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

As Teens Face Stress During COVID-19, Some Silver Linings Emerge

The coronavirus pandemic has reminded us that humans are resilient. Like many adults, though, teenagers have never experienced the kind of uncertainty they are feeling now.

In having to deal with the pandemic, teens have lost key moments in their lives. Many have missed important school-related events, including sports, dances and graduations. They have been separated from friends for a very long time on top of having to wear masks and socially distance.

Over the ten-plus years as a yoga teacher to teens, I have had the opportunity to teach face-to-face yoga in schools, studios and fitness centers. I remember well the last studio class in March of 2020 where I was together with the students. We were talking about the virus and not knowing when we would see each other next. It was very unnerving for all of us.

After weeks of not having classes, we moved to virtual yoga and were pleased to have students from other communities join in. I had more opportunities to listen to teens share their feelings about living in a pandemic. Needless to say, it has been difficult for these kids. Yet, I’ve had my eyes opened as they also shared where they saw the silver linings. Payton Key, a middle school student from Florida said, "I like online school because I can sleep later and mornings are less stressful."

A recent survey of over 1,500 teens collected between May and June of 2020 by the Institute for Family Studies and the Wheatley Institution, found that 84% of teens still attending school reported they were getting seven or more hours of sleep during the pandemic. In 2018, only 55% of teenagers reported sleeping seven or more hours. The study's findings suggest that more sleep was a significant reason for an improvement in mood and 68% said they felt closer to their families. 

In support of the study, it found that teens are feeling closer to their families, Melani, a 14-year-old from Massachusetts, echoed that sentiment saying, "During the pandemic, we have played more games and have laughed a lot more."

Yet, pandemic-related school closures and social distancing has caused a dramatic increase in social media usage among teens. That rise in time on social media may have been over 60% according to a report from Children's Hospital of Chicago. Further, a study showed that household rules with phones for teens during these times became even more relaxed. The hospital surveyed 3,000 parents and it showed parents knew their teens were using their phones more, but felt they needed the time to be socially connected to their peers. When asked a few months later, most parents went back to setting limits again with three of four parents saying they had successfully reinforced phone and social media restrictions.

Ryan, a 13-year-old from Wisconsin shared, "I cannot wait for when the pandemic ends and I can see my friends in person from less than six feet away." 

We could not agree with you more, Ryan.

Written by ChildLight Trainer, Ann Biese

Ann is offering a virtual 4-week Mindfulness Series for Teens April 11-May 2nd, 2021. Click here to learn more. 

Join Ann for the next virtual Yoga & Mindfulness for Tweens & Teens Teacher Training and learn how to share the gifts of yoga, mindfulness and wellness with young people.

Reclaiming Resilience: Through the Lens of Recovery

All children are born innocent and pure. Children behold life with captivating attention, wonder, and awe. Inherently, children are resilient. And then the stuff of life piles on. Ambitions become shadowed by obligations. Curiosity and creativity get cast to the side and clouded by adult fears and worries, harms and injustices. Sometimes, resilience seemingly becomes a distant memory, fading into the background like scenes from a rearview mirror.

WHAT IS RESILIENCE + WHY DOES IT MATTER?
A basic definition of resilience is the ability to bounce back. Picture a rubber band: you stretch it and it lengthens; you release it and it returns to its original form. Now, let’s expand on this and apply to the “stuff of life.” As we layer in complexity and modern adulting, our subject matter becomes heartier and multi-faceted. Good ole Webster tells us, “Resilience is the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.”

Change.

(My favorite word, said no one ever.)

If we are alive, we are continually evolving. Therefore, change is inevitable. Some say the only constant is change. And sometimes these changes occur in the form of traumas—big or small. Think: death of a loved one, illness, car accident, money struggles, divorce, or addiction.

THE ESCAPE ROUTE
Before getting sober, I was not awake to the power of my own resilience. When change came knocking, I had one set of instructions in my social-emotional-psychospiritual GPS: the escape route.

First date jitters?

I drank.

Winter blues?

I ate.

Low self-esteem?

I shopped.

Social anxiety?

I took pills.  

Some of you are wondering, aren’t these just coping strategies? Societal norms? Yes. Until they’re not.

When life hands you lemons, and you can’t make the lemonade, things can get pretty sour pretty fast. For some, it’s a slow and subtle spiral. For me, it was an express freight train that jumped the tracks.

