Have you heard the story There Was an Old Monster by Rebecca Emberly? It's written in the same pattern as the old classic, There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly, but in this version, the monster swallows a tick which starts a cascade of problems for him. With its...
Hey you, with the pumpkin latte! Looking for some new ideas for your Kids Yoga class? With a few props and lots of imagination, you can turn your everyday class into a scary (but mostly fun and silly) Halloween adventure. Grab a witch’s hat and some black and orange...
*Most of these activities can be modified easily for virtual classes.* Halloween is often a very exciting time of year for children. Between the spooky decorations, the piles of candy, and the pressure of choosing the perfect costume, kids can get pretty wound up....
When you think of October, chances are you think of pumpkins! Whether as a fall-specific spice, a fun Jack O'Lantern craft, a tasty pie, or a festive decoration, pumpkins are synonymous with fall. So take that seasonal energy to your yoga mat with some...
I always begin my classes by having the kids lay face down on their mats in Crocodile pose with their foreheads resting on their hands. Whenever your forehead touches something, it automatically sends a signal to your brain to calm down. I find that most children can...
Teaching Kids Yoga is not usually a formal affair, but neckties are certainly encouraged in my classes! I love using props in both my children and adult yoga classes, and neckties are a fun, creative prop that naturally leads to a fun, creative practice. I started...
Homework tension? “Never heard of it”….said no one sadly ever. I know we are not alone and this blog is here to help. Homework tension can be different for every child and can vary depending on the subject and the time of day. Read on for some ideas to try out and...
Hula hoops are a natural symbol of yoga: circles represent unity, inclusiveness, and a hole you can jump through, into, and around in creative and fun ways! I also use hula hoops when teaching kids gymnastics and creative movement as they provide a clear, external...
Are you looking for a way to re-focus your classroom? Here are some postures for kids (and teachers) to try while seated in a chair. Make these practices part of your daily classroom routine! Listen to the bell: You can use any type of bell for this activity. I prefer...
Are your little yogis fans of Thomas the Tank Engine? How about the movie Cars? Do they dream of flying planes or exploring the ocean in a submarine? Capture their imaginations and attention with a whole yoga class based on transportation! Feet: Our basic mode of...
“For real change to take place, the body needs to learn that the danger has passed and to live in the reality of the present.” -Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. from The Body Keeps the Score The basic elements of a yoga practice (movement, breath work, and meditation) help...
Looking for a way to get some of the "too cool" kids interested in yoga? You know the ones - they think yoga is easy or just for hippies. Challenge them to try yoga by grabbing their interest - and sports may just be the ticket! First, you aren't just going to sit...
As Kids Yoga teachers, we have the amazing responsibility to introduce children to the ideas in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. About 1600 years ago in India, Patanjali condensed two different traditions (Ashtanga Yoga and Karma Yoga) to compose the Yoga Sutras, the...
Swami Vidyananda said breath control is "your most portable form of stress management." In a yoga practice, the art of controlling your breath is known as pranayama. "Prana" is your energy and life force. "Ayama" simply means control. So Prana +Ayama = controlling our...
Many adults tend to think of yoga as a solitary practice. However, with kids it tends to be very much a social event, so ice-breakers are a very important element. For classes where kids don’t already know each other, we can bring in fun ways to help them learn names;...
Watch at your leisure!
Watch at your leisure!
