Helping You Help the Next Generation
As an independent yoga and mindfulness specialist for children and teens we give school teachers, yoga teachers and other professionals working with children the skills and tools to help them bring the many benefits of yoga to children in a safe, fun and engaging way.
We are now in our 22nd year and still committed to the highest quality training for our students. We use traditional yoga postures, breath awareness, relaxation and mindfulness techniques to sow the seeds for a lifelong practice, building happier, healthier and more resilient children.
Yoga Alliance Accredited – Teaching Yoga to Children
Course Tutor – Christiane Kerr
This course is suitable for anyone interested in bringing the benefits of yoga to children who has an established yoga practice. This includes yoga teachers, trainees, TA’s and parents.
Start Dates 2023: TBC
Format: Live online via Zoom and via Teachable.
4 x Saturday Zoom Sessions from 9.30am -1.30pm
Live Dates: TBC
Live Course Times: Saturday – 9.30 – 1.30 pm
Cost: Single Payment of £ 550 or 3 x monthly payments of £ 190.
Learn to Teach Mindfulness to Children
The next online self-paced 8 module course starts on February 22nd, 2023. Booking now open.
This certified course is self-paced with sections released weekly and includes 2 x 60 minute Live Zoom classes. These are on March 15th and April 12th. If you are unable to attend the live sessions, they are available to watch as a recording. Each pre-recorded section will take around 2 to 3 hours to complete. The course is also designed to help you to deepen and develop your own mindfulness practice.
This course is suitable for those with an existing meditation or mindfulness practice.
Training will be through:
- Video Lecture
- Video of children’s classes
- Video of exercises and techniques
- Audio Visual Presentations
- PDF’s
- Audio
- Quizzes to test your knowledge
- Weekly live meditation session.
There will be a course booklet as well as printable worksheets for children and audio that you can use in your classes.
The curriculum is based on the Teaching Mindfulness to Children course we have been running in person for over 6 years.
The course tutor is Christiane Kerr, founder of Calm For Kids. Christiane has been teaching and practising mindfulness for over 22 years and trained to teach mindfulness at the Centre for Research and Practice at Bangor University. She follows the good practice guidelines set out by the Mindfulness Network.
“I just wanted to say a big thank you for the course. It was well- structured, interesting and thoroughly enjoyable. I am already putting much of what I learned into practice and using all the wonderful resources. ” Pamela Moss, November 2020 Graduate
We will be delivering this course via Teachable, our online learning platform. You can find more details and booking info by clicking the button below. .
Teaching Yoga to Teens Workshop
Course Tutors – Christiane Kerr
This short, self paced course is suitable for yoga teachers and trainees. Also good for serious yoga students who are teaching KS2 and looking for inspiration.
Available on Demand –
Cost: £90 (includes audio downloads and booklet)
This short course gives you the skills and confidence to start teaching yoga to teenagers in a safe, fun and engaging way. You will learn:
- Differences in teaching yoga to adults and teens.
- Physical, emotional and psychological development of teens.
- An introduction to the teen brain – neuroscience and neurobiology.
- Yoga poses and sequences that are ideal for teens
- Relaxation and breathing exercises to support physical and emotional wellbeing.
- How to introduce partner work for teens
- Creative games to build resilience and community.
British Wheel of Yoga – Teaching Yoga to Children & Teens
Course Tutor – Christiane Kerr
This course combines the connection of live sessions with the convenience of on demand lectures. Fully accredited and certified by the British Wheel of Yoga, this course is suitable for qualified yoga teachers and trainees who are interested in learning how to Teach Yoga to Children and Teens from ages 2 1/2 to 18.
Start Date: Autumn 2023 – Start Date: September 9th.
Format: Live online via Zoom and via Teachable.
Saturday, 4 x 4 hour Zoom session – Dates: September 9th, 30th, October 21st, November 11th.
Additional self-paced learning via Online Learning Platform
Live Course Times
Saturday – 9.30 – 12.30 pm
Cost: Single payment: £ 760, 3 x monthly payments £ 255.
This Includes BWY Registration Fee.
Introduction to Mindfulness for Children
Course Tutor – Christiane Kerr
This self-paced course is suitable for yoga teachers, schoolteachers, professionals working with children and parents who want to integrate mindfulness into their family life.
This course will be on demand from January 31st 2022
You can purchase in advance for £45. Full price will be £ 59.
