1. Improving Programming
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Where Can You Be a Cat, Camel, Triangle, and Tree?: Yoga for Kids!
Theresa M. Ferrari, PhD & Pamela Montgomery
This poster describes the rationale, implementation, and evaluation of a one-day Yoga for Kids professional development training organized by the 4-H Healthy Living Design Team.
Background
Implementation
Improving Programming
Evaluation
Three-month follow-up evaluation (N=24) showed the following:
8 out of 10 had used the Yoga for Kids curriculum:
Yoga sessions at county 4-H activities (67%)
Yoga incorporated as part of other healthy living programs (25%)
Conducted yoga session in school or after school settings (20%)
Worked with teens so they can lead yoga sessions (8%)
Extension professionals reported confidence in their ability to:
Teach using the Yoga for Kids materials.
Adapt for different age groups.
Explain the health benefits of yoga.
Extension professionals observed positive changes among youth who participated (67%).
Three-quarters of participants indicated that they are interested in receiving additional training.
60% reported becoming more physically active after the training.
Six-month follow up is currently in progress.
What is the concern about children’s health?
Need for Physical Activity
Less than half of children get the recommended 60 minutes per day of physical activity.
Insufficient physical activity is one of the 10 leading risk factors for global mortality.
Physical activity declines during adolescence.
Physical activity can help relieve stress.
Concern about Mental Health and Well-Being
Adolescents report increases in major depressive incidents.
Teens report higher stress levels than adults. 
The 4-H Healthy Living Design Team organized the one-day Yoga for Kids training held in May 2016 that was attended by 36 OSU Extension professionals. The University of Arkansas provided the curriculum and taught the training.
4-H Design Teams are charged to develop projects addressing curriculum, teaching, research and/or professional development.
The importance of physical, social, and emotional well-being motivates Extension professionals to find innovative ways to engage youth to focus on health.
Healthy Living Mission Mandate
4-H
Healthy People
FCS
Advancing Health & Wellness Impact Area
OSUE
National Framework for Health & Wellness
CES
Why Yoga?
Physical Benefits
improved flexibility
muscle strength
balance
Psychological Benefits
decreased stress
improved mental focus
self-regulation  
Yoga for Kids was developed at the University of Arkansas.
Cat
Health is a priority for 4-H, FCS, and Extension at the local, state, and national levels.
“Youth demonstrate interest in and enthusiasm about practicing yoga. They think yoga is fun (before they thought it would be hard).”
Camel
Triangle
Tree
Increase fitness
Improve mental focus
Decrease stress
Yoga practice has many benefits and may serve to increase youth’s skills for coping with stress.
Following the training, OSU Extension professionals successfully incorporated Yoga for Kids into their camps and other youth-focused programming.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Yoga for Kids training was supported by a grant from the Ohio 4-H Foundation.
CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information: