Monster Yoga: Friendly Frights Academy — A Halloween Class Plan

1. Opening Ritual — Monster Roll Call & Pact

Gather in a circle and invite each child to choose a Monster Name. Sharing it is optional. Cup your hands at your heart like a tiny lantern and begin:

“Once there was a little traveller standing where the village path met the night forest. The traveller held a lantern close to their heart. Among the trees stood some curious monsters, each carrying a sign.

“Worry’s sign said, ‘Too dark.’ Perfection’s said, ‘Don’t try unless it’s perfect.’ Anger called, ‘Not fair!’ And Doubt wondered, ‘Are you sure?’ The traveller noticed a flutter in their tummy and took one easy breath.

“‘I’m having the thought that it’s too dark,’ said the traveller. ‘Thank you for the warning. You can ride along, and I will choose the next small, kind step.’”

Try Cloak Breath: imagine fastening a cloak at your heart. Breathe in comfortably, then let a soft “shhhh” carry the breath out. Let the cloak settle over your shoulders. Children may simply listen.

Touch the floor, then make a tiny steering wheel with your hands:

2. Warm-Up Flow — Assemble the Monster

Wake up your creature bolt by bolt. Start with Wrist Hinges: hands point gently down and up, then circle. Add Elbow Pistons, bending and straightening, followed by slow Shoulder Rotors. A seated monster can do all of this too!

For Serpent Spine, place hands on thighs and make a small wave through the back: round softly, then return to tall. Keep it smooth and comfortable. Little snakes can make little waves.

Take quiet Prowl Steps, with short steps and soft knees. Keep eyes open and find your own clear path. Float your Bat Wings apart and together, keeping shoulders easy; lower the arms or sit if that feels better.

Finish with a Giant’s Yawn: open into Star, then soften the knees and fold into Ragdoll. Return slowly, with the head coming up last. A monster feeling woozy can stay seated and stretch its arms instead. Come back to the pact: “Thank fear. We steer.”

3. Monster Encounters

Make two groups on opposite sides of the room. Explain the route, then invite small groups to travel across with eyes open and generous space between them. Walking, wheeling or moving on the spot can all become part of the story.

One side becomes floating ghosts; the other becomes curious Ghostbusters. What happens when they meet? Perhaps a wave, a funny pose or a very polite bow. Change the characters: rolling pumpkins and full moons, howling werewolves and dragons, dragons and eggs, villagers and treasure.

Continue through vampires and sunrises, witches and cauldrons, pyramids and mummies, sea serpents and surfers, storm clouds and lighthouses. Let the children suggest the next encounter. Keep the movement small enough for the space.

Finally, become bouncing monsters, then imagine the whole room turning into soft monster goo. Each child melts in their own space. From the goo comes our familiar whisper: “Thank fear. We steer.”

4. Scary Monster Tag

Our monster has excellent creeping manners! Explain every signal before starting. Keep the lights on and the paths visible. Children choose a steady yoga statue: seated Mountain, standing Mountain, a low squat, Child’s Pose or another comfortable shape.

The teacher walks slowly along the clear paths, shining an optional flashlight towards an empty patch of floor. An announced, friendly “Here comes the monster!” invites everyone to change shape or travel slowly to a resting mat. Nobody needs to stay frozen beyond comfort.

Make this a shared game: everyone helps the monster discover new shapes, and everyone can rejoin. A child may watch from the Safe Haven, suggest poses or become a seated monster guide. Finish with all monsters resting and our pact: “Thank fear. We steer.”

5. Monster Breath Lab

Choose from these four monster tools, including the Cloak Breath we already met. Offer a few easy tries with ordinary breaths between them. Children can watch or use their own comfortable breathing.

Ask which tool each monster would like to carry into the next adventure. There is no required count, hold or biggest breath. Return to “Thank fear. We steer.”

6. Shrink the Worry Monster — Defusion Mini-Workshop

Give everyone paper and markers. Draw a tiny monster carrying a thought. Choose a made-up thought, borrow Perfection’s “It must be perfect,” or use a small worry privately. Nobody needs to show the drawing or explain it.

Now add a ridiculous hat, roller skates or a funny tie. Try giving the monster a squeaky voice. On the page, write or imagine: “I’m having the thought that…” followed by its message.

Ask, “What small, kind thing might I choose next?” It could be asking for help or simply having a rest. Tear or cut around the tiny monster with suitable help, then fold it into a Pocket Pal. It can ride along while its traveller chooses the way. Children may draw quietly without naming any worry. Say our pact together, or silently: “Thank fear. We steer.”

7. Pinpoint the Fear — Monster Map & Courage Quest

On fresh paper, draw four places: Safe Glow, Shaky Mist, Shadow Gate and Treasure Keep. Choose one tiny brave the child actually wants, or invent one for a story character. “Ask for help,” “try something new” or “say stop” might become the treasure.

Place the Pocket Pal in the Mist. Add an ally in the Glow: Courage Cat, Lantern Owl or Future-You. Draw three or four planks leading towards the treasure. Give each plank a tool from our breath lab, a listening moment or a pause.

Rehearse the journey while sitting or lying comfortably. At the first plank, notice what the imaginary traveller feels. At the next, try a chosen tool. At Shadow Gate, picture a small challenge the child has selected; pause, stay with the ally or continue. The traveller chooses.

Write one helpful ally sentence on the map: “I can ask,” or “I can pause.” Fold the monster into a pocket on the page. “Thank fear. We steer.”

8. Cave-Echo Relaxation

Invite children to sit or lie comfortably, with eyes open or closed as they choose. Tell this story slowly, leaving quiet spaces:

“Your cave has just the light you like. Friendly monsters watch the doorway. Feel your toes soften, your legs rest, your shoulders settle and your jaw become easy.

“Ahead is a Mirror Pool. Little worry visitors appear on its surface. You might give one a silly hat. Your ally arrives with a tiny lantern and stands beside you.

“Across the cave is your bridge. Choose how many planks you want today. You can travel in your imagination, stay beside the pool or watch from your mat. Try one familiar breath if you like. Your treasure is the smallest step that belongs to you.

“When you’re ready, return across the bridge. Tuck your funny Pocket Pal away. Carry the lantern back to your own body, resting here.”

Allow a quiet pause, then invite fingers and toes to move, a comfortable stretch, and a slow return to sitting. Finish with our pact: “Thank fear. We steer.” Anyone who wants to may share a favourite creature, drawing or moment. The rest can keep their lantern magic to themselves.