On the workshop you will learn:
- The importance of cultivating your own practice
- Benefits and current research on Mindfulness for Children
- How to introduce mindfulness practice to children
- Takeaway skills and tools – including audio downloads and handout
- How to integrate mindfulness techniques into school and family life
Course will be held online and available for you to complete in your own time from January 31st.
Teaching Mindfulness to Children
This online course is run over 8 weeks and is suitable for professionals who are working with children, either as school teachers, yoga teachers or in other areas. Applicants need to have their own meditation practice. The course includes skills and tools to help bring the benefits of mindfulness to children, building their resilience and ability to cope with stress and difficult situations. It also gives teachers techniques to support their own practice. The course includes a six-week programme that you can introduce into schools, including lesson plans and a workbook to use with children. This course can be delivered in primary school for KS1 and KS2 and can be adapted up or down for EYFS and years 7 and 8. As well as the content in the lesson plans there will be other material you can use in the classroom, in yoga sessions or in your professional work with children.On the course you will learn how to:
- Integrate mindfulness techniques into your yoga session or classroom
- Plan sessions for your group
- Use tools to help families and children improve listening skills
- Help children establish their own regular meditation practice
- Write your own visualisations for children
The course will include:
- Breath awareness techniques and relaxation exercises that are suitable for different age groups
- How children can take the skills they learn in mindfulness and meditation sessions and use them to enhance their everyday life
- How to create an appropriate meditation environment for your sessions and ways to help children set up their own "mindful space"
- Working with the senses and how they can help awareness of ourselves and the world around us
- The difference between adult and children’s meditation and mindfulness and how to ensure you work within safe limits
- How to explain and demonstrate the benefits of mindfulness to children
The course will include video leures, videos of classes, presentations, audio and written lectures. Skills and techniques learned over the duration of the course will include: hand mudras; breath work; ways to help children improve focus, concentration and develop mindfulness; listening exercise; mantras; affirmations; rhymes; techniques to develop visualisation skills; movement and quiet games. There will be support for teachers in deepening and developing their own practice.
The course draws on meditation and mindfulness techniques from several traditions and schools but is presented in a practical and secular way.
You will receive a course booklet as well as the workbook for kids and audio downloads.
The course is mainly self-paced with weeks 1 to 3 and 4 to 7 available on Teachable. Weeks 4 & 8 consist of a 60 minute livestream via Zoom. The Zoom sessions will be recorded and available to watch later if you are unable to attend live.
This Teaching Mindfulness to Children course is eligible for CPD hours for Yoga Alliance Professionals members.
Teaching Mindfulness to Children Online
Booking Information
Entry Requirements:
A personal mindfulness/meditation practice or attendance at an 8 week MBSR course or similar.
Venue: Online, self-paced with 2 live sessions:: March 15th and April 12th 7-8 pm. UK time.
Course Start Dates 2023
February 22nd.
INFO & BOOKINGBWY MODULE - Teaching Yoga to Children and Teens
This module is suitable for qualified yoga teachers and trainees who are interested in teaching yoga to children and teens from ages 2 1/2 to 18. The course is fully accredited by the BWY and on completion of the module, students will receive a BWY certificate. The module will be in 3 sections.- Section 1: Teaching to ages 2 1/2-7.
- Section 2: Teaching ages 8-12.
- Section 3: Teaching ages 12-18.
- Anatomy and physiology.
- Cogntive development and neuroscience.
- Adapting asanas for each age group for safe teaching.
- Pair Work.
- Language and scripting for each age group.
- Breath awareness and where appropriate,simple pranayama.
- Meditation, mindfulness and relaxation.
- Age appropriate teaching cues.
- Class planning & structure.
- Managing your yoga class with positive discipline.
- Creative ways to engage each age with yoga.
- Recognising and dealing with stress.
- Bringing yoga off the mat and into everyday life.
Section 1 - Ages 2 1/2 - 7
- Benefits of yoga for children
- Age grouping and developmental milestones
- Exploring books, poems and rhymes as teaching tools
- Age appropriate teaching points for asanas
- Breath awareness and relaxation techniques
- Class planning and structure
- Class management techniques
- Teaching meditation and visualisation
- Using music in your class
Section Two - Ages 8 - 11
- How to engage 8-11 year olds in yoga
- Asanas - safety and adapting for this age group
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Active and quiet yoga games
- Rhythm work
- Relaxation
- Introducing yoga philosophy
- Creative class planning
- Mindfulness and meditation exercises
- Breath awareness techniques
Section Three - Ages 12 - 18
- How to engage teens with yoga
- Pacing your class
- Recognising and dealing with stress
- Sequencing
- Yoga Philosophy for teens
- Bringing yoga into everyday life
- Breathing and relaxation techniques
- Mindfulness for teens
BWY Module – Teaching Yoga and Mindfulness to Children and Teens.
