Phoenix Giselle Hicks was just 5 years old when she made history as the world’s youngest female yoga instructor.
Now 7, the Houston native is being recognized in the 2027 edition of Guinness World Records after earning the title at 5 years and 337 days old. She completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course to qualify for the record.
Phoenix’s introduction to yoga came long before she could even walk. Her mother, Sydney Hicks, took her to her first “Mummy and Me” class when she was only 3 months old. By age 4, she was keeping up with more advanced sessions and eventually began teaching alongside her mom.
“I love teaching classes with my mum,” Phoenix told Guinness World Records. “She inspired me to be a yoga teacher so it’s fun when we get to teach together.”
Getting certified required far more than learning a few yoga poses. Phoenix was the only child in a training class filled with adults and had to study anatomy, read books, write papers, take daily classes and complete practice teaching hours. She even participated in a 10-day yoga teacher immersion before finishing the program.
“I was the only kid in a class of all grown-ups,” she recalled. “I had to read a lot of books, learn about anatomy, take classes daily, write papers, and complete practice teaching hours.”
She officially earned the record on June 22, 2025. She now leads classes for children and adults in Houston and continues to teach alongside her mother.
“When I’m teaching yoga, I feel honoured and proud that people allow me to lead them,” she shared. “It inspires me to see my community grow, be calm and find relaxation.”
Phoenix has also been inspired to write a book called Breathe, which introduces children to mindfulness and teaches them how intentional breathing can help when they feel angry, upset or overwhelmed.
And despite already having a world record to her name, she has another career in mind for the future.
“I want to be an astronaut,” she recently shared. “Maybe one day I can become the first person to do yoga on the moon!”
