The Kids Yoga Resource

Celebrating May Day with Children

So many holidays now are being commercialized and marketed towards buying gifts, while getting further and further from their natural origins. It is important to create and sustain culture, traditions and rituals with children and families not revolving around consumerism. In doing so, children develop a strong sense of belonging within their family and community, they practice empathy, kindness, and awareness of others, while being mindful and appreciative of the simplicity of a new day, season, or time with loved ones. May Day is celebrated on May 1 as a welcoming of the return of Spring. The day is rooted in agriculture, falling in between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. May Day is a time to celebrate the blooming of flowers, warming of the ground and connecting with the changing seasons.

May Day celebrations can be seen across the globe. For example, in Scotland and Ireland the day is celebrated with a bonfire and the washing of one’s face with morning dew at sunrise. The tradition of the May Pole where young people would skip around a pole in the center of a village holding colorful ribbons attached to the top of the pole, is celebrated in England. In Hawaii they call May 1 Lei Day, where you make a flowered necklace and wear it all day to represent the Aloha Spirit of the Islands. In Finland you, will find people having a picnic or out for brunch and eating funnel cake as a celebration of May Day. Here in the US, making May Baskets of flowers to leave on the doors of friends, family and neighbors is a tradition still practiced today.

Celebrating May Day with your family can tie into your cultural roots or pave a new way to celebrate Spring and appreciate the Earth. Here are six ways you can create meaning and ritual with your family the week of May 1^st this year, and every year. It is never too late to start a new tradition!

Make your own May Day Basket

Materials:

• Paper plate or card stock paper
• Markers, Crayons, or watercolor paints
• Paper towel
• Plastic baggie or plastic wrap
• Ribbon or string
• Hole punch
• Stapler
• Scissors

Directions:

Allow your child to decorate a paper plate or piece of cardstock with the drawing material of their choice. Roll the completed paper into a cone shape and staple. Make a hole on either side of the top of the cone and use ribbon to create a hanger for the cone. Gather flowers and greenery outside from trees, bushes, and the ground (mindfully collecting and showing appreciation for the abundance). Wrap the cut stems in a moist paper towel and place in a baggie or wrap with plastic. Place the bouquet in the paper hanger. Add a handmade Happy May Day card if you choose. Go to a friend, family, or neighbor’s house (unannounced) hang the flowers on the doorknob, ring the doorbell and run away! Your children will get a kick out of this part and it could not be more suitable for the socially distanced world we are currently living in.

Image from: https://www.skiptomylou.org/10-simple-may-day-baskets-to-celebrate-may-day/

Make a Flower Crown

Materials:

• Scissors
• Flowers or vines
• Twine or bread ties

Directions:

Gather flowers or vines (forsythias are abundant in New England and work well, along with willow and Ivy) and make an abstract circle, using the twine to tie them into place. Place other wildflowers if desired. Wear with pride!

Image From: https://www.facebook.com/sarahssilks/photos/pcb.10161127283064988/10161127281049988

Listen to and sing a traditional May Day Song

My favorite is “My Roots Go Down” by Sarah Pirtle Listen to the song here:

https://childrensmusic.org/songs/environment/101/my-roots-go-down

The lyrics are:

CHORUS:

My roots go down, down to the earth.
My roots go down, down to the earth.
My roots go down, down to the earth.
My roots go down.

Many new verses have been created:

* I am a pine tree on a mountainside.
* I am a willow swaying in a storm.
* I am a waterfall skipping home.
* I am a wildflower pushing through stones.
* I am a dolphin leaping high.
* I am white pond lily healing you.
* I am a mouth tasting life.

Go Barefoot!

Get outside and let you little ones (and yourself!) be barefoot in your yard or a safe grassy place. Talk about how the grass feels on the soles of your feet. Think about and discuss the roots and plant and animal life that are growing beneath you. Squish your toes in the mud, let the chilly morning dew wake up your senses, get grounded (term used for describing energy transfer when your body comes in direct contact with the ground or natural elements) and connect with the Earth. For more information about the benefits of being barefoot visit https://www.ecoexplorers.com.au/5-reasons-why-you-should-let-your-child-go-barefoot/

Make a Ribbon Wand

Materials:

• A stick
• Colorful ribbon
• Staple gun or glue gun (optional)

Directions:

Find a stick on the ground and tie or adhere ribbon onto the top of the stick. Use to dance, wave around and have fun. Option: Use paint, string, or tissue paper to decorate the stick before you put the ribbons on. Note: Try using a shower curtain ring or bangle bracelet instead of a stick and wrap the ribbon around it for a safer option for the wee littles!

