Kids love animals. While some are afraid of animals as toddlers, most kids are fond of animals as infants. When you teach yoga to kids, you can use animal yoga poses to grow their interest at the beginning.

Animal yoga poses are fun and simple to do. It makes your kids healthy and fit. Use animal yoga poses along with these tips to teach yoga to your children. The animal names attract your kids to yoga. They have fun instead of looking at yoga as an exercise. You can create fun stories and games with these poses. Relate these stories with the animals involved. You can invite your children to give their own unique twist to these names. Take a look at some animal yoga poses that your kids will love. 

1. Cat Pose

This yoga pose is a great warm-up pose to start a session. The cat pose stretches the neck and back. It also makes hands and knees strong. 

Put yourself in the tabletop position and round your spine and arch your belly. Next, drop the head down while tucking the chin to the chest. 

2. Cow Pose

This animal yoga pose relieves back pain and lowers stress. It also improves focus and is good for the mind.

Put yourself in the tabletop position again. This time, raise your neck upwards. At the same time, dip the belly towards the floor by curving the lower back inwards. 

3. Downward Dog Pose

This yoga pose improves posture and the blood flow in the body. It also makes your body strong and supple. 

Get down on all fours in the tabletop position with the arms under your shoulders. Lift your knees and walk your feet backward till your body resembles a triangle. Keep the head down and look towards the legs.

4. Upward Dog Pose

This animal yoga pose strengthens your arms, back, belly and core. 

Lie flat belly side down on the floor. Next place the palms under your shoulders on the floor. Now, straighten your arms and lift your torso and head off the ground. 

5. Fox Pose

This yoga pose flexes your legs and hip joints. It tones your back and belly and makes the spine strong. 

Get down on all fours in the tabletop position with the arms under your shoulders. Lift back one leg at a time and bend it at the knee. Raise your head upwards and point your toes straight upwards. Repeat with the other leg. 

6. Ant Pose

This animal yoga pose is good for stomach-related issues. 

Lie on your back on a mat. Put your feet together, and then slowly bring your knees towards the chest. Now hug your knees with your hands by clasping them around the legs. Your kids will enjoy this pose by rolling over and having fun in the end. 

7. Bee Breath Pose

This yoga pose calms the mind and lowers stress levels. 

Sit in the easy pose. Close your eyes with your fingers and ears with your palms. Inhale through the nose and exhale with a low humming sound of the bee. Focus on the sound echoing from within. 

8. Lion’s Breath Pose

This animal yoga pose lowers stress and anxiety, makes lungs strong, and improves sleep quality. 

Sit on the floor in an easy pose. Put your hands on your knees with fingers spread wide. Lean slightly forwards and inhale through the nose. Next, open your mouth as wide as possible and stick your tongue out dropping towards your chin. Keep your eyes wide open all the time. Then exhale with a roar like a-ha sound. 

9. Hanging Bat Pose

This yoga pose tones the belly and improves the core. It also calms the mind. 

Stand straight and open your legs wide. Next, place your hands on the hips and bend forward from the hip. Lower your head down towards the floor and look upside down. 

10. Butterfly Pose

This animal yoga pose stretches legs, hips, lower backs, and inner thighs and makes them flexible. It also relaxes the body. 

Sit on the floor and bring your feet together so that the soles of your feet join. Place one hand on each ankle and bring your knees up and down gently. Just like the fluttering of butterfly wings. 

11. Clam Pose

This yoga pose stretches the knees, thighs, and groin area and makes the legs more flexible. 

Sit on the floor and bring your feet together so that the soles of your feet join. Put your hands on the feet and fold forward, with your head hanging down towards the heels of the feet. 

12. Camel Pose

This animal yoga pose makes the spine more mobile and flexible. It also makes your lower body strong. 

Stand on a mat on your knees, with toes tucked in or out as per your comfort. Put your hands on the lower back and press your hip bone forward. Arch your back, and lift your chest to the sky. Lower your head to the back and look up at the sky or roof. 

13. Duck Pose 

This yoga pose stretches your upper back and shoulders and improves your balance. 

Sit down with the sole of your feet touching the ground. Put your hands on the waist. Now raise your feet until you are on your tiptoes. Raise and join your hands above your head. Next, bring your hands under the armpits and try to flap like a duck. Kids love this pose as it sort of looks like a chicken dance.