Booking Information
Entry Requirements
The Module is open to qualified yoga teachers and trainess from all Yoga traditions.
Course Venue
Online via Zoom & Teachable
Course Dates 2023
Four Saturday Zoom Sessions. Plus additional self-paced material.
Course Dates & Times
September 9th, 30th, October 21st, November 11th. Saturdays from 9.30 - 1.30 UK time
Cost: Early Bird until April 30th. Single payment of £725 - normal price £760 or 3 montly payments of £246 - normal pric £255. This includes the BWY course registration fee
INFO & BOOKINGTeaching Yoga to Teens
This short, self-paced course gives you the skills and confidence to start teaching yoga to teens in a safe, fun and engaging way. It looks at the difference between teaching yoga to adults and teenagers and you will also learn the physical, emotional and psychological development that occurs during adolescence.
You will learn how to pace a class for teens and ways to adapt postures. The course introduces relaxation and breathing exercises to help relieve stress and tension giving you tools to help teens achieve a state of physical and emotional well-being and balance. You will learn sequences that are ideal for teens and where to insert them in your class.
This short course is suitable for yoga teachers and teacher trainees. Secondary school teachers and other professionals will be accepted at the discretion of the course director. Also good for serious yoga students who are teaching to KS2 and looking for inspiration. A certificate of attendance will be offered at the end of the course but it is not covered on our insurance scheme so qualified yoga teahers need to check with their insurers if they will be covered on their existing insurance scheme.
You can complete the course in the convenience of your own home and at your own pace as long as it is completed within six months of registering. There is around 7 hours of material to work through including workbooks. You will receive a course booklet with lesson plans and CD/audio.
Teaching Yoga to Teenagers is eligible for 10 CPD hours for Yoga Alliance Professionals members.
Teaching Yoga to Children - 2 1/2 to 12 (Yoga Alliance Accredited) ONLINE
This online course offers a comprehensive training, giving students the skills and confidence to teach yoga to children. The course is run as two modules. In the first module, you will learn how to teach to 2 1/2 to 7, Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. In the second module you learn how to teach to ages 8 -12, Key Stage 2. Key yoga teaching skills will be re-inforced accross both modules and a teaching certificate will be issued on successful completion of the course. The course combines the connection of livestream sessions with the convenience of self-paced learning via our online learning platform.
Module 1
This module looks at the physical, emotional and psychological development of children between the ages of 2½ to 7. It explores how to adapt asanas for children and ways to introduce simple breathing and relaxation techniques. Students will learn how to use stories, music, themes and play to teach yoga to this age group as well as efficient and creative ways to plan your classes. Language, teaching cues and class management techniques will be taught.
Module 2
Students will learn about the social, emotional and cognitive development of this age group. You will explore the anatomy and physiology of this age group and common conditions that present in children of this age. This module will focus more on the structure of the asanas and how to introduce yoga philosophy to 8-12-year-olds. It will consider appropriate themes and explore ways to demonstrate how yoga can be beneficial in everyday life. Students will learn class planning techniques and behaviour management for this age group.
There is a comprehensive manual for each module which includes detailed lesson plans along with visualisation and relaxation techniques. Students will also receive a marketing pack to use when approaching schools and other children’s organisations. This will include practical information on what you need to get started.
The course is run over four Saturday mornings from 9.30 to 1.30 via Zoom and via self-paced lessons on our online learning platform, Teachable, which is simple and easy to use. There are approximately 12 hours of homework assignments and reading to complete.
Our training school has met the stringent requirements set by Yoga Alliance Professionals, demonstrating that our courses are of the highest standard and that our Teaching Yoga to Children course graduates may register with Yoga Alliance Professionals to use their relevant membership level designation, as a sign of quality training.
Our Teaching Yoga to Children course, Teaching Mindfulness to Children course and Teaching Yoga to Teenagers Workshop are also eligible for CPD (Continuous Professional Development) hours for Yoga Alliance Professionals members.