Image from: https://www.makeandtakes.com/stick-ribbon-streamers

Have a Fire and Read a Book Out Loud

Sitting around a campfire is an electronics-free sensory experience. The smell of the burning wood, the sounds of the crackling logs, the warmth of the coals and the mesmerizing dance and glow of the flames, creates a mindful and memorable experience. Of course, bringing in the taste of marshmallows is sure to put a sticky smile on your child’s face. Bring out a Spring picture book and read it aloud around the fire. If it is nighttime a flashlight will add to the interest!

Here are some Springtime book suggestions:

Mae the Mayfly, by Denise Brennan Nelson

The Curious Garden, by Peter Brown

Seeds and Trees, by Brandon Walden

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner

The Story of the Root Children, by Sibylle van Olfers

May Day is a time to celebrate Spring and spend time outdoors with friends and family. The traditions and rituals of celebration can take on your own twist, just try to create a tradition that can last and perhaps get passed on within your family for generations!

Get outside and have fun together!

Written by: Sonya Wirtanen, RYT - Sonya has been practicing yoga since 2005, and loves the way all aspects of the practice have been sprinkled into her life throughout the years. She received her 200-hour yoga teacher certification from Frog Pond Yoga in Princeton, MA and has continued her studies at Konalani Ashram in Hawaii and ChildLight Education Company. Sonya is an AmeriCorps National Alumni and holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Fitchburg State University. Over the last 20 years she has held various roles in the field of education including...read more here.

Join Sonya and her six-month-old daughter this May 11-June 1, 2021 for the ChildLight Parent Group, designed to connect like-minded parents to socialize, support and hold space for one another during their parenting journey. Share stories, developmental milestones, self-care, and mini baby and me yoga practice.

 

Additional Source: www.almanac.com

Make Every Day Earth Day: A Children’s Yoga Class Plan

Earth Day in April provides the perfect opportunity to honor what the Earth provides for us, and discuss how we can be kind to our earth today and every day. After all, in the words of Dr. Seuss’ Lorax, “Unless….” Someone like you cares….

Most of the following activities can be found in Lisa Flynn’s Yoga for Children book.

OPENING
Sit in a circle and invite students to place their hands on their bellies before taking 3 Balloon Breaths. Ask the students “What does the earth provide for us?” and,  “Why do you think it’s important to protect it?”

Read The Earth Book by Todd Parr.

Next, talk about reducing, reusing and recycling. Bring in some examples of common everyday items that we can reduce, reuse and recycle --- plastic bags, newspapers, egg cartons, milk jugs, magazines, yogurt containers, baby food jars, etc.. Think about how many times a week we use these items and how much extra garbage this contributes to the earth. If we just reduce, reuse, or recycle some of these items, we can reduce our imprint on the Earth. Introduce students to the Chant/Motto – “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. When saying “Reduce!” – hit the floor with hands; “Reuse!” – clap hands together; “Recycle!” - raise arms in the air, rolling your forearms in a circle to look like a Recycle sign. Repeat 3x. 

CENTERING
Next, with all the students in a circle, begin by passing around a Globe Ball (beach ball). Pass the Globe Ball around the the circle. While passing (or tossing or rolling), sing the song “We’ve got the whole world in our hands” (sung to the tune of “He’s got the whole world in his hands”). Emphasizing we all have a responsibility to care for the Earth – it takes all of us working together to take care of the Earth.

BREATHWORK
Stop and Smell the Flowers Breath--inhaling to smell the flowers, exhale out. Option to use pinwheel flower here to see the pinwheels move when they breathe out.

WARMUP
So many beautiful things can be found on Earth – Let’s thank the Sun & Moon, which gives us light and darkness on Earth (Sun and Moon Salutes). Next, add in the Warrior series  –chanting “Reduce!” (Warrior I), “Reuse!” (Warrior 2), and “Recycle!”  (Warrior 3-with hands making circle/recycle symbol in the air). Return to Mountain.

