This contest is now closed – Thanks to everyone for entering & the many, many comments & sharing. Totally blew me away with your inspiration & love of #kidsyoga.

You really, truly need to get your hands on the fabulous Yoga 4 Classroom card deck. Today. And #YIMS is here to help.

This well thought-out deck is packed with yoga and mindfulness ideas that are easy to use in the classroom. Ideal for Elementary Schools, and even Middle Schools, the deck is comprised of 67 over-sized (6″x8″) cards, sturdy enough to withstand daily use by teachers and youth.

Lisa Flynn of ChildLight Yoga has done a fabulous job  of providing step-by-step instructions as well as additional creative applications on every card. The illustrations by James Vaughn are bright, cheerful and depict children of diverse ethnicities and abilities.

I especially like how the cards are color coded according to the rainbow/chakras making it easy to find a yoga-based activity to meet students’ needs quickly. As well, the cards cover so much more than yoga poses including breathing exercises, body-awareness, affirmations, mindful meditations, healthy living tips, and more.

Red: Stand Strong -  teaching empowerment through yoga poses

Orange: At Your Desk – need a yoga break but can’t leave the desk, try these

Yellow: Loosen Up – great stress relievers and community builders

Green: Be Well – the yamas & niyamas so kids can understand

Blue: Let’s Breathe – conscious breathing can make all the difference

Purple: Imagination Vacation – guided visualizations develop creativity & harness inner wisdom

How to Enter the Give-away

We’re giving away a Yoga 4 Classrooms card deck. Oh, Yeah!

1. Enter below with a comment on how you practice yoga at school or work.
2. For an additional entry LIKE Yoga 4 Classrooms Facebook page – be sure to report back here to say you did
3. Share on Facebook with an @Yogainmyschool.com mention to up your chances of winning – multiple entries allowed max of 1 per day
4. Tweet the review with an @DonnaKFreeman mention and your name will go in again – multiple entries allowed max of 1 per day

Contest closes at 9:00 pm MDT on May 6th, 2012.

Winner will be contacted via e-mail and their name will be posted. You’ll have 24 hours to claim your prize before another winner is chosen. Winner’s snail mail address will be needed to mail you your prize and will be shared with Yoga 4 Classrooms for administrative purposes only.

Get your own copy of the Yoga 4 Classrooms card deck HERE. Retail price: US$32.00

Disclaimer: I am in no way reimbursed for this review. Product was generously provided for the review. The opinions expressed here are completely my own.

UPDATE: Congratulations to Kristin Troutman, the winner of the Yoga 4 Classrooms card deck! Watch for more reviews and give-aways in the coming weeks

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One of the most often asked question for school-based yoga programs is “Does it really work?” The International Association for School Yoga and Mindfulness (IASYM) responds with a resounding “YES!”

Our distinguished panel of quests will discuss some of the current research being conducted and how that research is translated into powerful school-based programs, bringing calm, focus and learning readiness into today’s classrooms. Karma Carpenter, Director of IASYM, Lynda Meeder, Director of YogaKids, Anne Buckley-Reen, OT & founder of Get Ready to Learn, and Cheryl Crawford, founder of Grounded, join us to share their experiences in researching the effects of yoga and mindfulness in schools. Discover how yoga is impacting kids, teachers and administrators through innovative programs proven effective by University research.

Original Air Date: April 25, 2012

Our panel of amazing guests can be found at:

Karma Carpenter

Facebook

Anne Buckley-Reen

Facebook

Cheryl Crawford

 Facebook

Lynda Meeder

Facebook

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Adaptive yoga for children with special needs is a fabulous resource for parents, aides, teachers, physical therapists, OTs and more. Yoga is available to everyone and is easy to adapt to meet individual needs and requirements. It is a powerful form of physical and mental self exploration with tremendous benefits.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you develop and engage in yoga classes for those with special needs such as autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, FASD, Down syndrome and more.

To learn more register for the Yoga for Children with ADHD training webinar (May 8, 2012) for tons of tips to develop focus & attention. One hour packed with fabulous information, plus a live Q&A. CLICK HERE.