I couldn’t handle rejection.

I couldn’t manage fear.

A lot of days, I couldn’t get out of bed.

So how did I make it to the other side? I’ll save the Comeback Story for another day and share with you a few nuggets I’ve learned along the way.

ONE DAY AT A TIME
This one has universal acclaim. Often for me, it’s one hour or even one moment at a time. The ultimate practice in mindfulness, this adage doesn’t let me time travel and ruminate about the past or worry about the future. By being here now, I get to experience THIS very moment. Insider tip: this moment will never happen again. Or as one of my yoga teachers says, you can never breathe the same breath twice. As an addict, this concept made me run for the hills the first time I heard it. But then someone shared with me this piece of wisdom: All that is sacred and holy exists right here, right now. When I have trouble staying present, I just look down at my feet and am reminded of the firm ground on which I stand.

LIVE + LET LIVE
The past several months during the pandemic I joined the ranks of the doomscrollers. The result?

Omg, I can’t believe he posted that! Oh, I am so offended! Ooooh, I need those shoes! Well that’s not fair they always get to go on fancy exotic vacations! Eeek I can’t leave the house—like ever!

Translation: jealousy, envy, fear, sadness. My ego took over. Gratitude checked itself at the door. I looked outside of myself instead of within. I regressed to the thinking that the hole in my soul could be filled with the next new thingy, gadget, or racking up a few hundred Likes on my latest profile pic.

In recovery, one of the most important truths that I’ve learned is that I’m gonna do me, and I’ll let you do you. There is no mistake that the Universe put me in this very body, in this town, at this very moment in time for a reason. When I allow Divine Grace to flow through me, I’m a vehicle for love, serenity, and joy. I am meant to live. On purpose and with purpose.

PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION
Woof. This is a tough one. In my long list of all-the-things-I’m-healing-from, recovering perfectionist is near the top. Growing up I was told that I had to be the best. I had to get the best grades. I had to be on all the teams. I had to win all the awards. I had to be the everything girl. In adulthood, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction: if I couldn’t be the best, then I wouldn’t bother trying at all. If I couldn’t do it perfectly, then it wouldn’t get done. So the laundry piled up around me. The unread books grew into mountains covered in dust. The ideas and hopes and dreams stayed scrawled on scraps of paper in my mind’s eye.

When it was suggested to me that I could do a little bit at a time I was truly floored. When I was told that I didn’t need to be THE best, and I could just do MY best I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. Eyes aglow, ears perked, and heart on fire. By taking large tasks and breaking them into small parts, life felt manageable again. The victorious delight of little achievements nestled one on top of the other tastes so much sweeter than a fiery ball of frenzied, chaotic energy racing toward the finish line.

KEEP COMING BACK
Never give up. Like no, never, not ever.

Despite thinking I had lost what made me ME, living life as a sober woman has only served to reveal to me the beautiful magic I possess. Resilience is a lot like energy – it cannot be created or destroyed. And like peeling back the layers of the onion, I am continually amazed by the things I discover about myself. Life may have had its way with me, but it did not keep me down. Brave, courageous, brilliant, and creative as ever, I’m grateful for the journey, thus far, and the adventures that lie ahead.

Much like getting on the treadmill again and again, day after day is helping me shed my pandemic binge-eating weight gain, reclaiming resilience is a lifelong, work in progress. It’s not a chop-dice-BAM like one of Emeril’s cloves of garlic. Reclaiming resilience is a cumulative process. It is a series of saying yes to the things that foster freedom and saying sayonara to the things that no longer serve.

***

Rebecca Anné is a writer, meditation + yoga teacher, certified stress management consultant, and neurolinguistic programming practitioner. She has transformed her health physically, mentally, and spiritually through a trauma-informed lens and uses her skills to help others. A person in long term recovery, she mentors other women affected by substance use conditions and volunteers in her community. She adores the beach + the mountains, city streets + quiet solitude. She and her husband reside in Pennsylvania with their two kitties, and she loves having sober fun with her friends at Sync Recovery.

Megan's Digital Detox!

Sally Quadruple Dog Dared me to put my phone away for four days while on vacation.

 

In a flash, I felt so many feelings! The strongest of which were FOMO, anxiety, excitement and relief. On a typical work day, I average 10 hours a day staring at screens.