SONGS
“Under One Sky”, a ChildLight original from the “I Grow With Yoga” album, which can be found on ITunes, Spotify or CDbaby.com.  Integrate the associated poses mentioned throughout the song.

YOGA POSES
Let’s celebrate the beauty that’s found around us on Earth, starting on the Land: Mountain, Tree, Bird, Worms (Cobra), Flowers, Butterflies, Ladybugs (Child’s Pose);

In the Ocean: Waves or Sea Weed (Moving your Arms while seated in Hero’s Pose), Fish, Jellyfish.  

In the Desert: Cactus (Tree with cactus arms), Camel, Scorpion (Spider), Pyramid (Triangle);

In the Arctic: Seal, Polar Bear (Down Dog), Igloo (Table Top).

GROUP/PARTNER POSES/CREATIVE MOVEMENT
Sunflower pose –Ask to students to come to sit on the floor in a circle with their feet facing the middle of the circle, legs outstretched in front of them. Have the students inhale their arms up the air, exhale extend forward touching their toes, inhale arms back up and then on an exhale, slowly lower all the way down onto their backs, with their feet still connected in the middle. Connect arms to create a group Earth Pose. Take a photo from above.

TRANSITION
From Sunflower Pose, have all the little yogis slowly crawl like little caterpillars back to their mats and roll onto their backs.

RELAXATION
Have students place their hands on their bellies and watch their belly rise and fall with their breath. Remind them of the journey they went on around the Earth, how they were able to help the earth by Reducing, Reusing and Recycling, and how they can honor and celebrate Mother Earth by taking care of her.

CLOSING
“Plant a tree or flower, Give it some water and clean air, Treat it with loving care,
And soon you will see, Everyone can make a difference like you and me;
So, make this day and Every Day, Earth Day –
Keep your footprints on Earth clean, green and light;
and this lets us keep Mother Earth beautiful and beaming bright.”   

(I like to read this poem I wrote for my sons, which serves as a reminder that we can and should do small things every day to show our respect for the Earth.)

TAKE AWAYS: Use recycled materials to make flowers: Crumble Pieces of Recycled Newspaper thread onto a pipe cleaner OR Cupcake Holders/Coffee Filters glued on top of recycled, washed popsicle sticks.

Take some time this month to send some loving kindness to the Earth for all that it provides. Remember to also take a step out of the studio, breathe in the fresh air, and be thankful for all the beauty the Earth brings – from the sun and moon, to the mountains and oceans, to the butterflies and bees and, of course, the trees. Enjoy all the natural beauty around us and consider how we can continue to reduce the footprints we leave on the Earth throughout the coming year so we can sustain the Earth’s beauty for years to come.

Larissa Noto’s love for yoga begin in 1998 when she took her first yoga class for a gym requirement in college. From that moment on, she was hooked—and she has continued to practice yoga since that time. Larissa is a certified Childlight Yoga Instructor (Yoga & Mindfulness for Children and Advanced Teacher Concepts) and has completed a Yoga 4 Classrooms Professional Development Workshop.  To further deepen her practice, Larissa completed 250 Hour Yoga Teacher Training at Easton Yoga, Restorative Teacher Training with Jillian Pransky at Yoga Works, and is currently seeking her 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training through The Yoga Loft of Bethlehem. In teaching both children and adults, Larissa firmly believes that yoga can be made accessible to all those who seek to practice.   She is passionate that yoga and mindfulness can and should be an essential component in all school programs from infancy through high school. Larissa currently teaches adults and children at Easton Yoga, Easton Yoga Allentown, The Yoga Loft of Bethlehem, and The Pratyush Sinha Foundation. When she isn’t sharing her love of yoga with others, she serves as a lawyer, professor and parent support guide for those whose children have special needs, and enjoys her life as wife and mom of 3 boys. You can connect with Larissa on Facebook and Instagram @thelovelylittlelotus. Her website is https://thelovelylittlelotus.com/ and she can be reached here.

Related Links:
Celebrating Earth Day: 10 Steps to Implementing a Service Project With Your Students
Welcoming Spring: A Children’s Yoga Class Plan
It’s All About Heart: A Children’s Yoga Class Plan
Coloring In Yoga Class: What Is A Mandala?

