Teacher Feature: Pearl Cao
At The Yoga Buggy, our teachers bring kids’ yoga and mindfulness programs into schools, helping students develop tools for movement, emotional regulation, and focus during the school day.
One of the teachers helping bring these programs into schools is Pearl Cao. Pearl has been an incredible advocate for The Yoga Buggy’s mission since we met.
Naturally, we were excited to sit down with Pearl to chat more. Below, Pearl shares her story and insights on how yoga can support students, teachers, and school communities.
Discovering Yoga at a Young Age
TYB: Pearl, can you share your journey into yoga and how it eventually led you to teaching children?
PC: My first introduction to yoga came at age 12 while growing up in Mainland China. I borrowed a DVD called 日月瑜伽 (Sun Moon Yoga in Chinese) from a rental shop, which I later learned was a Hatha yoga series. After less than an hour of following along, I was sweaty, energized, and unexpectedly happy- it was the same kind of feeling I would get after playing sports. From that moment on, I knew I had found something new and special. When I couldn’t go outside because of the weather, yoga became my go-to indoor activity.
Fast forward to 2020. It was the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was in our Canadian home with my two young children. Yoga naturally became our shared way to move and connect. Since we couldn’t go out much, I came across Jamie’s Cosmic Kids Yoga online, and it really opened a new door for me: yoga for children. Watching my boys receive so much joy and calm through those yoga sessions got me thinking: yoga didn’t have to stay as just my personal practice. I began to wonder if I could share this wonderful experience with children more widely.
I decided to dive in! I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training, along with additional training in children’s yoga. During that time, The Yoga Buggy happened to be offering a children's yoga class at my kids' school. Without hesitation, I signed up as a parent volunteer. Not long after, I joined the team and became an official teacher at The Yoga Buggy.
Now, teaching yoga to children allows me to share the joy, mindfulness, and benefits of yoga with some of the most special little humans — and that’s becoming incredibly meaningful to me.
A Magical Teaching Moment
TYB: Please share a recent teaching highlight.
PC: One moment that really sticks with me happened recently during a preschool class I was teaching.
A little boy had just been dropped off. He was crying nonstop because he missed his mom. I put on a soft song and invited the class to sit on their mats, moving gently with the music. I didn’t talk and we didn’t rush into poses. We just did just slow breathing and simple upper-body movements. Almost instantly, he stopped crying. Within a minute, I could see him starting to copy our movements. And by the end of the song, he was ready to fully join in. Later in the class, I saw him doing all the animal poses and laughing along with the other children, completely leaving that separation anxiety behind.
It was such a simple but magical moment, and a beautiful reminder of how yoga and breathwork can help children settle their emotions and find calm and joy.
Why Yoga Matters in Schools
TYB: Why do you believe yoga is especially valuable for children during the school day?
PC: Children’s yoga is about so much more than just physical movement. It helps children settle their bodies, recognize their emotions, and develop tools to calm themselves when they feel overwhelmed.
In today’s school environment, many children experience busy schedules, constant stimulation, and stress. Yoga offers a pause. Through breathing, movement, and play, children can learn how to slow down and reconnect with themselves. I found that practicing yoga during the school day really supports focus, emotional regulation, and positive interactions in the classroom, which benefits both students and teachers.
Yoga fun with Pearl at the VSB
Teaching Through the Lens of Parenthood
TYB: How has parenting influenced the way you approach teaching yoga to children?
PC: Being a parent for nearly 10 years has taught me so much. I see it as a shared learning journey: my children are learning to be kind and mindful human beings, and I’m also learning to be a better guide and supporter for them. That perspective naturally carries into the way I teach.
I understand little humans can have big emotions, and they need to feel heard and respected. So when I teach, I try to meet children at their level, physically and emotionally. I also welcome their ideas and invite them to contribute to the class whenever it’s possible.
Just like parenting, teaching children’s yoga doesn’t always go exactly as planned. At The Yoga Buggy, we intentionally create space to welcome those spontaneous ideas or bursts of creativity. Those moments are often where the magic is.
