Win a Copy of Trauma Informed Yoga by Joanne Spence

Win a Copy of Trauma Informed Yoga by Joanne Spence

Donna Freeman, founder of Yoga In My School and host of the podcast, recently sat down and chatted with Joanne Spence about her new book Trauma Informed Yoga (release date March 9. 2021).

Listen to their conversation about trauma, the importance of becoming trauma informed, polyvagal theory and why it’s important, and specific tools that everyone/anyone can use to help self regulate. 

Enter to win a copy of her book. Contest runs March 1-8, 2021. Open to all 18 years of age and over. Winner will be contacted via email. Multiple entries encouraged.

 

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Mindful Advent: Daily Dose of Peace and Calm

Mindful Advent: Daily Dose of Peace and Calm

My gift to you this holiday season. Daily doses of peace, calm, and connection. Enjoy 25 days of movement, mudras, and meditations that invite joy and reduce stress through short videos that foster calm and connection in your life.

You can access the videos

Highlights include:

  • Angel Breath
  • Candy Cane Pose
  • Mukula Mudra
  • Chocolate Meditation
  • Gratitude Meditation
  • and more

 

Mindfulness Moments for Kids with Kira Willey

Mindfulness Moments for Kids with Kira Willey

Mindfulness in schools is a hot topic. Studies prove its effectiveness at helping children reduce stress, self regulate and focus.

Now available is a series of Mindfulness Moments board books to enable even the youngest child to cultivate skills to feel calm wherever they are. Musician, kids yoga expert and author, Kira Willey, joins us to talk about her latest endeavor to help children manage body, breathe and emotions.

 Listen to the podcast here

 

Some topics we cover:

  • the importance of music, movement and mindfulness
  • the evolution of Kira’s career from musician to author
  • how to teach the littlest yogis mindfulness
  • ways to incorporate mindful moments into your day

Enter to win the giveaway

Enter below to win a signed copy of Mindfulness Moments for Kids: Breathe Like a Bear OR Mindfulness Moments for Kids: Listen Like an Elephant.  Kira has one of each book. Two winners will be chosen. Multiple entries allowed. Contest open to resident of USA and Canada. Contest ends Oct 26 at 12:00 am.

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Bunny Breathing PLUS: Give Kids More of What They Need

Bunny Breathing PLUS: Give Kids More of What They Need

Kids Love Easter Yoga. Discover an easy way to take Bunny Breath up a notch by adding in developmentally appropriate levels to stimulate body and mind.

During our weekend workshop Yoga for Preschoolers and Kids with Special Needs we cover a lot of material having to do with developmental milestones and how you can assist children to meet these milestones in creative and fun ways. What is really inspiring is by adding in somatic techniques into your kids yoga classes you are also developing essential neurological pathways and helping the brain to organize itself. Truly a win-win.

This IGTV video explains why you want to add hopping to your Bunny Breath pranayama practice.

Find the Easter Basket Lesson Plan


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Mindful Bea Brings Calm to Kids with Anxiety

Mindful Bea Brings Calm to Kids with Anxiety

Do kids you know suffer from anxiety and overactive thought patterns? Do you wonder how to help them?

Join Donna Freeman, founder of Yoga In My School, as she chats with award winning author Gail Silver about her newest publication Mindful Bea and the Worry Tree. 

Bea is anxiously waiting for her friends to show up for her birthday party. Discover how Bea’s thoughts take over and what she does to find calm so she can enjoy her party.

We’ll discuss the rise in anxiety issues in youth, how mindful breathing and visualization can help manage anxiety, and the importance of mindfulness in schools to promote physical and emotional well-being.

Listen here

Enter to win a copy of Mindful Bea and the Worry Tree

Contest runs midnight April 12 to April 19 and is open to participants in the USA and Canada. Multiple entries allowed including daily tweeting. Enjoy and share!

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Body, Mind, Mood, Breath: A Mindfulness Activity

This is one of my favorite mindfulness techniques. I often use it at the beginning of class to set the tone and allow everyone the opportunity to slow down and check in. The activity can be done anywhere but this script is for a classroom where students are seated at their desks. I highly recommend it, especially for teens and tweens. Speak slowly, allow for pauses and space for participants to look inward.

Body, Mind, Mood, Breath

Invite everyone to get comfortable sitting back in their chair or with heads down on desks. Maybe eyes are closed or turned down to encourage focus and minimize distractions.

Turn the attention inward to how you are feeling.

  • What is going on in your body? Is there any tension? Softness? Aches? Openness? Just notice without judging or trying to change it.
  • Now observe your mind. What is it’s level of activity? It is busy? Calm? Stuck on one thing? Or jumping from thought to thought?
  • Now notice your mood. How are you feeling today? What are you bringing into class? Can you name the mood you are currently in? Allow whatever it is to be without judgement.
  • Now turn your attention to your breath. Notice the inhalation and the exhalation. Is it fast, slow, steady, ragged, smooth, warm, cool? Where in your body do you feel the breath?

