Tree Yoga for Kids ~ Earth Day and Arbor Day

I love celebrating Earth Day and Arbor Day in kids yoga. Here are a few of my favorite ways to incorporate a tree theme into yoga for children:

Set the tone with a mini-tree

Bring a bonsai tree to class and place it in the center of the circle to set the tone.

Plant a Tree 

1. Child’s Pose
2. Give kids a spritz of water from a spray bottle
3. Sing, “Mr. Sun, sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me.”
4. Sprout one arm and then the other.
5. Come to kneeling.
6. Come to standing.
7. Tree Pose.

Tree Freeze Dancing 

Play tree-themed music. Dance when the music is on, and freeze in Tree Pose when the music is paused. Here are some songs to try:

1. Under A Shady Tree by Laurie Berkner
2. Up A Tree by Frances England
3. Apple Tree by Justin Roberts
4. Apple Tree by Bari Koral Family Rockband


Act out The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

This ideas came from a YogaKids training. 

1. Write the names of the characters from the book (animals and the woodchopper) onto cards. These are acting parts.
2. Read the story, and have the kids act out their part by doing the corresponding pose when their character is mentioned in the story.
3. You can also read the story first, and then have the kids act it out from memory to reinforce comprehension and retention of the story.

Read Tree Relaxation Stories and Guided Imagery

Making Friends with A Tree from Imaginations
My Treehouse from Imaginations


More Earth Day and Arbor Day Resources

Using Live Flowers in Kids Yoga on Bambino Yoga

Earth Yoga from Kids Yoga Stories

Earth Day Every Day from OMazing Kids