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...
**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...
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...
Lotus flowers are often synonymous with yoga. They are the beautiful flowers that don many yoga studios, yoga pants, etc. What a lot of people don’t know is why the lotus is important to yogis or what it symbolizes. The lotus grows in difficult...
Meditation can be hard for a lot of people. Especially in a modern society that is always going, going, recharge, going…You get the picture. Meditation is not separate from yoga, though - it is yoga. It is just as important to practice meditation as it is to...
The lotus has long been a symbol of purity; as a flower that grows in muddy water, it is an example of how a living thing can maintain a pure, beautiful state even in a dirty place. In yogic tradition, it is also a posture that has been claimed as the best seated pose...
“Highest happiness comes upon the yogi whose mind is calmed,” says the Bhagavad Gita. Easier said than done. We all have thoughts that cause us to get on that hamster wheel and ride it continuously going nowhere. Sometimes, the hardest part of our yoga practice is...
We kids' yoga teachers often get asked how one can implement yoga in the classroom. School can be stressful and each hour filled to the max, leaving kids and teachers busier, and more dizzied, than ever. Some schools already have yoga programs in place for their...
Today’s kids are under a lot of pressure. From having the perfect grades to being the best pianist, children have a lot on their plate. One of the biggest areas we see this in is high-stakes testing. Standardized tests are an oft-debated topic (even amongst...
When we help kids deal with anxiety in yoga class, there are two main methods we can use: 1) releasing the tension of anxiety, and 2) redirecting their efforts and attention in a positive way. Below are some ideas on how to help kids explore their minds and bodily...
“Are there any boys taking your yoga class?” If I had a dollar for every time I have been asked this question by a parent who wants to sign their son up for one of my yoga classes, but wants to make sure there are other boys in the class, I would have about $25! I...
It can be difficult to get your “namaste” on in the mornings when all you really want to do is stay in bed. Good news--you can actually do both! While the benefits of getting up in the morning and doing a few sun salutations are numerous, sometimes actually rolling...
Watch at your leisure!
Watch at your leisure!
