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...
We all know that a yoga practice builds strength, flexibility, and co-ordination. Did you know you can also use the ancient practice to build literacy skills for even our youngest yogis? Yoga teaches sequential thinking and planning: Listening to and following...
The first time your child rolls out her mat in a yoga class, she is exposed to many new words, which shouldn’t be surprising, really. The practice of yoga is from ancient times, for many of us it is from a foreign culture, and utilizes an unfamiliar language...
When my two children were little, they loved nothing more than to “help” me do chores around the house. Of course, to them, chores included pulling all the books off the shelves, banging pots and hiding under the laundry basket. As the saying goes, "If you can’t beat...
It doesn’t get very cold here in the South, so we often have to play pretend or make believe when it comes to the winter season. Our imaginations are so vivid that I easily came up with a winter wonderland themed yoga class. Kids and parents love it! I tend to get a...
Since cave drawings first made an appearance some 27,000 years ago, humans’ brains have developed around storytelling. Telling stories makes up to 65% of our conversations. We are built to hear, remember and share stories. According to Jon Thomas’ The Art of...
When most people think of yoga, they typically picture stretching the body in funny shapes and chanting OM in Lotus pose. But as you may know, there is so much more to yoga than that. In our own practice, including the time we spend teaching kids, we can bring in the...
First of all, how awesome is the job title "Happiness Researcher"? Apparently it is a real career and Shawn Achor is just that - a happiness researcher out of Harvard University and author of The Happiness Advantage. His TedTalk on happiness and success is one of the...
If you have ever experienced confusion or concern from a parent about yoga as a religious activity, then I hope this discussion will help. Also, some of you may be working on proposals for yoga clubs in public schools where this question may come up as well. I see no...
Yoga isn't just about poses and breathing. It's also a creative practice, open to children's imaginations and creative play. Use an art theme to really explore yoga in a deeper way. I Ain't Gonna Paint No More (Karen Beaumont): This was a favorite around my house, and...
Ask anyone to show you what yoga or meditation looks like, and most people will sit cross-legged on the floor, place their hands on their knees, close their eyes, and say, “OM.” It’s the cartoon version of a yoga practice and a great starting point for a discussion on...
Jnana Yoga is described as the yoga of knowledge. One of the best places to seek knowledge is your local library. Offering literacy based yoga classes to keep kids and parents excited about reading can create life long learners. JK Rowling’s timeless Harry Potter...
Self-regulation is an often overlooked, yet quite teachable, tool we can provide the littles in our lives. In all honestly, I feel like it’s only been my adulthood exposure to yoga that has really helped me develop the ability to calm myself down, think through my...
You Are Special by Max Lucado is an amazing book, one to be considered for sharing in yoga class. I believe it will resonate wildly with your little yogis. If you haven't read this book, here is a brief summary from Teaching Children Philosophy...In a village, there...
Can kids meditate? My answer to this is, yes, absolutely! I was pleasantly surprised the first time I realized I could just sit and meditate, however brief, even as my daughter played with her toys nearby. She came and sat down to imitate me and looked like a pro; she...
Watch at your leisure!
Watch at your leisure!