Teaching Yoga to Children- 2 1/2 to 12 - ONLINE
Booking Information
Entry Requirements:
This course is suitable for anyone interested in bringing the benefits of yoga to children who has an established yoga practice. This includes yoga teachers, trainees, TA's and parents The course combines the connection of live Zoom sessions with the convenience of on demand, self-paced learning.
Venue: Online via Zoom
Course Dates 2023:
5 Saturday mornings from 9.30 - 1.30 DATES TBC.
Plus self-paced sections via Teachable.
Mindfulness for Parents
The 6-week Mindfulness for Parents course is based on the MBSR (Mindfulness based Stress Reduction) model and includes mindfulness skills for parents.
During the course we will;
- Learn mindfulness. Brain scans have confirmed that practicing regularly for just 8 weeks can have an impact on how our brains work. Our courses have developed from the 8-week MBSR courses, which have been running for over 30 years and were first developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
- Explore neuroscience and how this is relevant to parenting. Our ability to calm influences not only our own wellbeing but also the wellbeing and happiness of our children.
- Provide child friendly ideas and practical resources for introducing mindfulness to the family.
- Enhance communication skills in practical and creative ways.
Attendance and homework: In order to fully experience the benefits of the course participants are encouraged to attend all sessions and also complete approximately 45 minutes of home practice for 5 days each week, for the duration of the course.
Mindfulness for Parents
Booking Information
Entry Requirements:
This course is open to all parents. No mindfulness experience necessary.
Course Venue:
Chiswick, West London (5 minute walk from Turnham Green Tube station)
Dates:
TBC
Time:
Cost: £325 including all course materials.
register nowIf you would like any further information please email: info@calmforkids.com
Call: 020 8995 3352
SCHOOLS TRAINING MENU
We offer training days for staff as well as “whole school” taster sessions for children.
Whole School Yoga Session for each year group
We can come to your school for the whole day and offer a taster yoga session for each year group. These are designed to introduce pupils to yoga and give them some takeaway skills that they can use in the classroom and to help increase their well-being skills.
Introduction to Yoga & Mindfulness (2 hours)
This training includes simple stretches, yoga exercises and mindfulness techniques for use in the classroom.
Materials: Printed handout and 2 CDs suitable for Foundation, KS1 and KS2.
Full Day Training (6 hours)
This training includes a relaxing yoga class for teachers as well as fun and creative ways to introduce yoga and mindfulness techniques to children. The accompanying booklet includes 6 x 30-minute sessions as well as many other exercises that can be used in the classroom.
Materials; printed handout and 2 CDs suitable for Foundation, KS1 and KS2.
Half day Training (4 hours)
Option 1: Yoga exercises suitable for use in the classroom and two x 30-minute sessions that can be used for PE.
Materials: Printed handout and 2 CDs suitable for Foundation, KS1 and KS2
Option 2: A six session mindfulness course for KS1 & KS2. This a ready to use mindfulness course, consisting of 6 lessons to be rolled out on a weekly basis. This will include mindfulness techniques for teachers and recommendations on how to bring a culture of mindfulness into the school environment.
Materials: Printed handout and 2 CDs suitable for Foundation, KS1 and KS2
Let’s Go Yoga – Yoga for the Classroom
This four-hour training for schools comes complete with a resource pack containing an instructional audio CD and programmes cards with clearly presented photographs.
The pack contains ten, 6-8-minute yoga-based exercise programmes that can be used by teachers and teaching assistants and it is suitable for primary school children from reception through to year six. The programmes are specifically designed for the classroom and there are three categories;
- FOCUS
- REFRESH
- CALM
These programmes can be delivered at any time during the school day and you can combine several programmes together for a PE session.
Price: £ 400, to include Let’s Go Yoga Packs.
Calm for Kids is committed to providing the highest quality training, giving teachers the necessary skills and tools to confidently teach yoga to children. In the training teachers will learn how to teach yoga in a safe, fun and engaging incorporating stories, rhymes, themes, music and play.
Yoga can enhance both physical and cognitive development and many of the exercises are specifically designed to create enhancement in the following areas:
- gross and fine motor skills
- proprioception
- coordination
- balance
- strength
- stability
- focus and concentration
Additional packs and CDs can be purchased and there will be an additional cost for training outside London.
For more information, please contact us at
info@calmforkids.com
0208 995 3352