Welcoming Spring: A Children’s Yoga Class Plan

Spring is such an exciting time of new growth, change, and expectation for warmer weather after an often long, cold winter. Kids feel this too and it can be hard for them to settle down and focus as “spring fever” hits! Use this yoga lesson to encourage their excitement for Spring in a calm, constructive way.

Most of the following poses and activities can be found in Lisa Flynn’s Yoga for Children book.

OPENING
Talk about the arrival of Spring and how the earth “wakes up” as new things grow and we see more plants and animals outside. Ask questions such as: How do plants grow? Do you know where butterflies come from? Where do animals go in winter? Encourage them to think about nature and how spring is a season of growing and change.

Make it Rain activity (adapted from Rain storm activity): Tell the children that they are going to make a pretend rain storm by making noises with their body while not saying anything. Encourage them to follow you. Snap your fingers and/or cluck tongues to make raindrops. As it starts to rain faster, tap your hands on your thighs. Add in wind- rub hands together. Now make thunder- stomp each foot on the floor one time. And lightning- clap your hands over your head. Alternate between wind, rain, thunder, and lightning to create a storm. Slow it down as the storm ends and end with a few raindrops. Kids love this!!

CENTERING
Chime Listening: Children will close their eyes or find a spot on the floor to look at as they listen to the chime. Instruct them to raise their hands when they can no longer hear it.

BREATHWORK
Ask children to sit up tall and place one hand on their belly and one on their chest. Invite them to take a slow, deep breath in through their nose as they feel their belly and chest move/fill up. As they breathe out slowly through their mouth they can feel their belly and chest move/empty. Try using a Hoberman Sphere breathing ball as a visual prompt. Kids love to watch it and match their breaths to the opening and closing of the ball.

WARMUP
Begin in Mountain Pose. Move into a Crescent Moon pose on each side. Next try Washing Mountain and end with Waterfall.

YOGA POSES
This is the perfect time to tell a story or read a book about spring! There are so many books out there that you can use! This week in my Preschool and Kindergarten classes I told a story about a caterpillar (cobra or sphinx pose), that ate and ate and then turned into a cocoon (child’s pose) and them became a butterfly (butterfly pose while singing I’m a Little Butterfly). The butterfly lived in a garden (tree pose, flower pose), where there were frogs (frog jumps) and bumblebees (bumblebee breath). We stayed in the garden until dark (twinkle star) and then took a boat home (boat pose while singing Row Row).

The kids and teachers loved it! The story/book and poses can easily be adapted to the age of the kids in a class.

GROUP/PARTNER POSES/CREATIVE MOVEMENT
Encourage kids to get creative as they try Partner Tree poses. Double Boat and Double Lotus can also be fun as they imagine that they are blooming flowers. For a large group, Sunflower can be especially fun as they sit in a circle with their legs stretched out into the middle. Instruct them to lean toward their toes and bow their heads as they become a Sunflower whose petals are closed for the night. In the morning the Sunflower wakes up and opens up as they slowly bring their arms up overhead and lie back wit their arms on the floor behind them.

TRANSITION
If kids are not on their mats invite them to quietly go to their mats and lie on their backs while hugging their knees into their chest and gently rocking side to side if they like.

RELAXATION
Guide kids through the Tense and Relax activity instructing them to tighten a body part and then relax it. Start with toes/feet and work your way up to their face. Next, offer kids a Breathing Buddy to put on their belly as they relax and take slow, deep breaths to give their buddy a ride. Try reading the At the Beach visualization in Lisa’s book (Yoga for Children)- kids love it!

CLOSING
To end my classes I like to say the following and the kids repeat after me:
May there be peace in my thoughts (put hands on head)
May there be peace in my words (put hands next to mouth)
May there be peace in my heart (kids hug themselves)

TAKE AWAY
A spritz of lavender Magical Mist or a sticker is an easy, affordable take away!

Spring is such a special time. Sharing some of the magic of the season with kids through breathing, yoga and relaxation is one of my favorite things to do. I hope you enjoy these lesson ideas and I wish you a peaceful and happy spring!