Take two more breaths. Simply observe. When you are ready open your eyes.

Ride the Wind: Teaching Mindfulness to Children

Ride the Wind: Teaching Mindfulness to Children

Kids have big emotions. Often they don’t know how to manage these emotions, what to do, how to express themselves or how to find that place of calm inside.

Today’s guest on the Yoga In My School podcast is Sara Pletcher. Sara is a teacher and author passionate about helping teachers help kids. She writes about topics that lead to important conversations to foster awareness, self regulation and integration. Her latest book, Ride the Wind, is a colorful exploration of feelings and thoughts.In her creative way our heroine Genelle, taught by her Mom, shows us how to Ride the Wind through mindfulness and visualizations.

Join us as we explore contemplative practices for young children. Discover tips on teaching kids how to manage emotions and ways you can support your children in fostering mindfulness and meditation practices to last a lifetime.

Listen to the Interview w Sarah Pletcher

Access the research at Erickson that Sara refers to in the interview

 

Enter to win a copy of Ride the Wind

Contest runs midnight Sept 14 to midnight Sept 21. Open to residents of Canada and USA. Thanks for your participation.

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Yoga Nidra Script for Teens and Tweens

Yoga Nidra Script for Teens and Tweens

I LOVE yoga nidra. Years ago I was first introduced to this amazing restorative practice during a local yoga nidra afternoon workshop. From that first experience, each time I practice it feels more and more as if I am coming home to myself. The gift of taking time to soften, relax and listen is deeply healing.

Yoga nidra is fabulous for teens and tweens. The practice of yogic sleeping is both meditative and therapeutic. Different from the unconscious sleep of night time, yoga nidra cultivates relaxed awareness of body, breath, and mind encouraging all to surrender, to compassionately be here now without judgement.

Benefits of Yoga Nidra

  • Available to Everyone: Everyone can practice yoga nidra. No special skills, attitudes or abilities are prerequisite.
  • Can’t be Done Incorrectly: Anyway you do nidra it is a success. Some people fall asleep, some are wide awake the entire time, some drift in and out of awareness. What matters is that you surrender to the practice and let it be whatever it is, trusting that it is what you need in the moment.
  • Simple way to Reduce Stress: Yoga nidra requires no special equipment. It’s beauty is in its simplicity. Practice it once and you’ll notice its profoundly relaxing impact.
  • Balances the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems: The quiet, calm produced by stillness in the body and attention to various states of awareness is deeply soothing and healing to body and mind.
  • Builds patience and self control: The invitation to remain still and observe during yoga nidra fosters tolerance and equanimity.
  • Connect with Yourself: Probably one of the greatest benefits is a greater understanding of yourself, your goals, your inner being. This provides important insight, sensitivity and receptiveness for teens as they navigate the often difficult years of junior and senior high school.

The 8 steps to a Complete Yoga Nidra

  1. Entry
  2. Resolve/Sankalpa
  3. Body Scan
  4. Breath and Pranayama Awareness
  5. Feelings and Sensations Perception
  6. Images, Visualization and Journey
  7. Repeat Resolve/Sankalpa
  8. Return

Tips for Practicing Yoga Nidra with Teens

  • Keep it short: while adult practices can range from 15-60 minutes, yoga nidra for tweens and teens is best kept abbreviated. Five to 15 minute practices are perfect. The younger the participants the shorter the practice.
  • Keep it simple: Keep your language approachable and simple. Use easy to understand terms. Work in broad generalities. Adult yoga nidra can sometimes become extremely detailed. The younger the participants the more general the terms. For example during the body scan focus on a general overview of the body.
  • Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: We thrive on repetition. It provides routine and a touchstone in a often confusing world. Feel free to use the same script every time, repeat the same words/phrases (Deepen the breath, relax the body, calm the mind), or at least do one part of it the same way during every practice.
  • Allow a variety of positions: Invite participants to find a comfortable position where they can remain still for the duration of the practice. This may be lying on their backs, sides, stomachs or seated against a wall. The goal is comfort and that may look different for different individuals.
  • Use Background Music: Soothing, ambient music without words is lovely to have playing in the background. You can find lots of playlist for massage, reiki, relaxation and more on your favorite music source.

Yoga Nidra is included in the Teaching Teens Yoga Manual and taught during the Teaching Teens Yoga weekend workshop.

Click on the button below to download a Yoga Nidra script. Please feel free to modify to find your own words, expression, and adaptations for your students and loved ones.

download-here

 

pinterestFind more Yoga Nidra resources on our Yoga Nidra Pinterest Board

 

 

 

Some teens testimonials about their yoga nidra practice

Fostering Positive Self Talk and Emotional Awareness w Gabi Garcia

Fostering Positive Self Talk and Emotional Awareness w Gabi Garcia

Gabi Garcia is passionate about helping kids to be kind to themselves, to listen to their bodies and to their hearts.

Join Yoga In My School founder, Donna Freeman, as she chats with counsellor, teacher, author Gabi Garcia about how we can foster positive self talk and emotional awareness in children.

