YAI Registration Categories for Children’s Teacher Training
The following are Yoga Alliance International’s Standards and Guidelines for a Registered Yoga School that offers a Children’s Yoga training.

1. Topics for kids teaching teacher trainings must be relevant to Yoga Alliance International’s five Educational Categories as defined below.
2. Additionally, YAI’s suggested curriculum includes Requirements related to ‘General Background Information of Child Development’.
3. Each section is allocation a certain number of hours, however upon application the overall length and content of the course will be taken into consideration when determining the relevant level designation (100, 200 or 300).

4. Hours are also categorised as contact and non- contact. Non-contact hours would be for self-practice, reading the material at home, completing assignments, studying for tests, lesson planning, etc.
5. Please discuss the criteria with your home countries relevant Director should you require further clarification.

1. General Background Information of Child Development: 12 Hours
Minimum Contact Hours:12 hours
Minimum Contact Hours with the Course Facilitator(s): 8 hours
Includes the study and understanding of all childhood developmental stages from age 2-15 and how the issues of each stage impact what is appropriate for teaching them. The school may split ages 2-15 into age groupings as it sees fit (e.g., ages 2-4, 5-8, etc.; or pre-school, primary school, high school).
All five of Yoga Alliance International’s ’s Educational Categories are to address the specifics of appropriate developmental application for each age group. Also includes the understanding of the yoga teacher’s relationships with parents/guardians and developmental specialists and basic communication skills for conducting those relationships.

2. Techniques, Training and Practice: 20 Hours
Minimum Contact Hours: 20 hours
Minimum Contact Hours with the Course Facilitator(s): 15 hours Includes yoga-based practices appropriate for child development, such as asanas, asana-based movement, yoga-based games and activities, breathing techniques, creating mandalas, storytelling and chanting.

3. Teaching Methodology: 15 Hours Minimum Contact Hours: 15 hours Minimum Contact Hours with the Course Facilitator(s): 12 hours Includes knowledge of classroom techniques and management, lesson plans, using props and group processing for children’s activities. Age-appropriate teaching skills for yoga class techniques (including how to phrase age-appropriate questions to a child) and effective communication skills (such as music, songs and stories) for working with children.

4. Anatomy and Physiology: 10 – 20 Hours Minimum Contact Hours: 10 hours Minimum Contact Hours with the Course Facilitator(s): 6 hours Anatomy and physiology related specifically to changes during child development and their application to yoga techniques (see Techniques category above). Includes both the study of the subject and application of its principles to yoga practice (benefits, contraindications, healthy movement patterns, etc). Includes both human physical anatomy and physiology (bodily systems, organs, etc.) and energy anatomy and physiology (chakras, nadis, etc.).

5. Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers: 12 Hours
Minimum Contact Hours: 12 hours
Minimum Contact Hours with the Course Facilitator(s): 8 hours
Includes basic yoga precepts as they relate to children and to teaching Yoga to children (e.g., the Yamas and Niyamas). Awareness of ethical behavior and legal requirements as related to behavior with and supervision of children. Specific training in parameters and techniques of ethical touch with regard to teaching children. Basics of ethical language and behavior, both when parents or guardians are present and when they are not.

6. Practicum: 18 Hours Minimum Contact Hours: 18 hours Minimum Contact Hours with the Course Facilitator(s): 10 hours Practicum hours are divided between developing lesson plans, hours spent observing a kid’s yoga class and hours spent teaching a kid’s class.
A portion of each type of hours need to be with the Course Facilitator(s). Observing, Contact Hours: 6 hours (4 hours of these must be with Course Facilitator(s)) These hours must be spent observing another teacher lead a children’s yoga class. As indicated above, a portion of these hours must be spent with Lead Facilitators.

Teaching, Contact Hours: 12 hours (6 hours of these must be with Course Facilitator(s) and 4 of these 6 hours must as the lead teacher).
These hours must be spent teaching a children’s yoga class. As indicated above, a portion of these hours must be spent with the Course Facilitator and as lead teacher of the class.

7. Course Elective Hours: 4 – 8 Hours
Elective hours (4 -8 hours) to be distributed among Educational Categories according to the school’s chosen emphasis (may be Contact or Non-Contact Hours). These included categories such as special needs children, learning disorders, teaching kids mindful mediation techniques, business ideas and strategies, etc.

Level Designation hour allocations
100 level certification
Total minimum Contact Hours: 20 hours
Total minimum Non-Contact Hours: 20 hours
Total minimum Contact Hours with Course Facilitator(s): 15 hours

Yoga for Children: TTC Standards
To register with Yoga Alliance International as a Children’s Yoga Teacher you must have completed as part of your curriculum or as an additional component of the 200hr-500hr or above existing qualification the following training hours: General Background in the Specialty Area (10 hours) 10 contact hours

Yoga fundamentals:

Yoga and meditation and how to present them to kids. The study and understanding of all childhood developmental stages from age 2-16 and what is appropriate for teaching them. Principles of traditional yoga themes, poses, games, partner yoga, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques. Age appropriate application along with specific “do’s” and “do not’s” for yoga with children. Behaviour management techniques that support a positive, non-competitive environment.

Techniques Training/Practice (20 hours) 20 contact hours Breathing techniques to calm, energize, and balance the nervous system, specific exercises to help kids transition between activities, yoga-based practices appropriate for child development and age, asanas, asana-based movement, breathing techniques, meditation and relaxation techniques.

Teaching Methodology (10 hours) 15 contact hours Includes knowledge of classroom techniques, how to lesson plan, sequence and lead fun, creative and educational yoga classes. Ideas for incorporating art, music, books. Age-appropriate teaching skills for yoga class techniques (including effective communication skills). Developing a yoga class that is fun, safe, effective and engaging. How to make yoga philosophy accessible to teens.

Anatomy and Physiology (8 hours) 10 contact hours Anatomy and physiology related to changes during child development. Application of yoga techniques for children age 2-16. Study of anatomy and physiology and application of its principles to yoga practice (benefits, contraindications, correct movements).

Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle & Ethics for Children Yoga Teachers (12 hours) 12 contact hours Basic yoga principles as they relate to children age 2-16.
Teaching children principles of yoga (Yamas, Niyamas, non-violence and karma yoga). Health and Safety guidelines whilst teaching children.
Ethical behavior requirements as related to supervision and working with children. Basics of ethical language and behavior, both when parents or guardians are present and when they are not.
Total: 60 hours

200 level certification
Total minimum Contact Hours: 40 hours
Total minimum Non-Contact Hours: 40 hours
Total minimum Contact Hours with Course Facilitator(s): 25 hours