Congratulations to Andre of Wholly Yoga, the winner of our February give-away of a copy of “What I See, I Can Be” by Janet Williams. Andre won by commenting on the post Kids Guided Yoga Flow – Review and Give Away and will be receiving his book and CD set graciously donated by Light Connections Press. For a full selection of companion products visit Childrens Yoga Books.

 Upon learning of his good fortune Andre said,

 I am excited to have won a copy of What I See, I Can Be. I look forward to using it in kids yoga class in the near future.

Thanks to everyone who commented. I love to give things away and spread the yoga love. There are some more great give aways in the works so stayed tuned and keep those comments coming.

If you are looking to win a copy of Once Upon a Pose zip over to The Kids Yoga Resource as they are giving away a copy this week.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) will benefit from yoga since it addresses both the physical and emotional symptoms of the disorder.

The typical gross motor delay, low muscle tone and impaired coordination of ASD often result in low self-esteem and lack of confidence which can extend to other areas of life. Yoga is an appropriate and enjoyable physical program which improves strength and tone in the muscles, develops balance, and increases body awareness. Even fine motor skills will be improved as yoga emphasizes being in tune with the entire body, hands and fingers, feet and toes.

Children with ASD may also suffer from sensory issues including sensitivity to light, noise, taste, texture, or smell. Furthermore, they may repeat movements that seem uncontrollable (stim behaviours). Yoga can help with these symptoms by soothing the nervous system and allowing pent-up energy to be released from the body in a non-competitive, peaceful manner. 

The breathing techniques and guided visualization exercises also assist by reducing stress, teaching coping techniques, and providing a sense of calm and acceptance. Once a child has learned some of these exercises they can use them anytime, anywhere.

When teaching yoga, take things slowly, introducing poses incrementally as comfort levels allow. Work on basic poses (Mountain, Tree, Cat, Warrior, etc.) and breathing exercises. Build one pose at a time, gradually adding more options.

To create visual stimulation and connections, line up stuffed animals or pictures of animals at the front of the room. Follow the line of animals, doing the pose for each in turn, creating an effective pattern. A similar exercise is to place the stuffed animals or pictures in a pile and have them picked at random, doing the corresponding pose each time.

Music is also a powerful tool for children with ASD because it provokes engagement and interest. Drumming, chanting, singing and moving to music are effective ways to engage individuals and helps to stimulate the emotional center of the brain.

A fantastic resource for teachers or parents wanting to use yoga for children with ASD is Yoga For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder by Dion E. Betts. For further information regarding Autism Spectrum Disorders, visit the Autism Society of Canada or Autism Today, which has over 2,500 articles and many resources.

Watch for more articles on this important topic with expert in yoga for children with autism Rachel Greb of Yoga Sprouts. Subscribe through RSS or e-mail today so as not to miss a single one.

Light Connections Press has generously donated a copy of What I See, I Can Be to one lucky commentator. Leave a message below and enter to win. Draw date will be March 1, 2010. Good luck!

Janet William’s book What I See, I Can Be is a lovely guided yoga flow for children. The book is beautiful with engaging colour illustrations of each object and two sweet children, one boy and one girl, doing the corresponding pose. Some of the poses included are mountain, tree, triangle (kite), cat, cobra, child’s (mouse), bow, and seated forward bend (oyster). The yoga flow itself is well thought out and child appropriate, with step-by-instructions that are easy to follow.

Williams has done a lovely job of engaging children’s imaginations with her vivid descriptions. I especially like Bridge pose (drawbridge).

I lie on my back and I place my feet on the ground. I bring my feet close to my bottom and my knees point to the sky. A ship is ready to leave the harbour and head out to sea. I put my hand on my back and lift my tummy high into the air. I breathe as the ship slowly sails under the bridge. I am a Bridge. When the ship is through, I slowly lower the Drawbridge by bringing my back flat onto the ground.

I fully appreciated the included audio CD as it enabled my five year old to follow along independently doing the poses with the book at the front of her yoga mat. When asked which pose was her favourite, she answered, “The lying down one” referring to the Meadow page where the children are lead through an active progressive muscle relaxation while in Corpse pose. I think this age is ideal for the book and they will enjoy the calming music while being able to do yoga all by themselves. The book is aimed at children 3-9 years old.

The series of supporting materials is one of the great things about this book. A colouring and activity book, poster of poses, and teacher resource materials help round out this resource for teachers, parents, day-care providers or health professionals who may not have a back ground in yoga but want children to enjoy its many benefits.

Williams firmly believes in promoting healthy and active children. This book is a wonderful way in which to do exactly that.

The book has a special introductory price of $23.97 CAN +taxes and is available at Childrens Yoga Books.

Welcome to 2010 and Congratulations to Lynette Mattke, the winner of the Mini Mandala Designer Classic giveaway. Lynette entered a comment on the article Mandala Magic – Teaching Kids About Meditation, sharing her experiences with mandalas in Sri Lanka and at the Smithsonian Museum where some monks were creating one. Click here to read her entire comment and read Mandalas Universal Across Cultures to learn about Tibetan sand mandalas such as were produced at the Smithsonian. Upon learning of her good fortune to start the new decade, Lynette said:

What a wonderful New Year’s surprise! I am excited to try out the kit with my kids. They all love art and especially colors and patterns, so I think they will be delighted with the Mini Mandala Designer.

