sometimes suddenly. Practices need flexibility and compassion built in.

– A developing nervous system Breath awareness and breath control techniques, can be incredibly supportive for the nervous system but it needs to be taught gently, creatively, and over time.

– Temperature & regulation Children are more prone to overheating and dehydration. Breaks, rest, water, and a comfortable environment matter more than pushing through.

– Connection first Unlike adult classes where we’re often on our own mats, children thrive in connection. Interaction. Being seen and heard. Sharing their ideas. This all matters.

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What family yoga gives us (even as grown-ups)

Family yoga isn’t about forcing everyone into the same practice.

It’s about:

– learning how to practice together

– learning how to honour different needs

– modelling self-care without guilt

– and discovering and practicing tools alongside our children

I’ve learned so much from practicing with my kids:

– how to let go of expectations

– how to stay curious

– how to meet the moment instead of the plan, staying present is a big one.

And sometimes… the most powerful lesson is knowing when to roll out your mat and let them go play while you take a moment for you.

That’s the real home yoga practice.

The Family Yoga Vault

If you want lessons and resources to support your family yoga practice at home, then I have the perfect thing for you.

Check out The Family Yoga Vault. A journey full of playful, nervous‑system–friendly family yoga practices that help you support big emotions without forcing calm.

The Family Yoga Vault is for parents who want to:

• support emotional regulation without control or coercion
• build connection instead of compliance
• offer their child real tools they can grow into
• stop scrambling in hard moments and know where to turn

This is yoga as regulation. Yoga as relationship. Yoga as something you come back to again and again…. not something you “complete.”