 

I knew I had to do it.

 

However, since the invention of the smart phone, I have fully embraced the efficiency and practicality of having so much of the every day things I need and enjoy in one place. A complete phone detox would just be punishment with no Hamilton playing in the car or the ability to snap photos of my freakin’ adorable children!

 

I decided to think of Sally’s dare in a way that felt doable for me and landed on a “Virtual Communication Detox,” which didn’t feel like punishment and felt more like critical self-care.

 

Under these conditions, I CAN use the following apps on my phone at my leisure as I normally do:

• Notepad for journaling and editing the grocery list
• Alarm clock
• Baby monitor
• GPS
• Calendar
• My bank app
• Weather
• Food purchasing
• Ride sharing
• Fitness and meditation apps to stay on track with my positive health habits
• Music
• Podcasts
• eBooks
• Camera

*I mention this list because it was illuminating to me how much I use my phone for things outside of work that truly make my life easier.

 

The following are notes from my detox experience:

 

Day 1: Woke at 7am and first impulse was to grab my phone off my nightstand and start checking all of the usual things that I check (notifications, emails, texts, Facebook, insta). I caught myself before my hand actually picked up the phone and started laughing to myself. Nothing to see today!

 

Used notepad to finalize packing list. Drove to beach and used GPS.

 

I’m now 9.5 hours into my first day and I find it to be kind of insane how fast the impulse to pick up the phone dwindles once the brain has registered the fact that no communication is happening through that device. It quickly loses it’s power and hold over my thoughts.

 

Day 2: I spent maybe 10 minutes total on my phone today! I don’t think I’ve ever done that! Every now and then I felt the nagging urge to know what was happening on Facebook. Facebook is definitely my most significant time suck app. I’m also dreading what my emails will look like on Thursday morning. But maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised by how that plays out. I wonder if I’ll still subscribe to keeping up with the notifications (chipping away at incoming messages as they come in) vs taking care of all of it at once.

 

Day 3: I cheated today. We FaceTimed with both sets of grandparents for a bit (which is really fine) but I also texted with two people briefly and just generally found reasons to pick up my phone a lot more today. I am so tempted to check my emails... 😱

 

Day 4: Pretty much answered every text message that came through today but didn’t actively reach out to anyone or continue convos beyond their initial reason for reaching out.

 

Being 100% away from Facebook and emails has been glorious.

 

I’m coming to accept how setting timers will help me get more discipline around my screen time. I have a tendency to just sit on my phone and stare at it for various stupid reasons when I’m alone, bored or feeling anxious. Just holding it seems to help me feel distracted and temporarily dulls the more uncomfortable feeling. But that’s addiction, yo! And I’m better off purposefully putting the phone down in far away places for long stretches of time, then setting a timer to check up on things for 15 minutes. AND setting alarms for how long I’ll work for a stretch of time. I sometimes sit down for four hours straight without taking water or bathroom breaks. No one is forcing me to keep working but me!!! That’s insane!!!

 

Day 5 (Reflection): There was a certain sadness in knowing my detox from virtual communication was coming to an end. And a few fears confirmed when I saw exactly 200 emails in my inbox.

 

But guess what? It took me exactly 25 minutes to delete or skim all 200 of those emails and by the end of this morning I’ll have my inbox back to normal.

 

And did I miss anything on Facebook or Instagram? What do you think? NOPE! Took me exactly three minutes to sift through those notifications.

 

I learned a few things through this experience. First, I need to practice making myself less available to people on a regular basis. People who truly love and respect me will not mind if I don’t get back to them right away. I’m not letting anyone down by not responding to them immediately. I do let myself and my family down by being buried in technology for 10 hours a day. I may tell myself tales from time to time about my urgent to-do list but I know in my heart that nothing is so important that it can’t wait for quality time outside to nurture myself or precious time to connect with my children, my husband, family and friends.

 

This digital detox has also re-taught me the importance of setting boundaries for better health and wellness.

 

 

Try Megan’s Virtual Communication Detox!

 

Step 1: Post on social and send texts to let your people know you’re going off the grid! And let them know who to contact in case of emergency.

 

Step 2: Activate automatic reply message on work and personal email.

 

Step 3: Turn lap top off and put it away, out of sight.

 

Step 4: Turn off all notifications on phone.

