Why do you think it’s called child’s pose?

You don’t have to be an adult to reap the benefits of yoga. Many studios teach yoga to children, using a modified program that’s play-oriented to introduce kids to poses, stretches and meditation.

Starting yoga at an early age makes for better yogis later on, says Joy Marcus, who teaches Kids Yoga at the L.A. Yoga Center. “The earlier you start, the better,” she says. “We’re giving them basic principles about sharing and creating space. They’re creating good physical and mental habits.”

A yoga kit for home use can help them get started.

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Fitness Fun Kit: The new Gaiam yoga kit for children ages 3 to 6 includes a yoga mat, mini-brick, video, music CD, stickers and a lightweight piece of fabric that can be tossed around.

Price: $20; available at www.gaiam.com or by calling (877) 989-6321.

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-- Jeannine Stein