Almost any young child loves to imitate animal sounds and behavior. Luckily, there are so many yoga postures with animal names that creating songs and stories about animals is easy! I decided to try incorporating animal sounds into a sun salutation and came up with...
Peace Begins with My Fingers?
Let's start the new year with PEACE! I thought I would share a little about the science behind feeling peaceful. The international yoga teacher training program, Kidding Around Yoga, has a mantra they teach every teacher and child who experiences their program: Peace...
Four Yoga Practices to Teach Gratitude
All of us are bombarded with advertisements, pressured to always gather more, and are rarely satisfied by simply being. This is especially true for our children, as they may not yet have the ability to filter through the materialistic messages; instead, their "need"...
5 Habits for Happiness
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...
Adaptive Yoga for Children
Kids worldwide need the same things to thrive: food, clothing, shelter, confidence, security, and a sense of calm. However, no two children are able to receive these necessities in the same way. Some children blossom in routine while others crave variety. One child...
Keep Your Shoes On!
I'm the first to admit it - one of my favorite parts of teaching yoga to children and adults is kicking off my shoes and being barefoot! Not only is it more comfortable, but going shoeless is good for you, too! You gain better control of your foot position, it...
Yoga for Your Feet
Did you know that our feet have 26 bones and 25 joints? Not to mention, they also have over 20 muscles and tendons. Feet are the basis of many yoga poses. It makes sense that we should focus on them. According to one yoga expert, we know the importance of healthy feet...
Every Little Cell in my Body is Happy
The Every little cell in my body is happy… Stress Management for kids and adults too! Upon hearing some of our original Kidding Around Yoga (KAY) songs, people frequently ask me which one of our 50 KAY songs is my favorite. “Well”… I say, excited to share the love,...
Bunny HOP! Easter Yoga Fun for the Family
Easter time is time for the Easter Yogi Bunny! Just as fascinating to kids as good ol' Saint Nick, the Easter Bunny leaves the best and coolest trinkets and impressions. The Bunny has even been known to make its appearance at yoga classes around these parts! The kids...
Yoga Brings Generations Together
Most all Jewish folks know the tune “Hava Nagila.” If you don’t remember the words, you’ll definitely remember the rhythm of the song. And if you’re not Jewish, you’ll catch on really, really quickly! Kidding Around Yoga made a delightful Yoga spin of the song, Yoga...
Classic Games with a Yoga Twist
Think back to the good ol' days of recess and PE when you were a child. Do you remember playing classic games like Hopscotch, Duck Duck Goose, or Freeze Tag with your best buddies? There is a reason classic games are still played today - they are FUN! So why reinvent...
Yoga with Grandma (or Great-Grandma!)
No matter your age, physical agility, or spiritual background, everyone can benefit from a yoga practice. Kids learn self-regulation, how to listen to their bodies, and grow in strength, confidence, and flexibility. For senior citizens, yoga classes help improve...
The Inner Smile
An Ayurvedic teacher once said, “An illness is a function of the loss of the inner smile.” What is the inner smile? Where is it, exactly? And, if it is so important to health, how do we do it? How do we maintain our inner smile, even when our outside world may not be...
Magical Music
When I was about two years old, my mom started doing yoga with me. She would watch a yoga program on TV and she would teach me the poses and we would make animal noises as we played. I actually remember this and will carry it with me for the rest of my life, as it’s...
Winter and the Earth Element
What is the earth element? Whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow this year, winter is alive and well. The days are still sort of short and we still have weeks before spring and months before summer. Winter is still here in the northern hemisphere, and it is a...