 

Step 5: Move all apps you consider to be “time suck apps” to a totally different home screen page on your phone so you can’t see them during the detox period.

 

If you think a digital detox would be of benefit to you, give it a try and let us know how it goes! And many thanks to Sally for the nudge! I am so grateful I have a business partner who encourages me to put away my phone for four days. 

 

Thank you for reading!

 

~ Megan Ridge Morris, co-owner, ChildLight Education Company

 

www.childlighteducationcompany.com

 

Yoga Supports Better Sleep for Teens

Teens are famous for scrolling through their phone before bed, which can negatively impact their sleep. Many other factors can also contribute to the lack of sleep among teens. According to a University of Michigan study, 43% of parents say their teens struggle to fall asleep or wake up and can’t get back to sleep.  Studies further suggest teenagers need between 9-10 hours of sleep, yet teens average about seven hours or less especially if they are active in after-school activities.

Yoga can help! A recent study showed young adults who regularly practice yoga woke up fewer times in the night – a sign of better sleep quality, in addition to the other positive benefits associated with yoga.

Reasons teenagers are not getting enough sleep:

• Earlier school start. Middle and high schools often have earlier start times and some teenagers have to get up as early as 5:00 AM to get ready for their day.
• Shift in in ‘internal clock’. For teens, puberty can change their internal clock by as much two hours, delaying the point where they sleep so much later at night.
• School and social obligations. After-school activities, academic challenges, and social lives can add a good deal of stress and affect sleep.

Ways teenagers can get better sleep:

• Get up at the same time every day. A consistent sleep schedule helps regulate sleep rhythm. If teens sleep later on the weekend it is suggested for a short time (and not until 2:00pm!)
• Avoid caffeine, smoking, alcohol, and drugs.Consuming caffeine close to bedtime can disrupt sleep, so avoid coffee, tea, soda and chocolate late in the day. Nicotine and alcohol will also interfere with sleep and should be avoided for obvious legal and health reasons. 
• Unplug earlier. The blue light emitted by screens on cell phones, computers, tablets, and televisions restrain the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls your sleep/wake cycle or circadian rhythm. Reducing melatonin makes it harder to fall and stay asleep. Have a rule to charge devices in a place other than bedrooms to reduce the temptation to us them at bedtime. Many teens described a sense of relief when their parents limit phone use because it takes away the pressure to keep up with social news.
• Considerable research shows people sleep better and feel more alert during the day if they get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week.
• Keep your room as dark as possible. Make a teen's room a sleep zone. Keep it dark, quiet and at a cooler temperature.
• Practice yoga! Enroll teens in weekly yoga class where they can learn poses and guided meditation techniques that help promote falling asleep easier.

Top Five Poses to Promote Better Sleep:

Uttana Shishosana (Extended Puppy)

Janu Sirsasana (Head-to-knee forward bend)

Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)

Supta Virasana (Reclining Hero)

Viparita Karani ( Legs-Up-The-Wall)

I find it’s helpful to remind teens that sleep is food for their brain and cannot be replaced. Do not expect to fall asleep right away. It can take up to a half an hour to fall sleep. And practicing just one or two yoga poses is better than none.

 

Ann Biese, RYT 500, E-RYT 200, RCYT, MBSR-T, YACEP, is an international Yoga Instructor and Teacher Trainer for ChildLight. She is also a Mindfulness and Meditation Specialist in pediatric settings, including Tufts Floating Hospital for Children in Boston, and has taught MBSR and yoga to various youth groups and teen athletes across the country. She has been a featured speaker on meditation and mindfulness in hospitals. Ann is also the author of the award-winning children's book Worry Bee and Mindful Moon. She enjoys volunteering as an instructor for Go Give Yoga and was featured in North Shore Magazine for her volunteer work in Massachusetts. In her time off the mat, Ann enjoys her family and pets, as well as volunteering at an equine rescue farm. View Ann’s video bio here.

 

Related Links:
How to get Teens to Do Yoga
5 Gratitude Activities for Teens
Seva is “Cool” for Tweens and Teens

4 Benefits of Yoga and Mindfulness for Youth Athletes

In 1996, at six months old, my oldest son picked up his first baseball bat and hasn’t put it down since. Just as I fell in love with yoga, he fell in love with baseball.

