yoga for nurseries

Supporting emotional, physical and social development from the very beginning

 

At Anjli Yoga, through our children’s programme World of Children’s Yoga (WOCY), we support nurseries in delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework in an active, practical and meaningful way.

Well-being is not an “add-on” — it is the foundation for learning.

The early years are a crucial time for brain development, emotional regulation, coordination and confidence. When children feel safe, calm and connected, they are more ready to listen, explore and engage.

Yoga gives children practical tools they can use every day.

How yoga supports child development

In nursery settings, yoga helps children develop:

  • Emotional regulation – recognising feelings and learning how to calm their bodies

  • Resilience – settling after excitement, frustration or change

  • Body awareness (interoception) – noticing hunger, tiredness, tension and energy

  • Strength, balance and coordination – building strong movement foundations

  • Confidence – trying new movements without fear of getting it “wrong”

  • Flexible thinking – adapting, problem-solving and trying again

These are not separate skills. They underpin readiness to learn.

Direct links to the EYFS framework

Each WOCY session supports the seven areas of learning and development within the EYFS.

🟢 Physical development

  • Core strength and posture

  • Balance and coordination

  • Gross and fine motor skills

  • Spatial awareness

Movement sequences, including our much-loved Sun Salutation song, help children build healthy movement patterns in a structured and enjoyable way.

🟡 Personal, social and emotional development

  • Taking turns and sharing space

  • Building self-confidence

  • Managing big feelings

  • Developing empathy and kindness

Yoga creates opportunities for cooperation, listening and mutual respect.

🔵 Communication and language

  • Listening and attention

  • Following instructions

  • Expanding vocabulary through themed sessions

  • Responding to questions and prompts

Story-led sessions strengthen understanding and expressive language.

🟣 Expressive arts and design

  • Imaginative movement

  • Role play

  • Responding physically to stories and themes

Children explore ideas through movement rather than just words.

🟠 Understanding the world

Our themed sessions help children experience nursery topics through physical learning.

Examples include:

  • Dinosaurs

  • Space

  • Mini beasts

  • The jungle

  • The farm

  • The beach

  • Autumn

  • Spring

  • Diwali

  • Easter

  • Lunar new year

Rather than simply hearing about these themes, children move, stretch and explore them with their whole body, strengthening memory and understanding.

Supporting the characteristics of effective learning

Yoga encourages children to:

  • Be willing to have a go

  • Stay involved and concentrate

  • Keep trying when something feels tricky

  • Develop their own ideas

This directly supports the EYFS Characteristics of Effective Learning:

Playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically.

Promoting British values in an age-appropriate way

Through yoga, children naturally practise:

  • Mutual Respect – listening to others and sharing space

  • Tolerance – celebrating different cultures through themes such as Diwali and Lunar New Year

  • Individual Liberty – making choices within safe boundaries

  • Democracy – taking turns and sometimes voting on favourite movements

  • Rule of Law – understanding simple session rules that keep everyone safe

These values are lived through experience rather than taught as abstract ideas.

Structure builds security

Pre-schoolers learn best through movement, repetition and routine.

Each session includes:

  • A consistent opening breathing practice

  • A playful warm-up

  • Structured movement sequences

  • A story or theme-based exploration

  • A familiar calming close

Predictable structure helps children feel secure. When children feel secure, they participate more confidently.

Sessions are responsive to each nursery group. Some children may engage in short bursts at first. In mixed-age settings, younger children often learn by watching and copying older peers, increasing focus and participation over time.

The World of Children’s Yoga difference

We are not trying to create perfect poses.

We use yoga as a practical tool to nurture:

  • Awareness

  • Kindness

  • Confidence

  • Cooperation

  • Curiosity

Children are invited to move, notice, listen and try.

Through regular sessions, they begin building the inner foundations that support learning, behaviour and emotional well-being — not just in nursery, but as they move into school and beyond.