14. Crab Pose

This animal yoga pose is also called the reverse tabletop pose. It stretches the upper body and makes the core, arms, and legs strong. 

Sit on the floor and extend your legs fully in front of you. Rest your arms at the sides with palms pressing on the floor. Point fingers towards the front. Bend your knees so that the soles of the feet are pressing on the ground. Lift your hips and the chest and at the same time walk your hands behind you. Lower your head back towards the floor. 

15. Bear Pose

This yoga pose makes your arms, shoulders, and core muscles strong. It also improves your balance and makes your lower body strong. 

Stand straight with your feet and stretch the arms in front so they are parallel to the floor. Then lower your hips and bend the knees in a half-squat position. Lock your hands together and stretch the arms over your head. 

16. Crocodile Pose

This animal yoga pose improves blood flow and focus. It also makes your lower body and core strong. 

Lie on your right side, with your head supported by the palm of your right hand. Keep your body in a straight line with your legs stacked over each other. Now raise your left leg towards the ceiling and gently bring it down. Now change sides and repeat with the right leg. 

17. Crow Walking Pose

This yoga pose improves your balance and makes your lower body strong. Squat down and balance yourself with your legs held apart and hips above the heels. Place your palms on the knees and walk in the squatting position one knee at a time. Maintain your balance while doing so. Kids have a lot of fun doing this pose. 

18. Horse Pose

This animal yoga pose stretches your back and lower body. It makes your knees flexible and improves your focus. 

Stand straight and then step one foot forward. Put the knee of the back foot down on the floor in the classic lunging position. Tuck your toes and look straight ahead. Raise your arms over your head and join the palms together in a “Namaste”. 

19. Dragon Pose

This yoga pose boosts your energy levels and makes your core strong. It also improves blood flow to the chest and lungs. 

Go into the horse pose given above. Next, lift your chest, and open your mouth wide. Stick out your tongue and exhale with force. 

20. Seated Eagle Pose

This animal yoga pose improves focus and opens the shoulder and hips. Sit with one leg across the other. If it is tough, then switch to an easy pose. 

Bring your both hands forward with elbows close to each other. Then wrap the arms together so that the right arm is around the left arm with palms touching. Raise the joined hands upwards. Keep the back straight with shoulders relaxed. Gaze at the front. 

21. Elephant Pose

This yoga pose improves your balance and stretches your shoulders, arms, legs, and back. 

Stand straight with your feet wide apart. Raise one arm straight to the sky with the other arm behind the back for balance. Now sway your arms side by side like an elephant sways its trunk. 

22. Giraffe Pose

This simple yoga pose improves your balance and makes your core strong. It also flexes your shoulders and spine and improves your focus. 

Put yourself in the tabletop position then lift one hand high up over the head. Raise your head and look up at your hand. Bring the hand and head down and repeat with the other hand.

23. Fish Pose

This animal yoga pose tones your belly and makes your upper back and neck strong. It also relieves the tension from your shoulders, throat, and neck. 

Lie down on the floor on your back with your arms resting by the sides. Next, extend your legs with knees straight and legs and feet together. Point your toes forward. Press your forearms to the floor and slide your palms face-down under your hips. Now raise your upper body by lifting your chest up, so that it rests on your elbows. Lower your head back towards the floor. 

24. Gorilla Pose

This yoga pose opens hips and relieves neck and shoulder tension. It also stretches the back and calms the mind. 

Stand straight and then place your legs wide apart. Make your hands into fists and fold forward from the hips till your fists touch the floor. Now thump the floor with your fists one by one like a gorilla does. Your kids with you will surely have a lot of fun doing this. 

25. Mouse Pose

This animal yoga pose stretches the back, shoulders, and ankles and improves blood flow to the heart. It also calms the mind and body and improves the quality of sleep. 

Sit on your shins and knees so that the hips are over the heels. Fold your upper body forward so that your forehead rests on the floor. Place your arms down wherever it feels easy. Place them either by sides or extend them in front of you. Now exhale and inhale slowly. 

Final Thoughts

Children can learn yoga in different ways. Animal yoga poses are a fun way to introduce yoga to kids. These poses have simple steps and are easy to do. These are easy to spell and attract your kids to yoga. Animal yoga poses help your children become fit and healthy and make yoga a part of their life.