1. Focus on Fun: Approach yoga with a sense or curiosity and play. It’s fun to move your body, see what you can do, explore the world. The benefits of yoga are profound but children will lose interest if its not fun and joyful.
2. Engage with child friendly themes: Build yoga sessions around topics that interest children. Maybe its superheros or princesses, the jungle or a trip to The Pet Store. Yoga can also be used to reinforce classroom themes and provide a kineasthetic learning modality. This allows children to improve their health while increasing their understanding of the themselves and their world. See Dinosaur Yoga, Shape Yoga and Bug Yoga.
3. Provide challenges & repetition: Challenges are important to help children grow & push themselves. For many children with special needs standing on one foot (Tree Pose, Dancer Pose) is challenging. However as they practice this skill (repeating often) they become better at it until soon they have no problem. This works for all skills including relaxation and breathing exercises. The first time you may only be able to engage the students for a few moments. However, as you persist, repeating often, the children will gain valuable physical, emotional and mental skills.
4. Encourage with positive feedback: Focus on what the children are doing right and reinforce it . i.e.: “I love your downdog.” “You’re really good at sitting quietly and listening.” “Wow, you’re great at balancing on one foot.” “What wonderful yogis you all are.” “Thank you for your happy participation in class today.” With children its so important to focus on the good and not worry too much about what is incorrect form, as long as it is not hurting themselves or others.
5. Teach breathing & relaxation: In our hectic world it is vital to know how to calm, center and soothe. Yoga is a valuable mind-body tool which will help alleviate anxiety and stress.
6. Keep yoga sessions short & ability appropriate: For many children their attention span maxes out at 5 minutes, often less for younger ones and those with special needs. This means lots of different activities to engage interest. Yoga is ideal because there are so many poses, each one an activity in and of itself. Keeping little ones engaged for 20-30 minutes is possible but you do have to be creative, energetic and focus on fun.
7. Use props and visuals: Visuals, such as flash cards, stuffed animals, books, plastic figurines, etc., help students stay on task, provide visual support, and kids love the opportunity to pick from the bag/card deck to see what pose is coming next. They also provide opportunity for turn taking and reinforcement of appropriate social behavior.

Enjoy this video from Spiral Movement Centre to see many of these tips in action with a group of six special needs youth.

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This is Part 3 of a four part series on Om for Kids and Teens. Enjoy Part 1: Om the Sound of the Universe,  Part 2: Chanting OM: Teaching Kids to Chant (Video) and coming soon Part 4: The Benefits of Om.

When and Where Is Om Appropriate?

In the Studio

In private yoga studios and classes I often chant “om” at the beginning and end of each session. This helps to open and connect the chakras, bringing us into harmony with ourselves and one another, and creates a space between the busyness of life and yoga class. Most children really like to chant “om” and look forward to this ritual. I’ve even had some kids specifically remind me to “om” before class ends if they think I’m going to rush them out the door with only a “namaste”.

“Om is like a tuning fork, it brings everyone to the same point.” ~Manorama

Sometimes though the students aren’t really into it. Often a group of tweens/teens may be reluctant, embarrassed to chant in a group, or may think chanting is a little too “out there.” You can either persevere and hopefully convert them to the power of “om,” or not. At times it may be best to back off and allow children and teens to discover yoga in stages and steps, accepting what they are prepared to accept, as they are prepared to do so. If this means leaving “om” out of class, or including it occasionally, then do so.

In the School

Most often I follow the children’s lead when introducing chanting in schools. If they are really excited about learning to “om” properly then I’ll teach it (always without Hindu references). If they don’t bring it up, I leave it alone.

Many schools are keen on bringing the physical and mental benefits of yoga to their classrooms, but understandably want to stay well away from the spiritual. Respect is necessary.  Many of the benefits of chanting have nothing to do with the spiritual connection, so feel free to explain why it is valuable citing it’s physiological and mental effects. More on this in the upcoming Part 4: The Benefits of Om.

What’s your experience with teaching “om” and other chants to children and teens in various situations?

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Shapes are everywhere. They provide us with a way to organize and make sense of our world. Once you are familiar with basic shapes, you see them all around you. You begin to combine shapes to make other shapes.

