We've all heard the old saying, "Laughter is the best medicine". Turns out, it isn't just an old-wives'-tale. Scientist have found that laughter has the exact opposite effect on the body and mind as stress! When you laugh you: Lower your blood pressure by 6% (laughing...
Incorporating Mindfulness into your classroom or home can help your little ones grow up to be calm and focused adults. In addition to being fun, these techniques are beneficial to a child’s overall well-being! Belly Breathing Bring both hands to your belly. As you...
Can you spare a minute? Just one minute is all it takes to check out of the chaotic, busy real world, and check into your own body and mind. Mindful Minute practices are simple and effective ways to settle into an aware state, rather than just moving robotically...
Of all the mindfulness practices I have taught to children (and adults!), the Loving-Kindness Meditation is by far my favorite. The words are precise, like poetry, and their positive meaning is undeniably powerful. In fact, I use a variation of the Loving-Kindness...
Many parents (and other adults) worry that they are raising children who are selfish and wonder how they can teach them selflessness. One common issue, though, is that hardly anyone agrees as to what is considered selfish versus selfless. After all, this...
“Spring is in the air,” is more than just a saying. When the seasons change and days start getting longer and warmer, there is a change in the air as well as in our moods and emotions. In yoga we often think of the breath as the air element. Many yoga teachers...
Spring is a wonderful season for everyone—it’s the time of year full of growth and renewal. Welcoming the season of spring provides rituals for all of us—whether you plant new flowers or take a bike ride through the park, the repetition of a springtime activity helps...
What can the hit movie Trolls teach us about kindness and happiness and how is that like yoga? If you have kids or spend any amount of time around them, then you know the movie has been the “it” thing for the last few months. And why shouldn’t it be? The...
As spring and summer approach, so do the oft dreaded tests in school. These assessments can cause loads of stress and anxiety for kids. While you may not be able to forgo the tests, you can help your child (and you), reduce the fear and stress that...
Nothing makes us feel more connected, yet insignificant, as the stars. Looking into the night sky is something we have done for millennia in our endless pursuit to find truth, meaning, and connection. Kids always notice the stars. As with cloud-watching, kids are...
**A warning about using balloons in your kids' yoga classes: do NOT use balloons with young children, as they are a choking hazard. Also, be aware of any latex allergies before using balloons with any age** Balloons may be the most perfect prop to use in a kids' yoga...
Earth Day presents a great opportunity to teach kids about appreciating their connection to nature and the earth. I taught an Earth Day themed kids' Yoga class recently and came up with some great activities to share: Astronaut Breath: Pretend to go into outer space...
The seasonal and cyclical nature of gardening is necessary for the perpetuation of the plant world. Why shouldn’t this same idea apply to the human world? We evolve within our lifetimes, and humanity evolves over generations, with the intention of...
Pranayama is the practice of breathing in yoga. We breathe because very literally, our breath is oe of the biggest components to our life (or prana). We breathe to meditate, to practice asana, and to relax. Without our breath, our brains and bodies wouldn’t function...
Everybody, especially kids, love dragons. I mean, dragons are so cool! What’s not to love? They are humongous, shiny, scaly, and colorful. They have horns and huge nostrils that breathe fire! The appeal is definitely a “DUH!”. I dare you to ask any...
Watch at your leisure!
Watch at your leisure!