Kids love animals. While some are afraid of animals as toddlers, most kids are fond of animals as infants. When you teach yoga to kids, you can use animal yoga poses to grow their interest at the beginning.

Animal yoga poses are fun and simple to do. It makes your kids healthy and fit. Use animal yoga poses along with these tips to teach yoga to your children. The animal names attract your kids to yoga. They have fun instead of looking at yoga as an exercise. You can create fun stories and games with these poses. Relate these stories with the animals involved. You can invite your children to give their own unique twist to these names. Take a look at some animal yoga poses that your kids will love. 

1. Cat Pose

This yoga pose is a great warm-up pose to start a session. The cat pose stretches the neck and back. It also makes hands and knees strong. 

Put yourself in the tabletop position and round your spine and arch your belly. Next, drop the head down while tucking the chin to the chest. 

2. Cow Pose

This animal yoga pose relieves back pain and lowers stress. It also improves focus and is good for the mind.

Put yourself in the tabletop position again. This time, raise your neck upwards. At the same time, dip the belly towards the floor by curving the lower back inwards. 

3. Downward Dog Pose

This yoga pose improves posture and the blood flow in the body. It also makes your body strong and supple. 

Get down on all fours in the tabletop position with the arms under your shoulders. Lift your knees and walk your feet backward till your body resembles a triangle. Keep the head down and look towards the legs.

4. Upward Dog Pose

This animal yoga pose strengthens your arms, back, belly and core. 

Lie flat belly side down on the floor. Next place the palms under your shoulders on the floor. Now, straighten your arms and lift your torso and head off the ground. 

5. Fox Pose

This yoga pose flexes your legs and hip joints. It tones your back and belly and makes the spine strong. 

Get down on all fours in the tabletop position with the arms under your shoulders. Lift back one leg at a time and bend it at the knee. Raise your head upwards and point your toes straight upwards. Repeat with the other leg. 

6. Ant Pose

This animal yoga pose is good for stomach-related issues. 

Lie on your back on a mat. Put your feet together, and then slowly bring your knees towards the chest. Now hug your knees with your hands by clasping them around the legs. Your kids will enjoy this pose by rolling over and having fun in the end. 

7. Bee Breath Pose

This yoga pose calms the mind and lowers stress levels. 

Sit in the easy pose. Close your eyes with your fingers and ears with your palms. Inhale through the nose and exhale with a low humming sound of the bee. Focus on the sound echoing from within. 

8. Lion’s Breath Pose

This animal yoga pose lowers stress and anxiety, makes lungs strong, and improves sleep quality. 

Sit on the floor in an easy pose. Put your hands on your knees with fingers spread wide. Lean slightly forwards and inhale through the nose. Next, open your mouth as wide as possible and stick your tongue out dropping towards your chin. Keep your eyes wide open all the time. Then exhale with a roar like a-ha sound. 

9. Hanging Bat Pose

This yoga pose tones the belly and improves the core. It also calms the mind. 

Stand straight and open your legs wide. Next, place your hands on the hips and bend forward from the hip. Lower your head down towards the floor and look upside down. 

10. Butterfly Pose

This animal yoga pose stretches legs, hips, lower backs, and inner thighs and makes them flexible. It also relaxes the body. 

Sit on the floor and bring your feet together so that the soles of your feet join. Place one hand on each ankle and bring your knees up and down gently. Just like the fluttering of butterfly wings. 

11. Clam Pose

This yoga pose stretches the knees, thighs, and groin area and makes the legs more flexible. 

Sit on the floor and bring your feet together so that the soles of your feet join. Put your hands on the feet and fold forward, with your head hanging down towards the heels of the feet. 

12. Camel Pose

This animal yoga pose makes the spine more mobile and flexible. It also makes your lower body strong. 

Stand on a mat on your knees, with toes tucked in or out as per your comfort. Put your hands on the lower back and press your hip bone forward. Arch your back, and lift your chest to the sky. Lower your head to the back and look up at the sky or roof. 

13. Duck Pose 

This yoga pose stretches your upper back and shoulders and improves your balance. 

Sit down with the sole of your feet touching the ground. Put your hands on the waist. Now raise your feet until you are on your tiptoes. Raise and join your hands above your head. Next, bring your hands under the armpits and try to flap like a duck. Kids love this pose as it sort of looks like a chicken dance.

