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Pumpkin Patch Party

When you think of October, chances are you think of pumpkins! Whether as a fall-specific spice, a fun Jack O’Lantern craft, a tasty pie, or a festive decoration, pumpkins are synonymous with fall. So take that seasonal energy to your yoga mat with some pumpkin-inspired games and activities!

Grow a Pumpkin: Tell the story of growing a pumpkin through postures:

  • Seed: Child’s pose with your arms alongside your body
  • Sprout: Wide Child’s pose, stretching your arms forward like sprouts growing underground
  • Vine: Table Balance pose (from Table, extend your right arm and left leg and balance. Switch sides) and grown your vines along the soil
  • Flowers: Flower pose
  • Pumpkin: Reclined Knees to Chest pose, rolling back and forth and side to side like a pumpkin growing larger and larger

Five Little Pumpkins: Add some yoga postures to the classic Halloween poem:

  • Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate. Chair Pose – Extend both arms out in front of you and squat down as far as you can, as if you were sitting in a chair.
  • The first one said, “Oh my it’s getting late. Stand in Mountain pose, pointing to your wrist pretending you are wearing a watch
  • The second one said, “There are witches in the air.” Chest opener with arms interlocked behind the back looking up at the witches in the air
  • The third one said, “But we don’t care.” Standing Spinal Twist – Extend both arms out to either side and twist at the waist from side to side.
  • The fourth one said, “Let’s run, let’s run.” Run in place.
  • The fifth one said, “Are you ready for some fun?” Squat down (Garland pose) hands in prayer mudra and jump throwing arms up in the air with excitement.
  • Then Woooooooooo went the wind and OUT went the lights. Swaying Tree – Standing tall, stretch right arm down the side of your right leg and reach with your left arm straight above the head. Bend to the right side. Switch sides.
  • And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight. If you are in a classroom, the kids sit in their chairs and rest their heads on their arms and relax. If you are in a yoga space, have the students rest in Child’s pose.

Pumpkin Gazing: Use a little pumpkin or gourd as a focal point to assist in balance postures. Place the pumpkin at the top of your mat and look at it as you come into Tree pose, Dancer, or Warrior 3. You can also use the little pumpkin as a drishti (focal point) for Crow pose.

Pumpkin Race: In Reverse Table (sometimes called Crab), balance the pumpkin on your belly and race across the room, but be careful because if the pumpkin falls you have to start over. Flip over and crawl in Table pose with your pumpkin on your back. You could also race with the pumpkin balancing on your head.

Pumpkin Pass: Sit in a tight circle with your group. One person holds the pumpkin with their feet (and ONLY their feet) and passes it to their neighbor, who also only uses their feet. Continue around the circle. Add more gourds for more challenge – maybe even passing them in different directions!

Pumpkin Pranayama: Lie on your back and rest the pumpkin on your belly. Watch the pumpkin rise and fall with your breath. If you have two gourds, one could be on your belly and one on your chest. Try to breathe slowly so the pumpkin doesn’t fall, but gently rises and falls.

Like what you read here? There’s so much MORE to explore and learn with Kidding Around Yoga. Check out our website for our live and online teacher trainings, Yoga Alliance-approved 95-hour RCYT trainings, specialty online courses, original music, merchandise, and beyond! KAY even offers an online course designed to make yoga, breathing and mindfulness part of your family’s daily routine (KAY in the Home).

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