This is one of the kids yoga games included in the new booklet Shapes: A Kids Yoga Class. Lost My Shape is great fun and gets everyone moving, playing and making shapes. It develops critical thinking, analysis and observation skills and allows children an opportunity to apply knowledge in a fun, cooperative, interactive manner.

Lost My Shape

Have students sit in a circle.

Step 1: Have 3-6 students (or more if you have a large group) in the middle of the circle each assigned a different shape using the shapes cards found the the booklet Shapes: A Kids Yoga Class. Show them the card and verify they know now to make it. Don’t make it with their body until the singing begins.

Step 2: One other student is “IT” and he/she randomly picks one card from the shape cards used in Step 1. Don’t show it to anyone. This student skips/walks around the circle during Step 3.

Step 3: Everyone sings to the tune of “Skip to My Lou”

Lost my shape, what do I do,

Lost my shape, what do I do,

Lost my shape, what do I do,

Skip to my lou, my darling.

During the singing, students in the center of the circle make their shapes while “IT” skips around. When the song is over “IT” picks the student from the middle to match their shape card.

This student then becomes “IT,” new students are selected to go in the middle of the circle and you play again.

For more Shape Yoga check out the booklet Shapes: A Kids Yoga Class -15 pages packed with ideas on how to teach shapes using yoga, mindfulness, mudras and more. Find it HERE.

Looking for more kids yoga games? Enjoy the many found on the Yoga Games Page.

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The International Association of School Yoga and Mindfulness (IASYM) knows the times are a-changing. Karma Carpenter Shea, IASYM Founder, joins us to talk about the rising trend of bringing yoga and mindfulness into schools. The goal of IASYM is to promote pediatric health through sustainable yoga, mindfulness and contemplative ed programs for students and staff. She’ll share why mind-body tools are becoming so popular. As well, we’ll delve into some of the science behind the hoopla. Special guests include Debbie Cohen, Ryan McGraw, Dee Marie and Rachel Glowacki.

Original Air Date: March 13, 2012

Learn more about IASYM on the K-12yoga.org website.

Thanks to everyone who listened, called in and participated. We’ll be offering more in-depth interviews with experts on various topics of interest to yoga instructors, teachers, administrators, researchers and others in the coming months. Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook and sign up for our newsletter (right hand sidebar) to stay in the loop of what’s coming.

Please share this interview and promote mind-body education in schools.

Coming SOON – review and give away for Rachel’s award winning #kidsyoga app.

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This is a guest post by Bernardette Kalyan-Salgado and is part of our My Favourite Props series.

Scarves are a typical prop for dance classes however I have found them to be very useful in yoga as well.

Body Awareness

Use the scarves during warm up. Waking up the body placing the scarf over the toes, knees, etc. Younger children and those with special needs in particular love the idea of “waking up” the body parts.

Asana

Use the scarves as a prop to hold with several asanas/poses, it is a challenge for older students. Poses such as Warrior (arms up holding the scarf open looking up, focusing on the scarf), Dancer and for balancing poses such as Crow it can be used as a focal point.

Games

Common games such as freeze dance become fun and different with a scarf in hand. It also gives a difference sense of spatial awareness for the child.  Playing games such as “Yogi Says” is also fun, ex. “Yogi Says, place your scarf on your head.”

Scarf Breathing

Laying down placing the scarf on the belly creating awareness for deep belly breaths. Placing them over the face and blowing them upward attempting for lift off.

I find scarves to be such a handy prop. It is easy to be creative with them they can become water, clouds etc. in a story or movement experience. Most importantly they are light in weight if you have to carry them around. Having a set in two different types of material is also very interesting to see the children explore the texture and how it moves differently.

Bernardette is a RYT 200 instructor based in Florida. She combines her background in dance with yoga to create fun Movement Yoga for Children classes.

If you enjoyed this post be sure to check out all the ideas on the our My Favourite Prop page. Learn how to use feathers, hula hoops, stones and stuffed animals to name a few.

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Teaching Shapes with Yoga

Using yoga as a tool to learn shapes is fun, kinaesthetic learning at its best.

