Have you and your family found yourselves cooped up in the house quite a bit lately? (Haven't we all? Thanks, 2020. 😉) If so, that doesn't mean your yoga practice has to take a back seat. EverydayYoga ambassador, Amy Ippoliti, and inspirational yoga teacher, Julie Holly, have lots of tips for making yoga a fun, family-friendly experience! They break down:

• How to get onto your mat more often when you have a family-packed house!
• The benefits of getting your children into yoga and doing the practice as a family!
• How to involve kids in a family yoga practice to keep them engaged and having fun!

How to Practice Yoga in a Family-Packed House

Many of us are spending a lot more time at home with our families these days. Parents who are used to having a yoga practice are finding themselves asking, “How on earth do I get my practice in?" Luckily, there are a lot of fun ways to make yoga a regular occurrence in your household.

Sneak in Some Solo Yoga Time


If you need some alone time, you can find little moments to squeeze in some yoga by practicing in little bits and pieces throughout the day. For example: you can do a long stretch in the morning, a grounding yoga practice at night, and a meditation for a few minutes right before bed.


If you have the space in your home, another option is to stream an adult yoga class online in one room, and a kids yoga class in another room — so you and your kids can practice separately, at the same time. There are a lot of options for streaming yoga classes online. You can find all of the Best Online Yoga Sites in this article by YOGI TIMES.

Share Your Yoga Practice with Your Family


Yoga is all about connecting — with ourselves and with each other. You can utilize this abundance of family time as an opportunity to connect with one another through yoga. Rolling out your mat and inviting your kiddos to see what your yoga practice is all about is a great way to model healthy behavior and engage your children. 


Benefits of Practicing Yoga with Your Family

Children's yoga expert, Julie Holly, says that her family yoga classes are full of laughter and smiling. Plus, they're a great way for kids to release pent up energy! Yoga can help increase children's fitness, relaxation, and focus. It can also teach them how to love and accept themselves.

Family yoga is also a wonderful tool for finding a deeper connection with your kids. According to Julie, the most important thing isn't necessarily finding the space for your own adult practice when you have children. Instead, it's an opportunity to tap into the magic of childhood—to go back to a time when life was full of imagination and free from worries—and see the world through your children's eyes.

How to Practice Yoga with Your Family

Yoga can be enjoyed with kids of all ages — from infants, to young children, and teens!

If your child is an infant, you can incorporate them into your practicing by doing things like lifting your baby up when you raise your hands above your head, or laying your baby on the floor and making silly faces at them while you're in downward-facing dog. If your kids are a little bit older, tap into their imagination by turning yoga poses into animal shapes and noises. You can find tons of fun yoga mats made for kids here! For teens, yoga can be a way for them to learn that yoga is for every BODY—no matter their size or ability—which is a wonderful way for them to find self-acceptance. 

If you're looking for some specific ways to engage your kids in your yoga practice, check out these examples from yoga teachers, Julie Holly and Amy Ippoliti, here!

Family yoga comes in different forms — from simple routines, to partner poses, and classes for the whole family. With the right attitude and techniques, you'll be able to bring your child into the world of yoga so your whole family can enjoy its benefits!