 

Colleen Smith, RYT, RCYT, has been teaching yoga to kids in the Syracuse, NY area for 16 years. While Colleen had previously trained with Radiant Child and YogaKids, she decided to further her training with ChildLight Yoga beginning in 2015 and recently completed their 95-hour training program. Colleen has a M.S. and CAS in School Counseling and worked as an Elementary School Counselor in an inner city school district for several years. She started doing yoga when her son was three years old. He was a very busy child and much later was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety. When he was still very young Colleen took her first training, came home and did some yoga and relaxation with him and he loved it! She has been hooked ever since! After seeing the positive impact it had on her son, Colleen began teaching yoga to local kids and families. Her business has grown and in 2014 she started BeLive Yoga. In each yoga class that she teaches she focuses on giving kids tools they can use to deal with stress and anxiety now and as they grow up. Currently, Colleen is teaching yoga in several school districts, preschools and studios. Many of the elementary schools she teaches in are in the inner city and she enjoys developing relationships with the kids there who need something positive, helpful and hopeful in their lives. She enjoys bringing yoga into schools and classrooms and seeing the impact it can have on kids and teachers. In addition to yoga, Colleen enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and volunteering.

Related Links:

It’s All About Heart: A Children’s Yoga Class Plan
Season of Light: A Children’s Yoga Class Plan
Giving Thanks: A Children’s Yoga Class Plan

It’s All About Heart: A Children’s Yoga Class Plan

As many of us know, February 14^th can be a day filled with conversation hearts, red punch and chocolate, creating a challenging atmosphere for teaching mindfulness and self-care.  Alternatively, we can refocus this day on love and friendship inviting our students to reconnect with each other, the community and themselves.

Most of the following poses and activities can be found in Lisa Flynn’s “Yoga for Children” book.

OPENING
Sing the Welcome Song, a ChildLight Yoga original which can be found on iTunes, Spotify or for purchase on our website.

Consider asking questions instead of always providing the answers.  What is love? What is kindness?  Can you love yourself? Discuss Valentine’s Day.   St Valentine lived many years ago and was said to have written a sonnet for his loved one using ink he squeezed from the petals of violets.  *Sonnet: a poem of fourteen lines using any of a number of formal rhyme schemes, in English typically having ten syllables per line

CENTERING                                                                                        
Read The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond                                 

BREATHWORK
Imagine someone you love in your mind.  Inhale and feel the love you have for them fill you up.  Exhale and send love back out. Know that you love and you are loved. 

WARMUP
Rain storm Start seated or standing in a circle. The leader begins by rubbing hands together, then the person to the right joins, then the next until the sound makes its way around the circle, at which time the leader adds on as the sound continues around the circle. (a) Rub your hands together.  (b) Lightly tap fingers on the legs for a light rain.  (c) Increase the volume and tempo of the tapping for stronger rain.  (d) Taking your time begin to reverse the order as the rain slows down ending with silence. 

SONGS
Listen to Your Heart, a ChildLight Yoga original which can be found on iTunes, Spotify or for purchase on our website.

YOGA POSES
Ask the students to retell The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond and incorporate postures.  Open the book when they need reminders. Possible postures could be: Crescent Moon, card pose (sitting in butterfly with feet together open them like a card), table top, chair pose, she looked at the hearts from the front plank, side plank, and back reverse plank, thread the needle (table top twist), roll like a cotton ball, she used a pencil (mountain pose) to draw and cut out circles (flying bird breath or in/out breath), she put them in the mailbox (child’s pose), down dog, turtle, rabbit, tree

GROUP/PARTNER POSES/CREATIVE MOVEMENT
There are so many variations to create-a-heart!  Use only your hands, use only your arms, use your whole body, create-a-heart with a friend, work together as an entire group to create a heart!

TRANSITION
Imagine you are a heart-shaped raindrop floating down from the sky.  What do you see?  Be mindful not to bump into any of the other raindrops as you make your way to your mat. 

RELAXATION
Picture a soft fluffy cloud floating down beside you.  This cloud can be any shape, size or color that you choose.  You feel safe and warm with your cloud.  If you climb onto your cloud it will gently lift you up and take you anywhere you want to go.  Where will it take you?  What can you see on the way? Rest for a bit and enjoy the peaceful journey.

