The Eightfold Path, also known as the “8 Limbs of Yoga”, is a foundational concept for the practice. Sage Patanjali, credited for several Sanskrit works, advanced this path. He is also credited with the codification of The Yoga Sutras.

In this blog, we will talk about some of the translations of these limbs and how these apply to teaching kids’ yoga classes.

Yama

The first path consists of the ethical guidelines known as yamas. It refers to our relationship with ourselves. It also often refers to the restraints we put on ourselves.

There are several yamas:

Ahimsa - This refers to being non-violent and showing compassion in our thoughts, words, and actions towards ourselves and others.
Aparigraha - This refers to taking only whatever is necessary. This only means letting go of something that you don’t need so others can use it.
Asteya - This refers to honesty. It means not to take anything that does not belong to you.
Brahmacharya - This refers to celibacy and abstinence from sensual pleasures as doing so helps free up your energy, allowing you to connect to the divine.
Satya - This refers to being truthful.

Niyama

The second path is the niyamas. These are ethical ruled in regards to our relationships with others. There are several niyamas as well:

Ishvara Pranidhana - This refers to surrender.
Santosha - This refers to modesty and being content.
Saucha - This refers to purity and being clean in our thoughts, words, and actions.
Svadhyaya - This refers to self-study.
Tapas - This refers to our self-discipline and overcoming adversity.

Asana

The third path is asana. This refers to the physical postures. This is the yoga that most Western people know - and poses asanas can provide great fun and imaginative exercise for kids. But as a certified kids’ yoga instructor, you have to understand that asana is not all there is to yoga.

Pranayama

The fourth path is pranayama. This refers to breathwork and management of prana - our life energy. Through breathwork activities, practitioners can connect their breaths with their minds and emotions.

Pratyahara

The fifth path is pratyahara. This refers to withdrawing the senses. Withdrawing from the external world allows ourselves to be more conscious and look inwards.

Dharana

The sixth path is dharana. This refers to our concentration. It helps us focus on a single point, which can either be an object, a mantra, or anything.

Dhyana

The seventh path is dhyana. This refers to meditation. It allows us to reach that mental state where we are aware of our surroundings but we do not focus on them.

Samadhi

The eighth path is samadhi. This refers to the ultimate state of being. This is the state where there exists a connection to all aspects.

Applying the Eightfold Path to Kids’ Yoga

The paths, or limbs, are often intertwined and are interrelated to each other. The limbs overlap each other, resulting in a holistic approach to wellness. When you teach kids’ yoga classes, you will have to explore the children’s figurative limbs to better understand themselves, their relationships with others, and their surroundings.

Focusing the eightfold path allows the young ones to apply yoga’s beautiful tenets to their everyday lives:

The yamas encourage connection between the children. Upon establishing such a connection, kids then allow themselves to engage in fair play, making sure that everyone is enjoying equally. When disagreements do arise, they use a non-violent and truthful approach.

The niyamas encourage children to be responsible in different areas of their lives. They also encourage personal care and self-discipline.
The asanas are good for play and exercise. Young ones can benefit from physical movement - and exercise their imagination in pretending to be lions, warriors, trees and more.
Pranayama can help children learn how to manage their emotions, especially when they are either excited or upset.
Pratyahara encourages children to reflect on themselves, which is important in helping them understand the effects of their actions, whether they're good or bad.
Dharana helps improve the children's concentration. This is beneficial especially when they are studying, doing their homework, completing house chores, and more.
Dhyana helps young ones learn how to focus and stay calm - whatever their surroundings may be.
Samadhi can encourage all-around wellness - ensuring kids' holistic wellbeing and development.

Interested in training to become a Certified Kids Yoga Teacher? Our Yoga Alliance-approved course is online this August 2024! Please check out all the information HERE.

How the Eightfold Path Applies to Kids’ Yoga