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...
Spring Cleaning with Yoga
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...
The Yoga Tree – Teaching the Eight Limbs to the Youngest Yogis
If you practice yoga, you are likely familiar with the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Written thousands of years ago, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali explores the eight-fold path, or ashtanga (which translates to “eight limbs”). This is the foundation of yoga philosophy and...
A Babysitter’s Guide to Yoga
*Today's blog was written by Whitney James, a former KAY kid and current Elon University student* About twice a month I babysit two little girls whose parents are some of our family friends. The girls are 7 and 5 so getting them to calm down and stop running around...
Fostering Mental Health in Children
Alright, now we know that COVID is effecting more than just our physical bodies, but our mental and emotional selves as well (see last week's blog). So what can we do to ensure that our kids are not storing all of this stress and are processing this possible trauma in...
Virtual Yoga Games for a Virtually Perfect Kids Yoga Class
One of the (positive) surprises of teaching yoga online (through FB Live, IG Live, Zoom, Teams, etc.), is that I am able to teach children that live across the country (and world)! Little yogis that I wouldn't have had the honor of teaching have been able to join in...
Laughter Yoga is No Joke
I’m sure by now most everyone has heard of Laughter Yoga, especially if you are in the mindfulness community. Let’s explore where, when, why, and how this came to be. A search on the World Wide Web points to Dr. Madan Kataria as the originator of a laughter club in...
Sharing Yoga with Girl Scouts
Being a Girl Scout is not just about selling cookies, although this is one delicious perk of being a Girl Scout. Being a Girl Scout is about creating friendships, memories, learning valuable life skills, and becoming a strong, courageous leader in your community....
Super Smellers – Yoga for Your Nose!
Some people say your sense of smell has the best memory. Like, if you smell a certain perfume or soap, you might think of a special teacher. Or the smell of grass makes you remember when you helped your dad mow the lawn. We can use our sense of smell to add some...
Set Sail with Boat Pose
Ship’s ahoy! Boat pose (navasana) is a simple –yet challenging – yoga pose that builds abdominal, hip and lower spinal strength. Practicing Boat pose also enhances digestion, stimulates the thyroid and aids in kidney, prostate and intestinal function. Plus, for kids,...
Play Games With Your Yoga Card Deck
A yoga card deck is a must-have for your bag-of-tricks! My favorite deck is from Kidding Around Yoga. They are like a “class in a box” that you can take with you for instant fun and activities wherever you teach and in any environment. You can simply pick a few cards...
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...
Kids Yoga Theme: The Lion King
The Lion King is a beloved Disney movie - first the cartoon from 1994 and then a live-action remake in 2019. Filled with humor and heart, it is the perfect theme for a fun-filled yoga class! Here are some ideas: Sleeping Lion: Form a circle. One child is the lion and...
Stress-Free Family Vacations – The Yogi Way!
It’s August and it’s that time of year! That’s right - vacation time. As any parent knows, vacations are simultaneously fantastic and stressful! Between packing, travelling, eating, the incessant “are we there yet?”, and bathroom breaks, EVERYBODY needs a way to...
Tap Tap Tapping to Health
When it comes to raising children, we all know the basics. Kids need healthy food, a safe home, and plenty of rest. And, obviously, loads of love and support. But what about emotional health? Is there a tool or practice that may provide children a way to support...