CLOSING
May love rain down on us, May love surround us, May love grow through us
May peace rain down on us, May peace surround us, May peace grow through us
May chocolate rain down on us, May chocolate surround us, May chocolate grow through us
(I change the last line every class and we all erupt in giggles!)

TAKE AWAY
Spritz students and caregivers with lavender scented magic mist after they are dressed and ready at the door.  Valentine themed mandalas, heart shaped stickers, or two positive affirmations (one to keep and one to share with a friend) are also welcome take aways. 

I hope you enjoy sharing this sequence with the children in your life. If our youngest generation regularly practices nurturing the loving relationships in their lives, over time we will see a more loving planet! And as I always say, #loveisallthatmatters.

Sally Delisle, E-RYT 500, YACEP, RCYT, serves as Director of ChildLight Yoga Teacher Trainings, is a ChildLight Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher Trainer, and a Yoga 4 Classrooms Trainer. Sally is the creator/co-author of the ChildLight Yoga and Mindfulness Advanced Teaching Concepts and contributor to the Tweens and Teens and ChildLight Yoga in Schools Teacher Training curricula … read more here.

ChildLight Yoga offers a wide variety of teacher trainings each year across the country focused on empowering adult to share the gifts of yoga and mindfulness with children, babies, toddlers, tween, teens, children and teens with special needs, athletes, in schools and much more. To learn more and view the schedule, click here.

Related Posts:
My Valentine’s Day Rant of Love

Lesson Planning: Consistency is Key for Engagement

Giving Thanks: A Children’s Yoga Class Plan

Season of Light: A Children’s Yoga Class Plan

Cultures around the globe have traditions that celebrate family, connection, and renewal. This kids’ yoga class focuses on those themes as well the beauty of the natural world during winter.

OPENING
Open with a discussion of the four seasons, winter solstice marking the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere as well as the first day of winter, and favorite holiday traditions. Integrate science by observing the changing weather and noting winter as a natural time for mindful reflection before the growth and expansion of spring renewal.  

Have students noticed animals busy at work? Animals in nature respond to mid-winter too. Some hibernate (let children suggest which ones do) and some don’t. Read: Over and Under the Snow, by Kate Messner.

CENTERING
Use chime listening as a centering activity. 

Now let’s imagine a peaceful cabin on a snowy day.  What does it look like?

BREATHWORK
Even though each day has the same number of hours (how many?), on the Winter Solstice we have the fewest hours of daylight.  The sun sets really early!  When it is dark outside, we need to bring the light inside. Long ago, that meant lighting candles. Practice candle breath, which can be found in Lisa Flynn’s Yoga for Children book.

When we go out in the cold, practicing power breath helps us to remember the light and warmth of the sun. 

WARMUP
The sun is always there to provide for us even when it is cold and hiding behind a cloud!  Take several rounds of sun salutations or follow along with one of the following songs:

     

YOGA POSES
Review the topics from the opening discussion regarding holiday traditions. Possible postures could be: Christmas Tree (tree with hands wide/low for evergreen branches), Advent Wreath (The wreath signifies the cycle of seasons. Try Wheel Pose or practice Circle of Trees), outside fun like sledding (locust and reverse plank), snow man building (roll like a ball), or snowball fights (low lunge with throwing arms), holiday baking (Kira Willey song: The Mixing Bowl).

So fun . . . let’s go for a ski through the snowy woods.

Retell the story Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner while incorporating the following poses: crescent moon, tree, skier, squirrel, owl, vole (mouse), frog, beaver (table with shins/feet together for tail), fox (balancing table with one leg out for tail, do both sides), bear, bee. Which creatures hibernate for winter? Model hibernation in Child’s pose!  Lastly, enjoy a campfire (firelog pose) under the stars.

TRANSITION
Close with Big White Star found on the I Grow with Yoga CD and in your Yoga & Mindfulness for  Children teacher training manual. 

RELAXATION
Share Star Prelude visualization from Yoga for Children or the Yoga 4 Classrooms Activity Card Deck .  Battery operated tea lights could be provided for candle gazing.   

TAKE AWAY
Provide students with a journal to draw or write about their meaningful traditions.  Holiday- themed mandalas are also a favorite takeaway.  If possible, acknowledge Winter Solstice by sending each student home with a color changing tea light to encourage mindfulness practices at home.   

