Yoga is not a competitive sport, and you want a teacher who will convey that to kids, who may otherwise have a hard time grasping an athletic endeavor that doesn't include a score, a goalpost, a basket, or a fuzzy mascot. There's no certification program specifically for teaching children, so be sure to look for an instructor who has years of experience with them. "You need to find someone who lets the children know yoga is not about how many tricks they can do, or about being able to hold a pose longer or go into it more deeply than their friends," says Leigh Crews, a yoga instructor in Rome, Georgia. "If a teacher says something like, 'I'll have your child standing on his head in three weeks,' that's definitely not someone to go with." Baptiste says good instructors will give kids the freedom to move through their poses without criticism like "You're doing it all wrong!"
You might also seek a class that doesn't take itself too seriously. "Small children have short attention spans, so the key is letting them have fun," says instructor Tim Donohue, who teaches yoga in elementary schools in New Bedford, Massachusetts. "Sun Salutations are popular. Tree poses are fun, because they require balance, and kids like that. I'll even play a game of Simon Says with the poses." For his part, Baptiste recommends Warrior 1 and 2, Triangle, Mountain, Dragon and Twisting Dragon, Fish, Bridge, River, and Shavasana.
If your community isn't teeming with classes, visit Yogaalliance.org, where you'll find a searchable base of instructors who have all received at least 200 hours of training. There's also a list of questions to ask prospective teachers, including whether they continue to attend classes themselves on a regular basis. (If an instructor is a lifelong student of yoga, according to the alliance, she will be in line with core yogic principles, which stress the importance of learning from more senior teachers.) Another great Web resource is Specialyoga.com, a site devoted to instruction for children with special needs.
Try other exercise, too
Without question, yoga for children has its pluses—some research even points to therapeutic benefits for those with cerebral palsy, autism, and attention-deficit disorder. But in no way should it be viewed as a wholesale substitute for old-school aerobic exercise, especially with childhood obesity levels on the rise. "Some parents think that yoga is enough physical activity, so they don't encourage their kids to do anything else," says Small. "But children need to develop their gross motor skills through running and walking, as well as their hand-eye coordination through ball sports. They also need to be aerobically active to develop their hearts and lungs." In other words, yoga should be just one part of a well-rounded fitness regimen, not their only form of exercise.
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