How Learning Names Builds Connection in Kids Yoga
One of the most important things I do as a kids yoga instructor has nothing to do with poses, props, or playlists. It’s learning the children’s names.
This might sound simple, but for us TBCM instructors, it’s a real task — many of us teach more than 100 kids every week. Children move classrooms, new students arrive, others switch days or schools, and the roster is always shifting. That’s why I carry a small notebook everywhere I go. At the start of each school year, I fill it with names, and as students move or change classes, I update it with arrows, stars, cross-outs, and fresh notes. It becomes a living document of the kids I meet throughout the year.
I tell the children right away that I’m human, and I will mix up names sometimes. “If I say the wrong name, please tell me!” Some kids correct me instantly with a proud, matter-of-fact “I’m not Jacob!” Others quietly accept the incorrect name even though they know it isn’t theirs.
My hope is that every time I misname a child and then correct myself, the children see something important: grown-ups make mistakes, too, and it’s okay. Mistakes don’t break connection; we repair them together.
Making Roll Call Mindful
Some weeks, I build the names right into our movement.
When I call your name, stand up and show me your very best Down Dog! Or your strongest Mountain Pose!
It turns roll call into a warm-up, a game, and a chance for each child to shine — one at a time — in a way that feels playful, not performative.
The Power of the Name
Using someone’s first name is incredibly powerful.
When I call out a child who is holding a long, steady Warrior II, they glow with pride. When I name a student who doesn’t always step forward — “I love how Jackson is resting right now” — even if they don’t react on the outside, they hear me. They feel seen.
And for many children, especially the quiet ones, being seen can feel like a warm blanket.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. When we say someone’s name, what we’re really saying is I see you. In yoga, we teach grounding, breath, and awareness — but belonging is part of well-being, too. Names help us build that.
Beyond the Yoga Mat
Learning kids’ names matters, but so does practicing this with the adults around us. The barista, the custodian, the substitute teacher, the front-desk staff at a rec center — learning names builds connection everywhere. And when we inevitably get it wrong? It’s okay. Correct it, smile, and keep going. The moment of repair is what makes the name stick next time.
Why It Matters
Kids yoga isn’t just about poses. It’s about helping children feel:
Seen
Safe
Supported
Connected
A name is one of the simplest, most human ways to build that foundation.
And in a world where children are navigating big feelings, busy schedules, and ever-changing environments, something as small as hearing their own name — spoken kindly, spoken correctly, spoken with presence — can be the thing that helps them feel grounded.
