Do your kids like to twirl? Ever wondered why? Have you noticed that most parks include some type of spinning apparatus? Welcome to vestibular stimulation. The vestibular nerve is in the inner ear and is responsible for balance, sensing body position, and eye stability. Many kids crave vestibular input. Go for a twirl and enjoy improved balance and body awareness.
Using music in your kids yoga classes is extremely effective, engaging and memorable.
Here one of our online Teaching Kids Yoga Level 2 participants, Micha, shares a beautiful Can You Make a Flower Song to go along with Lotus Mudra. I love how she has used a familiar melody and has changed the word to perfectly suit a loving kindness flower.
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.
Ideal for Mother’s Day this classic Dr Seuss book transforms into a fun kids yoga class. Grab a little yogi and practice together.
This version is quicker than I usually teach it – a sweet abbreviated version for your home practice. You can find the complete lesson plan HERE for Teacher’s Lounge members or in our online store HERE.
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.
Discover yoga partner poses suitable for all ages and abilities to foster kindness, communication and teamwork. Learn how to partner effectively, best practices and considerations for a safe and wholesome school yoga practice. All poses are suitable for the school environment with age recommendations to cultivate connections and ensure safety. This e-book has been developed from years of hands-on experience working with students from preschool-grade 12.
This downloadable PDF includes:
Benefits of Partner Poses
Classroom Management Tips
Creating a Safe Space
8 unique Creative Ways to Partner
41 Partner Poses for ages preschool-highschool with lots of variations, age recommendations, color photos and step-by-step instructions
Special Introductory Pricing
School Friendly Yoga Partner Poses
Discover yoga partner poses suitable for all ages and abilities to foster kindness, communication and teamwork. Learn how to partner effectively, best practices and considerations for a safe and wholesome school yoga practice. 18 page full color PDF. Includes 41 partner poses.
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.
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 started the podcast as a way of adding interesting content on my then blog back in 2009. The first few episodes were a steep learning curve as I dove into a unfamiliar format and technology. My first live guest was Abby Wills of Shanti Generation. Since then I’ve had the privilege of interviewing over 100 leaders in the yoga and mindfulness community with a distinct bent toward kids yoga and school yoga programs.
A couple years ago I nearly gave up on this labor of love as I didn’t know if anyone was listening. Well they are….and in droves with over 200,000 listens. While attending the National Kids Yoga conference and through contact with the world wide youth yoga community I’ve come to learn that many, many kids yoga enthusiasts listen to these podcasts and love them. If you are one of our dear listeners please rate the podcast on iTunes.
I invite the world wide kids yoga community to celebrate this milestone. Join a number of guests of past episodes, who are now cherished friends and colleagues, chime in live on Jan 5th, 12:00 noon Eastern/9:00 am Pacific. You can listen in live (or after the event).
Massive Kids Yoga Giveaway
In conjunction with the 100th Episode we are giving away a plethora of kids yoga swag. Enter via Rafflecopter below. Contest runs midnight Dec 26th to Jan 4th, 2017. Multiple entries allowed including daily sharing via Twitter. Winners of all prizes will be announced during the live broadcast.
Trauma Informed Parenting with Hala Khouri November 10, 2022
The incredible Hala Khouri is our guest in this episode of the Yoga In My School podcast.Hala brings her extensive expertise in somatic experiencing, psychology, social justice, movement, and mindfulness as we discuss trauma informed parenting. Discover parenting with curiosity and awareness of our own conditioning so we can be more sensitive to the complex […]