Creativity in Kids’ Yoga Classes
TYB: You’ve also worked in video editing and creative media. How does that influence the way you design kids’ yoga classes?
PC: Video editing has taught me a lot about storytelling and structure. When those pieces are arranged thoughtfully, the final piece comes to life.
Designing children’s yoga classes is similar. Each class also has a flow from warm up to play to calm. It’s all intentional.
At The Yoga Buggy, our goal is always to create a class that feels balanced and fun for the children. We’ve built an impressive toolbox of games, breathing practices, and mindfulness activities. My role is to choose the right elements and arrange them in a way that feels natural and engaging for each specific group of children I teach.
Understanding School Communities
TYB: From your experience volunteering and supporting school fundraising initiatives, what have you learned about what schools truly need from outside programs?
PC: As a parent myself, and a yoga teacher who's worked in a bunch of Vancouver schools, I really get how much they value outside programs that just get their day-to-day reality. Most schools don't have big budgets or a ton of staff, but the need to support student well-being is always there, and often under-resourced. Schools certainly don’t need more work or stress! I believe what schools need are partners who are flexible and reliable, and offer a high quality service.
At The Yoga Buggy we pride ourselves on showing up prepared, adaptable, and invested in their school community. As such, schools see us as trusted partners. We've built strong, ongoing relationships with several schools in the VSB where we run programs again and again.
Supporting Diverse Students
TYB: What changes have you observed in children after participating in yoga sessions?
PC: Every child responds to yoga in their own way.
Children with sports or gymnastics backgrounds often come in excited to show their strength and flexibility. Yoga allows me to foster that confidence while also guiding them toward being supportive leaders — not just ‘look what I can do’ but ‘let me help you so you can do it too’.
For more introverted children, yoga creates a gentle pathway to open up. Through games and playful movement, I’ve seen a lot of them grow from quiet participants into confident decision-makers. In my yoga classes, children have various opportunities to lead. They invent new poses, for instance, or they “teach” the teacher. The shining smile that comes from self-approval and pride is very rewarding!
There are also children who come to yoga with lots of excitement but need support regulating that energy. By teaching various breathing techniques and body awareness, I’ve seen remarkable changes over time. They learn how to channel their excitement into healthy movement.
Over time, these small shifts in different types of learners can make a big difference in the group setting. I have heard from many classroom teachers that they’re seeing better focus, smoother transitions, and a more harmonious classroom since we brought yoga to their students.
Expanding Kids’ Yoga Programs Into Schools
TYB: You’ve recently taken on an outreach role to help expand kids’ yoga programs in schools. What excites you most about this work?
PC: I’m excited about helping more schools see how valuable our yoga programs can be for children. Yoga supports emotional regulation, mindfulness, and self-awareness, which are skills that are not just helpful, but essential for school-age students.
I hope more educators and school leaders start to see yoga as part of a whole-school approach to wellness. When children feel calm and confident, they’re so much more ready to learn. And that's something we can help create together.
A Message for School Leaders
TYB: What would you say to a principal or program coordinator considering bringing a kids’ yoga program into their school?
PC: A children’s yoga program isn’t about replacing academics or adding one more thing to an already packed schedule. It’s about supporting the whole child.
Yoga for kids is much more than just moving their bodies. It helps them settle down, manage big feelings, and build confidence and empathy.
Teachers we've worked with often tell us: they notice smoother transitions, calmer classrooms, and more positive peer interactions. All of these features support a healthier, happier learning environment.
TYB: How can people reach you if they'd like to learn more about your work?
I love connecting with people, and am happy to sit down for an in-person chat. The easiest way to start? Reach out by email. From there, we can find a time to talk and figure out how I can best support your community or school.
I've been posting regularly on my yoga Instagram page. If you'd like some inspiration or a little glimpse of what a children's yoga class might look like, follow along! https://www.instagram.com/pearlc.yoga
Bring Kids’ Yoga to Your School
Looking to support student wellness, emotional regulation, and classroom focus?
The Yoga Buggy offers:
In-class kids’ yoga programs
Whole-school wellness programs
Flexible scheduling for schools
Reach out to Pearl or The Yoga Buggy team to start a conversation.