How To Play the Yoga Memory Game with Kids
The Yoga Memory Game is a playful way for kids (and adults!) to improve their short-term memory while learning and practicing a variety of yoga poses designed to improve balance, strength, flexibility, and gross motor skills. During the game, children get to practice 20 different yoga poses, as well as become familiar with the English and Sanskrit yoga pose names.
This game is always a hit as part of a kids yoga class and is a great addition to family game night! Scroll down to read through simple instructions for playing this game as a family, with a small or large group, or for solo play - plus some extra hints for adapting the game for younger children!
Materials Needed:
Double the Fun Yoga Cards OR Original Kids Yoga Card Deck (Digital Download)
If using the Original Kids Yoga Card Deck - print out and laminate 2 copies of each card. You will need matching sets of yoga pose cards in order to play the game.
Set up:
Shuffle all cards (40 cards). Place all cards face down in rows of 8 cards across and 5 down.
Gameplay:
Select one player to go first. That player flips over 2 cards to see if they are a match. The cards must be completely flipped over so all players can see the cards. If a match is made, the player takes the cards and places them in front of them, and everyone does the yoga pose shown on the card. The player can take another turn if they make a match. If a match is not made, both cards are left in place and turned face down.
End of the game:
The game ends when all cards have been matched and removed from the play area.
The person who has made the most matches wins the game!
Finish your yoga practice with a relaxing savasana (final relaxation) by lying down on your yoga mat, closing your eyes and listening to a calming relaxation story
Variations:
Large Group: To play the game in a larger group (like a yoga class) remove the matching card “bonus” turn. Play goes around clockwise with everyone getting one turn each until all cards have been matched.
Ages 3-5: For younger children, play with 20 cards (10 sets) to make the game easier
Solo play: 1 player plays as instructed above and counts the number of turns it takes to make all matches.
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 the author of Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game (affiliate link) and the creator of two yoga card games for kids: Double the Fun Yoga Cards and Yoga Pose or Dare. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in teaching yoga to kids.
When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!