Welcome back to DharmaKids, we're so happy you're here! This is the first in our monthly series of yoga lesson plans designed to support connection, mindfulness, and fun through movement and storytelling. Each month we’ll share a guided class plan featuring favorite children’s books, breath work tools, and themed poses. Our goal is to make yoga playful, accessible, and meaningful for little ones and their grown-ups or teachers.
Good Morning Yoga: A Mindful Movement Lesson
In this lesson, we bring the book Good Morning Yoga to life—reading one page at a time, then pausing to explore the corresponding yoga pose together. This interactive flow helps children connect movement with story, breath, and imagination. Once we reach the end, we ease into calming savasana and finish with a magical yoga hug and namaste.
Don’t forget to download your printable pose guide (PDF) featuring a few highlighted poses from this sequence!
Recommended Tools:
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DharmaKids Nap & Yoga Mat
- Zabuton & Zafu meditation pillow
- Yoga Dust Brush
- Hoberman Sphere
- Eye Pillows
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Bird timer
1. Read & Move: One Page at a Time
We follow a simple rhythm:
Read a page → Do the pose → Repeat.
Here’s the sequence of poses from Good Morning Yoga and how we introduce each one:
Pages 1-2: Sun Breath (Tadasana)
Bring your feet together. Inhale deeply, lifting your arms out to the side, up to the sky, then gently lower them down.
Repeat 2–3 times.
Pages 3-4: Tummy Twist (Parivrtta Tadasana)
Twist your whole body side to side, feet grounded. Let your arms swing back and forth.
Pages 5-6: Volcano (Tadasana)
Reach arms way up overhead and rise onto your tiptoes. A focal point or Hoberman Sphere can help you balance.
Hold for 2–3 breaths.
Pages 7-8: Ski Jumper (Utkatasana)
Feet together, bend your knees, bring your chest to your knees, and swing your arms behind. “Wheee, ski jumper!”
Pages 9-10: Lightning Bolt (Utkatasana)
Bend knees again, but this time lift your chest. Stretch your arms high overhead to form a lightning bolt shape.
Pages 11-12: Mountain (Tadasana)
Stand tall, feet grounded. Press palms together and align your spine.
Hold for 2–3 breaths.
Pages 13-14: Forward Bend (Uttanasana)
Bend your knees slightly and fold forward, bringing your hands to the floor.
Hold for 2–3 breaths, then slowly roll up.
Pages 15-16: Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
Hands and feet grounded, hips high in the air.
Take 2–3 breaths.
(Barking like a dog encouraged!)
Pages 17-18: Balancing Table (Parsva Balasana)
On hands and knees, stretch one arm forward and opposite leg back. Switch sides.
Pages 19-20: Bridge (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)
Lie on your back, knees bent, feet flat. Press into arms and feet to lift your hips toward the sky.
Pages 21-22: Boat (Navasana)
Sit tall with hands behind you. Lift your legs—either bent or straight.
Try lifting one arm, then the other!
Pages 23-24: Awake (Sukhasana)
Sit cross-legged, spine tall, hands resting on knees. Listen to the sounds around you.
(Optional: Read the visualization on pages 27–28 here.)
2. Savasana (Final Rest)
After our movement practice, we transition into stillness with a calming savasana.
“Savasana helps our brains become calm and clear, making room for new thoughts and ideas.”
To demonstrate this, use the Yoga Dust Brush—a clear-handled brush filled with glitter. As the glitter settles, explain:
“Our thoughts are like glitter—when we lie still, they settle and our minds become clear.”
Children lie on their backs, breathing gently. Use the bird soundbox to signal the start and end of savasana. The sounds last for two minutes.
Softly “brush” a little yoga dust on each child’s forehead to help them relax.
Then guide them to breathe:
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In through the nose, letting the belly rise
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Out through the mouth, letting the belly fall
3. Magic Yoga Hugs & Closing Namaste
After a few quiet minutes (the bird timer works well to start and end savasana), we begin to gently wake:
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Stretch arms overhead
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Hug knees to chest
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Slowly roll up to a seated, criss-cross position
Sending Love with a Yoga Hug
We bring our hands to our hearts and think of someone or something we love—family, pets, friends, or even a favorite toy.
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Breathe in and stretch arms up
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Breathe out and hug yourself
“As we breathe out, whoever or whatever you were thinking of will receive a magic yoga hug, wherever they are!”
Repeat once more with a new intention if desired.
Final Namaste Ritual
With our special hands, we close with a moment of kindness and connection:
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Hands on heart:
“We respect each other with loving hearts.”
(Children repeat: “Loving hearts”) -
Hands on mouth:
“We respect each other with kind words.”
(Children repeat: “Kind words”) -
Hands on forehead:
“We respect each other by trying new things with open minds.”
(Children repeat: “Open minds”)
Together, we all say:
“Namaste.”
Don’t Forget!
Download your Good Morning Yoga Pose Guide (PDF)—a kid-friendly printable with a few of the featured partner poses from today’s class. Hang it at home or in your classroom to inspire more movement and mindful play!
With love and light,
The DharmaKids Team