November 28, 2025Helen Battelley MA
Over the past two decades working in early years settings, teaching, observing, and training educators, Helen Battelley has observed how, not only do young children crave movement, but they also deeply benefit from moments of connection, calm, and mindful presence (just like us adults!)
This realisation didn’t arrive overnight. It emerged slowly, over years of watching the way children’s bodies and emotions speak long before their words do. Holistic, yoga-inspired practice benefits not only the child but the facilitator! Some of you may wonder how effective this practice can be. Over the last decade it has significantly grown within early years practice, not because it’s trendy or visually appealing (though tiny downward-dogs are undeniably adorable), but because it supports the whole child, physically, emotionally, socially, and neurologically.
The use of video programmes and YouTube videos has helped see a rise in this market. Children benefit far more from seeing you, the educator scaffolding this learning, than from some two-dimensional character!
In our sector, we often talk about “ready to learn,” but children aren’t meant to be still and attentive on demand. They need sensory input, movement, deep pressure, rhythm, breath, and connection before their bodies feel safe and regulated enough to learn. Holistic practices also support the development of our interoceptive sense, our internal sense, responsible for toileting, temperature awareness, hunger, thirst and knowing how you feel!
Yoga-inspired practice isn’t about perfect poses or quiet, compliant children, it’s about offering opportunities for:
These benefits are rooted in developmental science, but what brings them alive are the moments we witness in practice. Don’t miss Helen’s webinar on this subject on January 20206!
A few years ago, I was working with a group of three-year-olds exploring a woodland-themed yoga story. We were “stretching like tall trees” when I noticed a little boy—usually restless, kinetic, always on the move, stand absolutely still.
For a few seconds, he held his arms wide, chest open, breathing deeply. When he exhaled, he whispered: “I feel big and tall.”
That moment reminded me how yoga can give children not just balance and flexibility, but a sense of themselves, their bodies, their breath, their power.
Young children are not wired for stillness, so breathwork needs to be active, playful, and visual. Some of my go-to practices include:
🌸 “Flower Breathing”
Children pretend to smell a flower (inhale) and gently blow the petals (exhale).
This is perfect for transitions or settling after high-energy play.
🐉 “Dragon Breaths”
A wonderful release for children holding tension. We take a deep breath in and let out a long, slow dragon exhale (great on cold days when we can really see the dragon fire!).
Great for frustration and sensory overwhelm.
🫧 Bubble Breathing
Blowing bubbles together helps lengthen the exhale naturally and supports co-regulation.
One of my core beliefs is that children need movement before mindfulness.
Before a child can “listen to their breath,” they may need to:
These actions stimulate proprioception and vestibular systems, two sensory pillars essential for emotional wellbeing and writing, reading, and attention skills later on.
Last month, during a training session, we explored “animal walks” as a pre-yoga activity. Educators joined in, galloping like horses, crawling like bears, stalking like tigers, crawling like cats!
Afterwards, one educator said:
“I’ve never seen my children so ready to engage in calm breathing after a movement sequence.”
This is holistic practice in action: responding to what children’s bodies need before asking them to focus.
Mindfulness doesn’t have to look like still, cross-legged meditation. In fact, for most under-fives, it shouldn’t.
Mindfulness can be:
One of my favourite activities is “weather bodies “children move like rain, sunshine, wind, and snow, then slowly settle into gentle stillness. It’s a beautiful bridge between energy and calm.
Yoga and holistic approaches don’t require mats, candles, or long sessions. They thrive in simple, everyday moments:
Choose one small practice and weave it into your daily rhythm.
Watch how children respond.
Then build from there, slowly, joyfully, intentionally.
Our role is to nurture the whole child, mind, body, heart, and spirit.
Yoga and holistic practices give us gentle, powerful tools to do exactly that.
Helen Battelley – Facilitating Early Years Yoga and Holistic Practices