Yoga for children works best when it feels playful, imaginative and interactive. A themed class can help children explore movement, balance, coordination, breathing and creativity without making the experience feel too structured.
This Going Into Space lesson plan is designed for a parent-participation class of about 45 minutes, but you can shorten or expand it depending on the age and attention span of the group.
Start With Simple Expectations
Before beginning, keep the group expectations short and positive. For example: keep hands to yourself, use kind words, take turns, listen when someone else is speaking and, most importantly, have fun.
With younger children, it usually works better to keep reminders simple rather than giving too many rules at once.
Theme: Going Into Space
The idea behind this class is teamwork. Astronauts need to cooperate, help each other and share space, so the theme naturally creates opportunities to talk about working together.
You might ask:
What is more fun to do together than alone?
Let the children answer and build the theme from their ideas.
Hello Name Game
Sit in a circle and create a simple rhythm by tapping your thighs.
Sing:
Hello, [name], hello, [name], hello, [name] — it’s nice to see you here.
Repeat for each child.
This is a simple way to help everyone feel seen and included before the movement begins.
Sun Salutation
Move through a simple child-friendly Sun Salutation.
You can connect it to the space theme by talking about the sun and asking children what the sun gives us, such as light and warmth.
Keep the movements playful rather than worrying about perfect alignment.
Read a Space Book
Choose a short book about planets, astronauts or space that fits the age group.
This creates a natural transition from sitting and listening into imaginative movement.
Get Ready for Space
Pretend everyone is putting on a spacesuit.
You can use movements such as:
- Forward fold — put on space pants
- Cat-Cow — put on gloves and boots
- Reach overhead — put on your helmet
- Reach behind — attach your oxygen backpack
- March slowly — walk toward the rocket
Encourage the children to invent their own movements too.
Moon Walk
Lie on your back and slowly reach the opposite arm and leg away from each other.
Then stand up and repeat the idea while moving very slowly around the room, pretending gravity is much lighter on the moon.
Ask the children how they imagine walking in space might feel.
Space-Themed Yoga Poses
Try a few poses connected to the theme:
- Crescent Moon
- Crescent Lunge
- Five-Pointed Star
- Half Moon
- Shooting Star
- Warrior poses for astronauts
- Tree Pose as a tall space antenna
You do not need every child to make the same shape. Let them experiment with their own version.
Add Music and Movement
Music can help keep the class fun and energetic.
Choose age-appropriate songs about stars, rockets, planets or movement. You can also use a simple freeze-dance game: move around like astronauts while the music plays and freeze when it stops.
If you use recorded music in a public class, make sure your setting has the appropriate music licensing.
Earth and Moon Game
Have the child pretend to be Earth by slowly spinning in place while the parent or partner moves around them as the Moon.
Switch roles.
This is a fun way to practice coordination while introducing the basic idea that the Moon travels around Earth.
Keep enough space between pairs so nobody bumps into another group.
Create Your Own Galaxy
Pair children with a parent or another child and ask them to choose a planet.
Then have them invent a yoga pose or movement that represents that planet.
For example:
- Mars — Warrior II
- Saturn — Tree Pose with arms forming rings
- Jupiter — a very big, wide pose
- Mercury — a quick movement
- Neptune — flowing wave-like movement
Then let each pair show the group what they created.
Relaxation: Floating Through Space
At the end of class, invite everyone to lie down comfortably.
Guide a short visualization:
Imagine you are floating gently through space. Your body feels light and supported. You can see tiny stars around you and colourful planets far away. There is nowhere you need to go and nothing you need to do. Just breathe slowly and enjoy floating.
Leave a little quiet time before inviting them to wiggle their fingers and toes and slowly sit up.
You can finish with a simple thank-you to the group or with Namaste if that is part of how you teach yoga.
Keep Kids Yoga Playful
Children do not need perfect yoga poses. They need opportunities to move, imagine, cooperate and enjoy being in their bodies.
A themed lesson like this can combine movement, storytelling, creativity and relaxation while keeping the class accessible and fun.
If you enjoy teaching movement to children, you may also be interested in the Circus Arts Leader Certification, which includes games, juggling, hula hooping, poi and adaptable activities for groups.
You can also explore Yoga & Mobility Classes in Nanaimo for more about my current yoga and movement teaching.
