For Children: Let’s Be A Puppy! Guided Relaxation

It is difficult for children to sit still to meditate. In this playful guided relaxation, parents and young children pretend to be a puppy as they try puppy breathe, down dog, and child's pose. After moving, they will practice relaxing and being still. Remember parents, children's yoga looks a little different, so don't get caught up in fixing their movement. If your child can relax even for a few minutes, you are on your way to teaching them how to meditate.

Enjoy!

Music by Chris Collins, Solitude

*Special thanks to Chris Collins for creating beautiful music at accessible prices.

Transcript

Hello friend.

I'm so glad you are here today.

Let's begin with a big hug breath.

Reach your arms out to the sides.

Take a big breath in.

Then give yourself a big hug and breathe out.

Two more just like that.

Reach your arms out.

Take a big breath in.

And give yourself a hug as you breathe out.

One more.

Reach your arms out and take a big huge breath in.

And then let it go as you give yourself a big squeeze.

Awesome!

Now let's do down dog.

Get on your hands and knees.

Hands down.

Feet down.

And push your bottom all the way up.

Stay there.

Take a big breath in.

And let it go.

If you're a happy puppy,

Wag your tail.

Good job!

Now come back down and sit on your feet.

And put your hands in front of you like puppy paws.

Now open your eyes wide.

Stick out your tongue.

And breathe like a puppy begging for food.

Nice puppy.

Nice puppy.

Good job!

Okay,

Let's go back to down dog.

Hands down.

Feet down.

Bottoms up.

If you like,

You can bark three times.

One,

Two,

Three.

Okay,

If you're feeling strong today,

Say to yourself,

I feel strong.

And lift up one foot and hold it up.

Yes!

Take a big breath in.

And let it go.

Bring that foot down.

Now say to yourself again,

I feel strong.

And lift up the other foot and hold.

Take a big breath in.

Let it go.

Put that foot down and wag your tail one more time.

Nice puppy.

Nice puppy.

Come back down to your hands and knees.

Sit back on your feet.

And then put your elbows on the floor.

And then your head on your hands or on the floor.

This is turtle pose.

Take three big breaths.

So big breath in.

Let it go.

Big breath in.

Let it go.

Big breath in.

And let it go.

Now stretch your feet out behind you.

Your belly on the ground.

Cross your arms like a pillow for your head.

Put your cheek right on your arms.

Nice job little puppy.

You can close your eyes if you like.

And now we're going to rest.

Take a big breath in.

And let it go.

Feel your belly on the ground.

Let your feet be still.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Let your body sink down into the ground.

It's been a long day little puppy.

Time for a nice rest.

Sink down into the ground.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Let your body be still.

And imagine you're a puppy taking a little nap.

Notice how it feels when your body is still.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Great job little puppy.

Thanks for pretending with me today.

If you like,

You can rest a little longer.

Have a beautiful rest of your day little puppy.

Namaste.