As the summer holidays approach, it’s the perfect time to get outside, soak up the sunshine, and enjoy some movement in nature! Outdoor yoga is a fun and accessible way for children to stay active, feel calm, and connect with the world around them. Whether you’re a parent planning summer activity, a teacher winding down the term, or just looking for screen-free inspiration, these playful yoga games are easy to try at home, in the park, or even on holiday.
Here are some of our favourite outdoor yoga games and ideas to get children moving with nature:
🐾 1. Animal Adventure Yoga Trail
Create a yoga obstacle course around your garden, park, or school grounds using natural features. At each “station,” children can perform an animal pose and imagine themselves on a wild journey:
- Downward Dog – crawl like a curious pup
- Frog Pose – leap through lily pads
- Cobra – slither along a sunny rock
- Flamingo Pose – balance on one leg by the pond
Encourage the kids to make sound effects and add stories as they move!
Find a safe area with several trees or mark out pretend ones with cones or chalk. Play music as the children move around. When the music stops, everyone finds a “tree” and strikes Tree Pose.
🌳2. Tree Pose Forest Game
For a fun twist:
- Make it a group challenge—can we create a family of trees by linking arms in tree pose?
- Or a quiet game—how still can you be when the breeze blows?
🦋 3. Nature Pose Hunt
Give each child or group a card with nature-inspired yoga poses (like butterfly, flower, mountain, sun salutation). As they explore the area, they find real-life objects or scenes to match the poses.
For example:
- See a butterfly? Time for Butterfly Pose!
- Spot a big hill? Let’s become a Mountain!
- Find a sunny spot? Stretch up to the sky with Sun Salutations!
🍃 4. Wind & Weather Flow
Let the weather inspire your yoga session. If it’s a breezy day, invite children to move like leaves dancing in the wind. If it’s sunny, they can grow tall like sunflowers or stretch like sun salutations.
Try a short sequence:
- Sun Breath – inhale arms up, exhale arms down
- Crescent Moon – sway side to side
- Leaf Twist – gentle seated twists, imagining you’re a falling leaf
- Resting Pose – lie on your back and feel the earth holding you
🧘♀️ 5. Cloud Gazing & Guided Relaxation
After an energetic session, take a few quiet minutes to lie on the grass and look up. What shapes can you see in the clouds? Invite children to close their eyes and imagine floating on a cloud or resting in a peaceful garden.
Use gentle words to guide them:
“Feel your feet melting into the grass… imagine you’re a butterfly resting on a warm rock… listen to the wind like a whisper through the trees…”
💡 Tips for Practising Yoga Outdoors
- Choose a safe, shaded spot free from sharp stones or distractions
- Bring mats or picnic blankets, but barefoot on the grass is even better!
- Be flexible—sometimes nature has its own plan, and that’s okay
- Keep it simple and focus on connection, joy, and presence
Outdoor yoga helps children feel grounded, curious, and connected to the natural world. It also supports physical development, creativity, emotional regulation, and mental well-being—exactly what we aim for at Happy Kids Yoga.
So next time the sun is shining (or even if it’s just dry enough!), grab your mat, head outside, and let nature guide your practice.
Interested in bringing outdoor kids yoga sessions to your school or community? Contact us today or find your nearest Happy Kids Yoga teacher! 🌻