Fast forward to the summer of 2010.   As I sat there observing the closing remarks pep talk at a local university youth baseball clinic, I bravely decided to email the head baseball coach to discuss offering yoga to the team.  Typically, that would have me shaking in my boots!  But not this time.  I knew baseball from spending years at the field with my son and I certainly knew how to teach yoga and mindfulness.  After he agreed to meet with me, I spent hours creating a handout listing the specific benefits of Yoga for Baseball Players.  After a ten-minute conversation, I got the gig! 

Knowledge and communication are of the utmost importance in order for athletes and those who support them to understand the sport specific benefits for creating a sustainable practice.  The coach, youth athletes, and parents need to understand the ‘why’ of what they are doing, and so do you! 

TOP 4 BENEFITS OF YOGA & MINDFULNESS FOR YOUTH ATHLETES

1. Breath Awareness

“Better breathing equals more oxygen for your muscles, and that equals more endurance.” ~Mindy Solkin of The Running Center It is important for an athlete to utilize the breath in a functional way relevant to the action taking place in the body. Inhaling when the muscles are expanding allows space for air, oxygenating the brain, blood and muscles. Exhaling while muscles are contracting forces out stale air providing extra power and propulsion. 

2. Injury Prevention

Anyone that has attended a training, workshop or class with me can tell you my number one rule is “Yoga should never hurt.”  This is never truer than when working with youth athletes.  Teaching proper alignment is imperative for a sustainable physical practice and should support the activity.  Clear, simple alignment instructions promotes proper body mechanics and is believed to aid in injury prevention, improve balance, flexibility, range of motion, strength and stability. 

3. Reduces Anxiety

Have you ever observed (or participated in) an athletic event where the outcome was affected by the participants’ state of mind?  A track meet where the runner gives up because he falls behind?  A softball pitcher who is rattled by the dugout banter? A swimmer who is frazzled by a false start?  Having a yoga and mindfulness practice allows a youth athlete to create the healthy habit of becoming a witness to the present moment, then choose a productive tool, such as a breathing technique, for the best possible desired outcome. 

4. Recovery

No matter why you may be invited to teach a yoga & mindfulness class to youth athletes, one of the most crucial components of the class needs to be savasana, or “nap time” as some of my students lovingly call it.  In this fast moving, over scheduled, high demand world where youth get up early and fall into bed late at night being told they have four minutes to lie on their mat doing absolutely nothing feels like receiving a gift.  This time balances work with rest allowing the nervous system to come back into a state of equilibrium.  They are so grateful!

Since the initial opportunity in 2010, I have continued to teach yoga and mindfulness with softball, baseball, soccer, football, Cross Country and Track & Field youth athletic teams in a variety of settings.  This year, I collaborated with Ann Biese, E-RYT500, RCYT, to document what we have learned through our many years of teaching.  We hope you are able to join us at the Yoga & Mindfulness for Youth Athletes one day workshop to learn best practices for integrating yoga and mindfulness into a training regimen.

We hope you can join us soon!

Sally Delisle, E-RYT500, RCYT, YACEP, is the Director and Trainer for ChildLight Yoga Teacher Trainings, as well as a Yoga 4 Classrooms Trainer. She is author/creator of the ChildLight Yoga & Mindfulness Advanced Teaching Concepts Training and manual, Yoga & Mindfulness for Youth Athletes Workshop, and contributor to the ChildLight Yoga & Mindfulness in Schools and Tweens & Teens training manuals. Sally completed her 500 hr yoga certification through The Yoga Loft of Bethlehem, PA where she is currently on faculty of the 200 and 300 hour teacher training programs. She has been sharing yoga and mindfulness practices with children, teens and adults in studio, childcare, preschool, public school, and homeschool settings, as well as teaching athletes, coaches and educators at area universities and school districts, for over 17 years. In addition to holding degrees in both Fine Arts/Dance and Psychology, Sally is a Reiki Master, Doula, and National Board Certified Reflexologist.

Five Reasons Why Being Trauma-Informed Matters When Teaching Yoga to Children

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you hear the phrase “kids’ yoga,” you probably picture children joyfully creating animal yoga poses with their bodies, singing songs, building partner postures, playing games and easily socializing with classmates.