 

Authors:

Jennifer Mueller, MA, E-RYT, RCYT, has been teaching yoga students of all ages since 2008 and directs a children's and family yoga program in Washington DC. In addition to being a trainer for ChildLight Yoga® and Yoga 4 Classrooms®, Jen holds a variety of children’s yoga certifications. She is also a prenatal yoga instructor, childbirth educator, a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM) through Infant Massage USA, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Jen completed her adult yoga teacher training at Willow Street Yoga in Takoma Park, MD… read more here.

Sally Delisle, E-RYT 500, YACEP, RCYT, serves as Director of ChildLight Yoga Teacher Trainings, is a ChildLight Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher Trainer, and a Yoga 4 Classrooms Instructor. Sally is the creator/co-author of the ChildLight Yoga and Mindfulness Advanced Teaching Concepts and contributor to the Tweens and Teens and ChildLight Yoga in Schools Teacher Training manuals. She began studying and practicing yoga in 1993 after earning a degree in Fine Arts/Dance and a BA in Psychology… read more here.

ChildLight Yoga offers over 60 teacher trainings each year in 10 different states. To learn more and view their 2018 schedule, click here.

Lots of Musical Yoga Adventures with this Unique CD

Sitting down to write this product review on Musical Yoga Adventures, the 2006 children's music and movement CD created by Linda Lara and Suzy Frank, gratitude fills my heart as I consider the variety of high-quality yoga products available to children today.

It's amazing how beautiful, yet different, each of these books, posters, CDs, videos, and other items can be, as they were all created on basically the same premise - to make yoga and physical activity more fun and exciting for kids.  Musical Yoga Adventures is not only pleasant-sounding, fun and inspiring for anyone interested in yoga play, but the variety of musical styles, professional singers and an online practice guide make the album unique in the marketplace. 

From the first few notes of track one, Sun Dance, I knew this CD was special.  The upbeat rhythm and impressive voice of Denise NeJame instantly transformed me to our Little Family class a few weeks back, when Miss Lisa led the class in a game of listening as the song instructed our every move.  The next track, an affirmation rap, was hip without being dorky, and I can easily picture older kids reaching a little bit further and sitting up a little bit taller during a class where this was streaming through the sound system.

The next several songs follow a similar tune and chorus, as all center around Tree Pose with variations for each season.  These songs allow plenty of opportunity for practicing tree pose, a challenging balance pose which kids love.  With Autumn Tree, Snowy Tree and Springtime Tree, kids will enjoy balancing for the duration of each chorus.

The final theme-based songs provide longer lessons with more individual poses.  Kids of all ages love it when you bring animals and nature into the yoga studio or classroom, and these songs titled Swimmin', Jungle Adventure, Butterfly and Snow Angel provide a wonderful visualization for children to follow as they stretch and strengthen with yoga.

As each song includes an accompanying movement sequence online at musicalyogaadventures.com, parents, teachers and other professionals working with kids can learn the routine, then teach while the music guides the group.  It's a very nice way to introduce yoga slowly, especially as instructors may not feel comfortable teaching the practice themselves.

The nearly final relaxation song, along with seven other instrumental tracks, provides a terrific mood for practicing the recommended sequence or whatever poses the child or group wishes to perform. Namaste is a sweet tune with explains the loose translation of the indian greeting, "I honor you."  This is an important word in our classes, as every class ends with a bow and greeting to one's classmates.

Musical Yoga Adventures would make a wonderful addition to your children's yoga library.  The music is high-quality, the online sequences make learning the poses easy, and children will love the variety of tempos and styles recorded here. 

Musical Yoga Adventures is available for $16 in the ChildLight Yoga Boutique. 

Giveaway!  Comment here for a chance to win the Musical Yoga Adventures CD from The Kids Yoga Resource.  What role does music play in your family's time together?  One lucky winner will be chosen on April 17th.  Good Luck!

 — Amy Bevan

Amy Bevan is a freelance writer, local reporter and host of The PranaMama, an online wellness and lifestyle magazine, and frequent contributor to the ChildLight Yoga Blog, The Kids Yoga Resource, as well as certified ChildLight Yoga Instructor and Itsy Bitsy Yoga facilitator.  Amy resides in South Berwick, ME with her husband and two young children.