Gabi’s beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written books, Listening to My Body and Listening with My Heart, are for parents, teachers and practitioners who are helping children learn mindfulness and calming practices. Discover tools that you can use today with the children in your life. You may even find yourself employing self-regulation and self-compassion skills more often in your own life.

Listen to the interview here:

Gabi Garcia Books Giveaway

Enter to win copies of Gabi’s books in either English or Spanish below.

Contest runs June 7-14 and is open to participants in USA and Canada. No purchase necessary. Winner randomly chosen will be contacted via email or Instragram messaging and have 24 hr to claim their prize.

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If you enjoyed this interview rate and review the show so others can find it.

+100 more on the Yoga In My School podcast on iTunes.


 

Lazy 8 Breath

Lazy 8 Breath

Lazy 8 Breath or Infinity Breath is one of my favorite shape breathing techniques. I find this shape extremely soothing. Added bonus is the cross lateral work that connects left and right hemispheres of the brain helping to calm and focus.

When teaching young children provide them a printout which they can trace with their finger as they learn how to practice Lazy 8 Breath.

Feel free to use this one.

DOWNLOAD Lazy 8 Breath Printout

Once you have learned the technique you can trace an imaginary lazy 8 with your finger on your desk, your hand, your thigh, wherever. Repeat 8 times since it’s a lazy “8”.

This breathing technique is especially effective to calm and focus. Use it before exams to overcome test anxiety and invite a relaxed, alert state of mind.

For more breathing and mindfulness techniques join our Teacher’s Lounge.

 

I Am Peace with Author Susan Verde

I Am Peace with Author Susan Verde

We are thrilled to share with you the new I Am Peace by Susan Verde. Susan recently found time to chat with us about the book.

I Am Peace invites all to calm our busy minds by focusing on the here and now. With touching illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds I Am Peace shows a variety of ways to connect with self, nature and others through compassionate awareness.This empowering book provides children numerous mindfulness tools they can use to calm down and the peace that comes from enjoying simple pleasures.

Listen Here:

 

itunesYoga In My School podcast on iTunes

If you enjoyed this interview rate and review the show so others can find it.

+100 more on the Yoga In My School podcast on iTunes.

 

 

Book Giveaway:

Win a copy of the NEW I Am Peace and I Am Yoga board book signed by both 
author Susan Verde and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds. 
You will love the beautiful message and touching illustrations.
Contest runs until 12:00 midnight Sept 19th. Enter daily via Twitter.
 

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Once you have visited Yoga In My School on Facebook, click I VISITED, then Tweet the giveaway for additional entries. You can Tweet daily. Enter often for your best chance to win.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook or Twitter. You understand that you are providing your information to the owner of this Facebook page and not to Facebook.

 

Mindful Essentials for Educators and Students

Mindful Essentials for Educators and Students

 Mindful Essentials

 helps students and educators handle the stress of modern life through mindfulness, movement, neuroscience and positive psychology.

Mindful Essentials for Educators

Bring Mindful Essentials to your staff

Empower your staff with tools that help students to calm down, self regulate and manage stress. Discover easy to implement and highly effective tools and strategies to reduce stress, promote well-being and produce positive school outcomes. We offer in-person and virtual video conferencing workshops making it convenient and easy to learn and implement Mindful Essentials into your organization. World wide service available.

Book-Now (1)

  • Email: info@yogainmyschool.com
  • Call/text: 780-903-6544

Mindful Essentials Classroom Sessions

Bring Mindful Essentials to your students

Each session of Mindful Essentials incorporates mindfulness tools in a straight forward and intentional way using five elementsmindful-essentials-5-elements

  • Breathe
  • Connect
  • Affirm
  • Stretch
  • Relax

These elements teach fundamental life skills which can be immediately applied into daily life to help manage the stress of modern life. Classes include video, discussions, mindfulness practices, movement session and relaxation.

Book-Now (1)

  • Email: info@yogainmyschool.com
  • Call/text: 780-903-6544

Mindful Essentials Objectives

mindful-essentials-objectives

 

DOWNLOADMindful Essentials PDF

 

Fostering Relaxation and Calm in Children with Carolyn Clarke

Fostering Relaxation and Calm in Children with Carolyn Clarke

Having just released her third volumn of guided relaxations for children, Imaginations 3, Carolyn Clarke shares tips of fostering relaxation and calm in children. Her Imagination series of beautifully crafted, child friendly scripts offer parents, teachers, kids yoga instructors and more a wealth of resources to use with children.

We’ll get the background on the inspiration for the visualizations, how the art is created and tips to create a conducive environment for inviting calm.

In our hurried and over programmed world relaxation is a gift which we all need. Share it this holiday season with those you love.

LISTEN HERE:

 on the Yoga In My School Podcast

itunesYoga In My School podcast on iTunes

If you enjoyed this interview rate and review the show so others can find it.

+100 more on the Yoga In My School podcast on iTunes.

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