Hanukkah Yoga Ideas 2020
This year, Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 10th.
Look below for four fun Hanukkah-inspired yoga activities for kids and families! These games and songs can be used as part of a family Hanukkah celebration or as a way to introduce children to other cultures and holiday traditions.
Chag Sameach!
Activity #1: Yoga Dreidel Game - a fun twist on the popular Hanukkah game!
What you need:
Dreidel
Yoga Cards
Hebrew Letter cards (can be hand written)
Instructions for game play:
1. Lay out 4 yoga cards - these cards correspond to the 4 letters on the dreidel ( נ (nun), ג (gimel), ה (hei), ש (shin)
2. Spin the dreidel - whatever letter the dreidel lands on is the yoga pose that all players do. After a few rounds, switch out the cards with new poses.
Activity #2 Hannukah, Oh Hannukah Song with Yoga Poses
We’ve added yoga poses to this traditional Hannukah song! The words in BOLD below correspond with the yoga poses. Don’t know this song? Listen to this fun verision by The Kiboomers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KKNnECMKbg
Hannukah, oh Hannukah come light the MENORAH
Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the hora
Gather round the TABLE, We’ll give you a treat
DREIDELS to play with
And LATKES to eat and while we are playing
The CANDLES are burning low
one for each night they shed a sweet light to remind us of days long ago (x2)
Activity #3: Five Little Latkes Chant with Yoga Poses
Five little latkes sitting on a plate
The first one says "oh my it's getting late!"
The second one says "there are donuts over there!"
The third one says "but we don't care"
(twist)
The fourth one says "oh yum oh yum"
(bring hands to belly)
The fifth one says "Isn't Hannukah fun!"
Activity #4: Dreidel Song
The dreidel song is one of the most popular Hanukkah songs, and also one of the simplest! Add these two yoga poses to the song to help your child stretch and move before a round of the dreidel game!. Check out this version of the song by The Kiboomers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BhN4_MluBo
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of clay. And when it’s dry and ready, oh dreidel I will play!
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay, and when it’s dry and ready, oh dreidel I will play!
Andrea Creel, MSW, LMSW, E-RYT 200, YACEP
Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005. Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM, and training in therapeutic yoga from The Samarya Center.
Andrea is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in kids yoga.
When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!