The Magic of Music

 Music can be incredibly powerful in its ability to help calm, soothe and relax the nervous system.  Studies have also shown that certain kinds of music, such as classical or calming instrumentals, can help integrate and regulate the way the brain works, helping with learning and mood management.  Music can also enhance intelligence, coordination, emotional expression, creativity and socialization skills.  And, if you've ever danced your heart out or used an iPod with your favorite tunes while exercising, you also know the power of music to inspire and energize.  It's not surprising then, that children's yoga classes typically involve the creative use of music.

Kids in yoga class respond to music almost immediately.  A bored or nervous six-year-old may not initially want to participate in the warm-up session of class.  Add a fun song like Yoga Kids' "Reach for the Sun" and suddenly eyes are wide and a smile appears, as he stretches his arms high into the air.  

If you're a classroom or yoga teacher, consider investing in an MP3 player or an iPod.  You can easily search online for the perfect songs to fit themes or class activities, create playlists and switch music without the fiddling with CDs.  Our friend, Aruna Kathy Humphries of YoungYogaMasters.com adds, "It lets you have all your music with you because you never know when you might need to change up the lesson plan."

Yoga games requiring kids to move quickly are best accompanied by upbeat music.  Much like the effect of a high-energy workout or dance song, a fun and upbeat tune will help to get a lethargic class moving. One of ChildLight Yoga's staples is Puntamayo's African Playground album, as it incorporates a lot of drumming, and no lyrics (all the Puntamayo CDs are great, by the way).  Yoga-specific or thematic children's music is always a hit with the younger classes, but sometimes tweens and teens respond better to pop music with which they are familiar —better do some research if you're out of touch with current artists!  And make certain you listen to the lyrics first. Not all pop music lyrics are appropriate (i.e., Kesha, Nelly, etc.).  If you're going to use pop music, you might choose songs with positive message like The Climb, by Miley Cyrus. 

Lisa Flynn of ChildLight Yoga often uses popular songs with inspiring lyrics during relaxation with teens and then invites her students to discuss of the meaning of the lyrics at end the class.  Inevitably, these are powerful conversations that really stay with the adolescents.  "Often the right song will even open the door to tears, a release," Flynn says.  "And, I've had many kids say they had never really listened to the actual lyrics before and are blown away by the message being provided.  It's powerful. They won't hear the same song again without remembering the conversation and connection it provided for them."

For classtime music and relaxation, mellow background music with no lyrics or nature sounds can really help quiet the mind, and is also recommended as part of a visualization with kids.  Stephen Halpern's In the OM Zone is ChildLight Yoga instructor Heather Warr's favorite.  "It is quiet and balances both sides of the brain," says Warr. In fact, any of Stephen Halpern's CDs are wonderful for setting a soothing tone for kids or adult yoga classes.  And, classical music is always a safe bet as well.  Nature sounds can often be found on recorded CDs or online as MP3 files, and can be a great tool when leading a visualization to a specific location, like the beach or a rainforest.  You can even download applications like Silent Island for your iPhone or iPod Touch.

ChildLight Yoga's teacher trainings focus on the creative use of music in children's yoga classes which was the reason founder, Lisa Flynn teamed up with children's signer/songwriter Sammie Haynes to create the CD titled, I Grow With Yoga,  It includes 20 songs with movement cues (just email a request when purchasing), making yoga class fun and easy to teach and follow.  

Flynn also loves Kira Willey's Dance for the Sun CD, which recently gained national attention when the single "Colors" appeared on a television commercial for Dell Computers.  The title song offers the perfect accompaniment to sun salutation.  Musical Yoga Adventures, by Suzy Frank, is another adorable choice for young children's classes.  The movement cues are available on the website as well.

Donna Freeman of Yoga In My School includes music suggestions throughout her book, Once Upon a Pose: A Guide to Yoga Adventure Stories for Children, and especially enjoys using thematic songs, such as "Wipeout" for a seashore or beach-themed yoga lesson.

Do you have more great music suggestions for your child's yoga practice or yoga class?  Share your suggestions, please!  — Amy Bevan

Related Posts:  Yoga Songs Make Kids Yoga Fun! , A Yoga Song for Kids...and Parents , Dell Uses "Colors"  from the Dance for the Sun CD