Table of Contents

• THE SEAT OF THE TEACHER
  • Teaching Tips
  • The ABCs of Teaching Yoga: Autonomy, Belonging, and Competence.
  • Turning Challenges into Opportunities for Growth
  • Class Agreements and Consequences
  • Practicing Self-Compassion
  • Refilling the Well
  • Planning Classes
  • Keeping Students Engaged
  • Transitions

• MIND: NEUROCOGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
  • Executive Functions: How might we support development of cognitive control through yoga and mindfulness?
  • Cognition and the Body: The Effects of Exercise on the Mind
  • The Mind-Mood Connection
  • Mindfulness-Based Education: Mindfulness Practices and Meditation

• THE BODY: PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
  • Yoga and Healthy Physical Development
  • Developing Spatial Awareness
  • General Tips for Teaching Asana for All Ages
  • Asana in Early Childhood (ages 3-6)
  • Asana in Middle Childhood (ages 6 – 10)
  • Introducing Anatomy to Children
  • Yoga Stories
  • Asana for Adolescents (ages 10 -18)
  • Anatomical Differences between Males and Females after Puberty
  • Tips for Teaching Yoga to Athletes
  • Sequencing Asana for Adolescents

• SPIRIT: SOCIAL – EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
  • The Lifelong Importance of Social-Emotional Development
  • Trends in Social and Emotional Development
  • The Yamas and Niyamas: Strategies for Social and Emotional Competence
  • Positive Psychology: Practicing Santosha
  • Body Image and Eating Disorders
  • Karma Yoga: Selfless Service
  • Self-Compassion: A Healthy Alternative to Self-Esteem
  • Practices to Support Those with Body Image Issues and Eating Disorders
• THE ENERGY BODY
  • The Practice of Pranayama
  • The Nadis
  • The Chakras and Development
  • Yoga Nidra and the Koshas
• YOGA GAMES TO PROMOTE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT
  • Games for Early Childhood (ages 3-6)
  • Games for Middle Childhood (ages 6-10)
  • Games for Middle Childhood and Early Adolescence (ages 7-14)
• APPENDICES
  • Lesson Plan Template
  • Sample Lesson Plans
  • Children’s Literature for Yoga Classes
  • Guidelines for Teaching Kids’ Yoga in British Columbia
  • Is Yoga A Religion?
  • Letter to Parents
  • My Favourite Resources

“The manual is extremely useful. It is professional, well thought through, and noticeably, a resource that has grown to what it is with many years of scientific work, teaching experience, and most importantly PASSION.”

~ M. L., RYT