In a bright, sun-filled studio in northwest Washington, D.C., a group of children stand with their arms in the air, pretending to be trees. Some have the sole of one foot raised and propped comfortably against the opposite thigh; others keep their foot lower, on an ankle or calf. Posing alongside them, like oaks among the saplings, are parents, grandparents or caregivers. Occasionally, someone (more often than not an adult) will lose her balance and topple out of her pose, but this generally provokes smiles around the room, rather than expressions of frustration or scorn. This is family yoga, after all, where adults and children alike come together to participate in an activity where no expectation, no competition and above all, no judgment are involved. It is, instead, simply a place for them to feel free — to unwind, to connect and just be.

As a certified Next Generation Kids yoga instructor, I have been teaching family yoga here in Washington, D.C., for over a year, after I began receiving an increasing number of inquiries from parents who were interested in taking a yoga class along with their children.

Using a combination of partner poses, yoga games, themes and improvisation techniques, family yoga builds strength and flexibility and teaches physical and sensory awareness as well as mental concentration—skills adults need to refresh and children need to learn, in order to understand their bodies and focus their minds. And for working parents, in particular, who may not have time to bring their children to class during the week, let alone attend a class themselves, a family yoga class in the evening or on the weekend offers the chance to practice together, in a way that benefits them as individuals and as a family unit at the same time.

Annie Mahon, founder of Budding Yogis and Circle Yoga in northwest Washington, D.C., believes that family yoga provides children with an activity they can share with their parents, without being judged. "We start evaluating and comparing our children from such an early age, whether consciously or not," she says. "Starting from the moment they crawl, we are constantly encouraging them to run faster, throw farther or study harder. Family yoga offers parents and children a chance to step outside that judgmental sphere and do something that is purely relaxing for a change. Parents and children both learn how not to judge their performance — or anyone else’s — during class, although you can imagine how delighted kids feel when they see that Mom may not be quite so adept at the frog pose as they are!"

Forrest McKennie, whose two daughters practice family yoga with him and his wife, agrees. "My girls are very high energy," he says, "so we were looking for an activity we could do together that would allow them to be active, while channeling that energy in a positive way. Family yoga provides that. They’re happy to be there and happy to be with us, too."

Family yoga is just one of many yoga options available these days. Indeed, there are now almost as many different kinds of yoga classes for children as there are for adults — from mom/baby yoga, to family yoga, to yoga for toddlers and teens. According to "Yoga Journal," the number of American adults practicing yoga topped 15 million in 2003 and is still growing — a fact that supports the well-known benefits of yoga for adults. But just what are the benefits for children?