These are all typical aspects of yoga and mindfulness classes for children. But of course the intention of sharing yoga with children extends far beyond that. In addition to the poses, breathing, songs and games, yoga for children is also about the relationship we form with our students and the space we hold for them to grow, develop and learn. With some children and teens this come easily, but others may struggle with some or all of these components. For children who have unresolved trauma, the very activities that might bring joy and laughter to some children can instead bring fear and pain if not offered through a trauma-informed lens.

Here are 5 reasons to be trauma-informed when teaching yoga to children:

Reason #1: We know from surveys and studies, that at least 2/3 of children in the U.S. experience some form of trauma before the age of 18. In areas where violence and poverty are prevalent, or in cases of natural or man-made disasters, that statistic is even higher. We often do not know the history of the children we teach in our yoga classes. With the prevalence of trauma being that high, it is likely you will be teaching children who will have experienced some form of trauma, whether you are aware of it or not.

Reason #2: Numerous studies show that psychological trauma can have a lasting effect on the body and the brain. These effects can be invisible and can manifest in any number of ways throughout a child’s lifetime, potentially continuing well into adulthood if not addressed. By recognizing how trauma can occur and how it might manifest in the body and brain, we can bring more understanding, compassion and mindful awareness to our yoga classes for children.

Reason #3: Researchers, including Sat Bir Khalsa at Harvard Medical School, and Dave Emerson at the Trauma Center in Boston, MA, have discovered that yoga, mindfulness and particular types of breathing exercises, can be healing when presented in a trauma-informed way.

Reason #4: Unanticipated touch, particular scents, sounds or postures that are often well-tolerated by children who have not experienced trauma, can be very uncomfortable for some children (and adults) who have a trauma history. This discomfort can lead to withdrawal, fear, pain, or what may look like behavior issues. When we understand this, we are better able to recognize and address children’s individual needs.

Reason #5: Building supportive relationships is one of the key ways that children who have experienced trauma can start to develop resilience. This can take place in the yoga studio, school, therapy office or at home. Understanding how to build resilience and relationships with children is a crucial part of teaching with a trauma-informed lens. It is also one way we can make a positive and potentially healing impact on the lives of our students.

In my work as an Occupational Therapist in a specialized school, 100% of my students have experienced some form of trauma in their young lives. I see students with multiple (often changing) diagnoses, behavior challenges, physical and mental health issues, difficulty forming healthy attachments and learning challenges. Yet, I am in awe of their resilience in the face of incredible odds.

In addition to my OT duties, I helped develop and run our yoga & mindfulness program. Each week, all students in grades K-8 participate in one 30-60 minute mat-based yoga class. We also integrate yoga & mindfulness into the classroom. While we may include music, breathing, postures, games and relaxation, our focus is on building a sense of safety, community, self-regulation, empathy and respect. All of our work, both in my yoga classes and in our school in general, is done through a trauma-informed lens. We get to know our students and what helps or hinders them. We build trust and a relationship that allows for growth, taking into account each students’ individual challenges and needs.

I partnered with Rochelle Jewell, E-RYT 200, C-IAYT, to create a one-day workshop titled, Trauma-Informed Yoga & Mindfulness for Children, focused on sharing with others how to bring a trauma-informed lens to their kids’ yoga classes and other work with children and youth. In this training, we share about how trauma happens, how the body and brain react, some signs and symptoms of trauma, and how to make your classes and interactions with children trauma-informed.

What participants are saying about this workshop:

“I have experience working with lots of at risk youth. This was a great way to confirm that yoga is a great resource for children who have experienced
trauma.” ~ Melissa Nutting

“(This workshop) increased my awareness and understanding of the effects of trauma…and some tools to provide a safe place for children to be and experience healthy connections.” ~ Deb Ambrose

We hope you can join us in an upcoming workshop soon!

Join Gloria and Rochelle on November 17th, 2017 for their Trauma-Informed Yoga & Mindfulness for Children workshop in Dover, NH.

Gloria Breton, OTR/L, TYR 200, RCYT, has been blessed to work in the service of children and adults for over 30 years. In addition to the Trauma-Informed Yoga & Mindfulness for Children workshop, she is the co-creator/author of the Childlight Yoga & Mindfulness for Children and Teens with Special Needs Training and manual. Currently, she works as an occupational therapist in a therapeutic school, serving students who live with trauma, mental health & developmental challenges. She specializes in the areas of sensory processing disorder/sensory integration, pediatric mental health, trauma-informed care, self-regulation skills & making education accessible to all children...read more here.