Typically when you mention yoga, people picture someone bending and stretching into shapes that compare to a pretzel. Stretching and bending is a fun part of a children’s class, however, from the time your child takes their first yoga class you will learn that yoga is about so much more than physical postures.

They may not understand the 8 limbs of yoga or the Yamas and Niyamas, but they will learn to live them. As children’s yoga teachers, we are honored to play a small part in teaching your kids how to live these principles. Your children will learn they can make a difference in the world. 

One of those important principles is ahimsa, non-harming of self, others or our planet. Your kids learn to work together, be kind to others, and to themselves. It’s time to start taking it up a notch in practicing this principle.

We (Kidding Around Yoga teachers) are stepping up and joining cities and businesses across the country and the world in a practice of ahimsa, by working toward the elimination of plastic straws. Straws have played a part in the fun and games when learning breath work and doing craft projects. Lucky for us, there are now alternatives to plastic. The change is on!!

Straws are making headlines in cities across the U.S. To be more specific, plastic straws. According to Eco-Cycle, Americans use over 500 million plastic straws each day.  Most are made of flimsy, non-recyclable, single use plastic. That means those billions of straws are ending up in landfills and oceans.

You don’t need to look far to find a story on the harm plastic is causing to our planet. Groups like Lonely Whale, Straw Free, and The Last Plastic Straw are working to eliminate plastic straws worldwide.

 Are you looking for alternatives to plastic straws? Are you a teacher looking for a way to practice breath work with your students?

 Stainless steel straws come in all shapes and sizes and can be easily cleaned and disinfected. There is even a travel version that collapses and fits in a case that can be clipped to your bag (finalstraw.com).

Silicone straws can be used with both hot and cold drinks, can be easily cleaned and disinfected, and will make less noise if they hit the floor during yoga class.

 Bamboo straws are strong, durable, and fun. I can picture the kids using these like drum sticks to pound out a beat.

 Paper straws are biodegradable and can easily be cut to size and used for crafting projects as well as breath work.

Teachers, do we need straws for breath work? There are alternatives. No straw, just breathe. Raw, hollow pasta makes an inexpensive straw. Using the hands to funnel the breath teaches kids to use what they have on “hand”.

Join us in the “No Plastic Straw” pledge. Together we can teach children that it is the little things they do that matter. Ahimsa applies to more than people – the earth needs our kindness too.