Congratulations Lynette. Your Mini Mandala Designer Classic will be in the mail today.

Watch for more give-aways throughout the coming year. Become a Fan on Facebook so as not to miss a single one.

Oh my, 2009 is almost over and I’ve yet to get organized for the new year. If you are like me, you’re wondering how to:

• stay motivated to healthy living
• get inspired to tackle new challenges
• keep yoga in your heart
• find the time to do it all
• enjoy life

throughout the coming year. I’ve found a number of inspiring and fun yoga calendars available for 2010 to help. Here is a run-down of my favourites.

Yoga Journal 2010 Wall Calendar

As always the YJ produces a beautiful and inspiring calendar. The location shots are as amazing as the yogis performing the poses.

Innerwear Clothing 2010 Calendar

Clean and light hearted. You’ll enjoy these photos of 16 LA yogis having fun and performing amazing poses. I can’t decide if my favourite photo is April or October. All proceeds go toward Casa de Milagros orphanage in Peru.

Yoga Dogs 2010

For the dog lover with a sense of humour. My kids especailly love this calendar and have been trying to get our Sharpei cross Buddy to perfrom the poses. You go Yoga Dog!

Yoga Cats 2010

Can’t forget the cat enthusiasts. If only I could be so flexible. Visit yoga cats to see all the pictures. This addition is for Jean, my mother in law.

Daily Yoga Meditations 2010

Daily mediations to keep you on your personal yoga journey. Lovely and insightful. I’ll use these to set the tone for my adult classes and provide focus during savasana.

Wishing you all the best in 2010.

Become a fan on Facebook and join the growing community of YIMS enthusiasts.

Guest post written by Amy Bevan, a journalist and freelance non-fiction writer based in Southern Maine.  She contributes regularly to The Portsmouth Herald, and is the creator of The PranaMama, an online resource for mothers focusing on wellness topics, such as yoga, nutrition and fitness.   She has written for the ChildLight Yoga newsletter, and her work has also appeared on The Kids Yoga Resource.com, Raising Maine.com and A Balancing Act, a webzine for writers. 

The PranaMama loves sharing the wisdom of the yamas and niyamas.  What Mom couldn’t love a list of “dos and don’ts”? 

Todd Parr, children’s author of the very silly book of the same title, offers excellent advice to toddlers, such as “Do change your socks every day, but don’t make anyone smell them.”  Brilliant! 

For a mom whose brain occasionally resembles that of a two-year-old’s, a Todd Parr book is an excellent guide to daily living.  The rest of the time, when we struggle with life’s dilemmas (only a handful of which are more daunting than the task of changing one’s socks), we have the first two limbs of classical yoga to turn to.  The yamas and niyamas serve as an excellent guide to PranaMamas worldwide!  

Yoga has changed my perspective on parenting.  It is for this reason I enjoy sharing yoga philosophy with moms who are not familiar with the yamas and niyamas.

Although I’m far from perfect, here are ten ways in which yoga makes me a better mom:

1. I accept my children for who they are.  I do not try to make them into a version of myself, or anyone else. (SANTOSHA: contentment)

2.  I do not beat myself up for failure, or let stress levels escalate when things don’t go as planned (AHIMSA: non-violence).

3. I am not afraid of saying no to others when my time and energy are being drained.  (SATYA: truthfulness)  My kids benefit from a mom who is not overscheduled and burnt out.

4. I try not to discuss my anger or annoyance with someone when my children are present.    By projecting negativity towards someone they may care deeply about, I would be creating confusion or disappointment on their behalf.  (BRAHMACARYA: Self-restraint)

5. I do not spoil my children with objects they don’t need.  I practice saying no, even when it leads to emotional outbursts in public.  My hope is they will learn to appreciate all that life has to offer on a non-commercial scale.  (APARIGRAHA: Absence of Greed)

6. I care about nutrition and balanced, healthy diets for myself and my family.  I allow treats, but not all the time, and usually when accompanied by something nutritious and wholesome.  (SAUCHA: Cleanliness, moderation)  I want my children to have a healthy relationship with food and know limits of consumption.

7. By seeking professional help when parenting overwhelmed me, I became a more patient mom by virtue of understanding myself and my triggers to emotional overload.  I have a far greater ability to accept challenging circumstances without letting them take over.  (SVADHYAYA: Self-study)

8. I am committed to my yoga practice, even if that commitment is through study, writing and sharing wisdom with others.  It makes me a stronger, more balanced and happier mom.  (TAPAS: Discipline and dedication)

9. I’m honest with myself about my intentions, abilities and objectives, as a mom and as a person. (ASTEYA: honesty, non-stealing)

10. I don’t try to control everything, (although I used to!)  I recognize my feelings when something isn’t right, and I accept life’s gifts as only welcome when one makes room with an open heart.  I hope my children will also learn to “roll with the punches” as they relate to a spiritual being guiding them on their way. (ISHVARAPRANIDHANA: Spiritual Attunement).