Kids yoga animal exercises: 2 poses that calm children

From Nausicaá to yoga mat, inspiration from a sea of chaos

Sometimes home feels like an ocean of stimuli. Your child rolling over the couch just as you're trying to catch your breath. Or that moment before bedtime when peace is nowhere to be found, but you just long for five minutes of connection – without struggle, without screens.

Sound familiar?

Last weekend, I visited Nausicaá, the largest aquarium in Europe, in northern France with my daughters. It was crowded. People everywhere. Chatter. Kids stepping on each other's toes. Even my coffee couldn't find its way out. 😅 And yet... among the jellyfish and rays, it was as if a bubble formed. A tiny pocket of peace in the middle of chaos. 🫧

And that reminded me again why I love using this theme in my classes: children are naturally drawn to that magical underwater world. That world invites imagination – and peace.

In this blog, you'll discover 2 simple animal yoga exercises for kids that help calm your child – and you too. No preparation needed. No fuss. Just moving, breathing, and settling down together.

Want to read more about why movement helps children regulate? Then this article from Cleveland Clinic is worth your time.

Why animal yoga works for children

Animals are magical in a child's perception. They evoke images. They have a recognizable shape. And they invite imitation.

Children's yoga exercises with animals aren't just about movement – they're about imagination.

• Children feel freer to express themselves
• They move in a way that suits their energy
• And at the same time, they discover peace and focus in their bodies

The underwater theme further enhances this. There's something hypnotic about the calm, swaying movements. A jellyfish. A ray. An octopus. Animals that move gently, as if they're not forcing anything.

That's why I often incorporate these animals into my yoga exercises for children at home. And that's why I'm giving you two of them here:

Children's yoga exercise: The ray (for balance and focus)

This pose resembles Warrior 3, but in a child-friendly way. You move like a floating ray – and for children, that feels both powerful and peaceful.

Here's how to do the ray, step by step:

1. Stand upright
2. Take a big step forward
3. Lean your torso forward and lift your back leg
4. Extend your arms sideways like the 'wings' of a ray
5. Look straight ahead and hold for a few breaths
6. Then switch sides

What it does:

• Strengthens the core
• Promotes balance and concentration
• Gives a sense of pride and control

Pro tip: encourage your child to truly immerse themselves. "Imagine you're gently floating through the water..."

Children's yoga exercise: The octopus (for relaxation and playfulness)

An absolute favorite with young children – and surprisingly good for their motor skills!

Here's how to do the octopus, step by step:

1. Lie on your back
2. Bring your arms and legs up, slightly bent
3. Move them slowly in circles, as if you have soft tentacles
4. Occasionally let a tentacle 'drift away' and then slowly continue moving
5. Breathe gently in and out as you move

What it does:

• Promotes body awareness
• Activates deep belly breathing
• Helps regulate stimuli

Extra fun: play a soothing ocean sounds playlist for an enhanced experience.

💛 Want more than these 2 exercises?

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It's packed with:

• Yoga
• Breathing exercises
• Massage
• Meditation
• Craft assignments
• Coloring pages

Everything focused on the underwater world, and everything done for you – so you don't have to prepare a thing.

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🎨 Looking for extra underwater fun? Download our matching underwater-themed coloring pages – a moment of calm in itself.

Summary and a question for you

Animal yoga exercises for children bring kids to a state of calm – in a way that suits their world. Floating like a ray. Swaying like an octopus. With room for imagination, fun, and connection.

You don't need to be highly skilled. You just need to start.

Which pose will you try first with your child? Let me know – or share your experience on Instagram with #fullofyoga 💛