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Yoga and Nature, Naturally!
There is a clear link between the practice of Yoga and nature. I’ve noticed that focusing on nature resonates well with children and adults. Here are some activities to incorporate into a Nature Themed Yoga class. It is also a great theme for a Hebrew School class....
Don’t Make Assumptions
Don Miguel Ruiz has a simple and truthful book titled The Four Agreements that I believe teachers of all disciplines and ages need to read. The third agreement, "Don’t Make Assumptions", revealed its importance to me, yet again, last week. I have an eight-week series...
Yoga For ALL
When I tell people I am a Yoga teacher a lot of them answer things like: "I can't do that", I am not flexible enough", "Yoga is too slow- I am more the energetic type".... So I made it my mission to tell (and show) people that Yoga is for EVERYONE. Same applies to...
The Yoga Octopus
At the end of each of my kids' Yoga classes I say, “May the world be filled with love and light and lots of peaceful children.” But in today’s chaotic world, how do we help children experience peacefulness? How do we help kids live and internalize the lessons and...
Amygdala Hijack – Take Back Your Brain!
You do yoga, you meditate, you smile and put on that calm face; but life isn’t always rainbows and kittens. Sometimes the sticky parts of life sneak up on us, and take over our normally calm demeanor. We all have those moments, someone cuts you off while driving, your...
The Right Way to Do Yoga
In my teacher training I learned principles of alignment, to which I adhered with razor-like attention. I practiced, memorized, and studied. I even taught this way for a while at the beginning. I still love alignment, but not for the same reason. Early on it was...
Namaste?
The other day, I found myself having this conversation with a parent: Parent: My son really enjoyed the yoga class that you taught the other day when you were substituting. You know, we went to a yoga studio before and it was just too much religion. Me: What do you...
The Accidental Yogi
I am an accidental Yogi. I wasn’t born in an ashram. My parents weren’t hippies. I was never (and still am not very) flexible. There’s junk food, beer, and meat in my refrigerator. In school I was more competitive than the average kids – both physically and...
Warrior Wisdom
Have you heard the story of Virabhadra? Virabhadrasana is the Sanskrit name for Warrior Pose. I tell this story to the children often in my Yoga class. It’s a story of Shiva and Shakti. There are a few variations I’ve come across, but for some reason or another Shakti...
Sweet Dreams
We have often heard that establishing a bedtime routine can help our children to settle down for bed and can help end bedtime battles. Bedtime routines can vary and often change depending on the child’s age. Some work well; others do not. Yoga can help calm the mind...
Everything Changes
Many of you know that yoga class always ends in savasana. Laying down on your mat, on your back, this is the opportunity to truly let go. In savasana, we surrender our tension, our worries, and even our fidgeting to the still silence of rest. The muscles completely...
What Matters Most
As my daughter begins to seriously consider her future after high school graduation, I find myself looking back and reevaluating my goals for her. When I was pregnant, my only goal was to have a healthy baby. I didn't care about gender, appearance, or IQ. I simply...
Celebrating Diwali
The celebration of Diwali is this week. Teach your children the story of Diwali using fun Yoga poses. In the narration below, poses are written in all CAPS, with necessary descriptions included. Enjoy the Festival of Lights: Thousands of years ago there lived the...
Flexibility Science – Part 2
As a 500-hour yoga instructor, aspiring Personal Trainer, and generally active person, I take matters of health quite seriously. I’ve had injuries in the past from running that have been horribly disabling. I watch people my age complain of aches and pains and be...
What Your Yoga Instructor Doesn’t Tell You about Flexibility
(And why kids of all ages need it) Everyone knows yoga can make a body more flexible. In fact, inflexibility is often the top excuse people give for not being able to take yoga, stating, “I can’t do yoga. I can’t even touch my toes.” It is also the subject of a common...
