Yoga for emotions gives children a gentle way to notice big feelings and soften them with a breath and a friendly pose. At Anand Yoga Centre in Kolathur we play Feelings Weather: stormy, cloudy or sunny feelings each get their own breath and shape. We always name the feeling first, because every feeling is okay. Many children find this a calming tool they can reach for, and it is a supportive game, not therapy.
A simple, kind way to meet a big feeling: name it first, then soften it with a breath and a pose.
Start by saying the feeling out loud, like 'it is okay to feel cross'. Naming a feeling gently, with no telling-off, helps a child feel heard and a little less overwhelmed.
Then choose a breath to match the weather, like a volcano breath for stormy feelings or a balloon belly breath for worried ones. Slow breathing is the calming heart of the game.
Last, settle into a pose that fits, like curling up small or stretching tall. Many children find the breath and shape together help them feel a little calmer.
Pick the weather that matches the feeling, then try its breath and its pose.
When the weather inside feels stormy, say 'it is okay to feel cross'. Then try a volcano breath, breathing in tall and whooshing the hands down, and a wood-chopper, swinging the arms down with a big 'ha'. Lovely for letting big energy out safely.
When things feel grey or worried, name it gently. Then try a balloon belly breath, letting the tummy puff and shrink, and curl up small in a child's pose to feel safe and cosy.
See the pose →When the weather inside is bright and sunny, celebrate it. Stretch tall and wide into a bright Star pose, reaching like sunshine. A joyful way to share a good mood.
Yoga for emotions is a gentle tool a child can reach for, and many children find it calming. It is not therapy. If a child is really struggling with their feelings, please gently encourage them to talk to a trusted grown-up, and seek support if you are worried.
Fun breathing games for children: balloon belly, bee breath, bunny and hot-cocoa breath. Simple ways to help kids feel calm, from Anand Yoga Centre, Kolathur.
Play more →A gentle bedtime yoga sequence for children: butterfly, child's pose, legs-up-the-wall and a calm garden rest. From Anand Yoga Centre in Kolathur, Chennai.
Play more →Gentle yoga for focus: Super Yogi Eyes gaze games and steadying poses to help kids feel calmer and more settled before homework. Anand Yoga Centre, Kolathur.
Play more →Reviewed by Sailaja Anand, yoga teacher at Anand Yoga Centre, Kolathur. Last updated 2026-06-15.
WhatsApp +91 86101 62435 about Little Yogis (ages 4 to 7) or Junior Yogis (ages 8 to 12). Small, safe batches.