14. Crab Pose

This animal yoga pose is also called the reverse tabletop pose. It stretches the upper body and makes the core, arms, and legs strong. 

Sit on the floor and extend your legs fully in front of you. Rest your arms at the sides with palms pressing on the floor. Point fingers towards the front. Bend your knees so that the soles of the feet are pressing on the ground. Lift your hips and the chest and at the same time walk your hands behind you. Lower your head back towards the floor. 

15. Bear Pose

This yoga pose makes your arms, shoulders, and core muscles strong. It also improves your balance and makes your lower body strong. 

Stand straight with your feet and stretch the arms in front so they are parallel to the floor. Then lower your hips and bend the knees in a half-squat position. Lock your hands together and stretch the arms over your head. 

16. Crocodile Pose

This animal yoga pose improves blood flow and focus. It also makes your lower body and core strong. 

Lie on your right side, with your head supported by the palm of your right hand. Keep your body in a straight line with your legs stacked over each other. Now raise your left leg towards the ceiling and gently bring it down. Now change sides and repeat with the right leg. 

17. Crow Walking Pose

This yoga pose improves your balance and makes your lower body strong. Squat down and balance yourself with your legs held apart and hips above the heels. Place your palms on the knees and walk in the squatting position one knee at a time. Maintain your balance while doing so. Kids have a lot of fun doing this pose. 

18. Horse Pose

This animal yoga pose stretches your back and lower body. It makes your knees flexible and improves your focus. 

Stand straight and then step one foot forward. Put the knee of the back foot down on the floor in the classic lunging position. Tuck your toes and look straight ahead. Raise your arms over your head and join the palms together in a “Namaste”. 

19. Dragon Pose

This yoga pose boosts your energy levels and makes your core strong. It also improves blood flow to the chest and lungs. 

Go into the horse pose given above. Next, lift your chest, and open your mouth wide. Stick out your tongue and exhale with force. 

20. Seated Eagle Pose

This animal yoga pose improves focus and opens the shoulder and hips. Sit with one leg across the other. If it is tough, then switch to an easy pose. 

Bring your both hands forward with elbows close to each other. Then wrap the arms together so that the right arm is around the left arm with palms touching. Raise the joined hands upwards. Keep the back straight with shoulders relaxed. Gaze at the front. 

21. Elephant Pose

This yoga pose improves your balance and stretches your shoulders, arms, legs, and back. 

Stand straight with your feet wide apart. Raise one arm straight to the sky with the other arm behind the back for balance. Now sway your arms side by side like an elephant sways its trunk. 

22. Giraffe Pose

This simple yoga pose improves your balance and makes your core strong. It also flexes your shoulders and spine and improves your focus. 

Put yourself in the tabletop position then lift one hand high up over the head. Raise your head and look up at your hand. Bring the hand and head down and repeat with the other hand.

23. Fish Pose

This animal yoga pose tones your belly and makes your upper back and neck strong. It also relieves the tension from your shoulders, throat, and neck. 

Lie down on the floor on your back with your arms resting by the sides. Next, extend your legs with knees straight and legs and feet together. Point your toes forward. Press your forearms to the floor and slide your palms face-down under your hips. Now raise your upper body by lifting your chest up, so that it rests on your elbows. Lower your head back towards the floor. 

24. Gorilla Pose

This yoga pose opens hips and relieves neck and shoulder tension. It also stretches the back and calms the mind. 

Stand straight and then place your legs wide apart. Make your hands into fists and fold forward from the hips till your fists touch the floor. Now thump the floor with your fists one by one like a gorilla does. Your kids with you will surely have a lot of fun doing this. 

25. Mouse Pose

This animal yoga pose stretches the back, shoulders, and ankles and improves blood flow to the heart. It also calms the mind and body and improves the quality of sleep. 

Sit on your shins and knees so that the hips are over the heels. Fold your upper body forward so that your forehead rests on the floor. Place your arms down wherever it feels easy. Place them either by sides or extend them in front of you. Now exhale and inhale slowly. 

Final Thoughts

Children can learn yoga in different ways. Animal yoga poses are a fun way to introduce yoga to kids. These poses have simple steps and are easy to do. These are easy to spell and attract your kids to yoga. Animal yoga poses help your children become fit and healthy and make yoga a part of their life.