Family Friendly Yoga Sequence
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Take a cue from the White House’s Yoga Garden and strike a few poses in your own backyard with the family Easter weekend—or anytime.
Rabbit Pose, anyone? For the seventh year in a row, the Yoga Garden will be part of the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, April 6. The White House has invited yogis to hop around since first lady Michelle Obama introduced the Garden in 2009, but this year, expect to see even more kids and parents showing off their favorite poses.
“What’s different is more and more people are exposed to yoga,” says certified Baptiste Yoga teacher Leah Cullis, who leads the Yoga Garden. “Instead of us just teaching yoga, more and more what people are sharing what they know. Kids are learning it in school and summer camp, parents are doing it and showing their kids. The first time we did [the Yoga Garden], not many people were practicing yoga, now they’re showing what they’ve got.”
Cullis and about 25 other teachers from Washington, D.C., and all over the country will lead mini-classes that are about 10 minutes long at this year’s Yoga Garden, which will explore the connection between movement, breath, and mindfulness. (Parents sometimes teach their own mini-classes, too.) The Yoga Garden will also honor this year’s Egg Roll theme, #GimmeFive, in celebration of five years of the first lady’s Let’s Move! initiative. “We are going to be bringing five of something to every class—five Boat Poses, five backbends,” Cullis says.
Family-Friendly Yoga Sequence for Your Own Backyard Egg Hunt
Can’t make it to the White House on Monday? These family-friendly yoga poses from previous Yoga Garden events are perfect for your own backyard egg roll or egg hunt. “These poses are accessible to any fitness level. The purpose of the Yoga Garden is coming together … it’s an inclusive event, and we want everyone to feel like they can participate,” Cullis says.
Lord of the Dance Pose
Natarajasana
Press into your right foot for balance. Lift your left foot and catch it with your left hand. Kick your left shin behind you and lift your heart high. Switch sides and repeat.
Tree Pose
Vrksasana
Stand on one leg and grow deep roots into the earth. Lift your other foot and press it into your standing leg. Grow your branches tall as you reach up to the sky. Switch sides and repeat.
Frog Pose
Malasana, variation
Step your feet wide and drop your hips down to the ground. Stretch your hips and take a few deep breaths. Leap up into the air like a frog jumping around the pond!
Boat Pose
Paripurna Navasana
Take your seat and lift your feet and arms up high. Balance like a boat at sea and raise your sails high!
Triangle Pose
Utthita Trikonasana
Step your feet wide apart with your front foot forward and your back foot facing to the side edge of your mat, and straighten both legs. Reach your front hand to the floor and your top fingers to the sky.
Corpse Pose
Savasana
It’s time to say thank you to your body. Lie down on your back and close your eyes as if you were going to sleep. Place your hands over your heart or hold hands with your family members or friends.
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