Children are able to become the shapes in various forms and sizes, using their hands, their bodies and their friends. This is an ideal way for children to experience and explore the world and move from non-verbal, physical understanding to abstract, mental comprehension. Performing shape yoga helps children grasp, internalize, and retain concepts in a creative and informative manner. In addition, using yoga to teach shapes improves communication, cooperation, problem-solving, creative thinking, analysis, observation and other skills key to success in school and life.

Learn Shapes Easily with Kids Yoga

The booklet, Shapes: A Kids Yoga Class, is ideal for pre-school, kindergarten and elementary school classes. I have taught this class with children aged 2-12 in schools, day cares, kids and family yoga classes, and at yoga summer camps. There are lots of ideas for various ages so use what works best for your group.

Have fun and play shape yoga today!

Shapes: A Kids Yoga Class

Shape yoga makes learning playful, novel and enjoyable: exactly what young children love. The 15 page booklet is packed with ideas on how to create shapes using yoga including mudrās (hand gestures), individual, partner and group poses, breathing exercises, mindfulness techniques, and a guided visualization. There are also numerous additional resources (games, music, crafts, books, flashcards) to support your shape yoga experience. Have fun and play shape yoga today!

Price: $7.93

Shapes: A Kids Yoga Class includes mudrās and poses for:

• circle
• diamond
• triangle
• star
• crescent
• rectangle
• zig-zag
• heart

Additional resources:

• Yoga Games including – What Shape am I?, Lost My Shape, Shape Tumbling, Shape Patterns, Star/Black Hole
• Music suggestions
• Numerous links to crafts, printables, worksheets, mandalas
• 10 Children’s literature recommendations
• Guided Visualization (perfect for savasana)
• Shape Flashcards

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Dr Amy Saltzman knows the benefits of accessing the “Still Quiet Place” deep inside each individual and works tirelessly to bring those benefits to children, teens and parents.

Founder of the  program Still Quiet Place, Amy strives to teach mindfulness skills to youth (Pre-K to college) so that they can reap the rewards and live a engaged, full, calm and rewarding life. Join us for easy to implement techniques which are proven to develop focus, increase attention, decrease anxiety and allow you and your children to interact with compassion with yourself and others. Tap into your “Still Quiet Place” within.

Original Air Date: November 14, 2011

Connect with Amy on Facebook or on StillQuietPlace.com.

Stay tuned for Reflections 2011 with guests Amy Ippoliti, Christina Sell, Kristin McGee, Roseanne Harvey of It’s all yoga, baby and more.

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Guest post by Jennifer Cohen Harper

This activity, inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh’s pebble meditation, connects students to aspects of nature and the different kinds of strength that make up the whole.

In this Little Flower Yoga version of a pebble meditation practice, we incorporate movement, drawing and journaling, along with the a mindfulness practice, to create a complete experience for our students. You can do this activity all at once, or you can break it up into smaller parts and practice it with your children over several sessions. Using small stones to represent each of element is something that supports the students and provides a grounding energy to the activity. Four different colored stones will represent the following: mountain, tree, flower, still water.

To introduce this activity you want to give the students a chance to explore the feeling of each element. A wonderful way to do this is to allow the students time to draw each element as part of their practice.

1. Give each child 4 stones (one of each color – and tell them that these stones represent a mountain, a tree, a flower and still water) and 4 index cards, and ask them to put them on their mat in front of them.

On the first card, ask the students to draw a picture of a mountain. Now pick up your first pebble, which will represent a mountain (you can let the students choose which color best represents a mountain to them). Tell the students that a mountain represents strength and stability, and that inside each one of them is a mountain that is strong and steady, no matter what is happening around them. Have them hold the stone they have chosen, come into mountain pose, and then practice saying the following together: “Breathing in I see myself as a mountain, Breathing out I feel strong.” Repeat this 3 or 4 times, and then take one or two breaths silently together. Have them write along the bottom of their drawing Breathing in I see myself as a mountain, Breathing out I feel strong. Optionally, on the other side of the card, they can draw a picture of themselves in mountain pose.

2. The next element to explore is a tree. Invite the students to draw a tree on the next index card. Then pick up the pebble that represents a tree, and come to stand in tree pose. Tell the students that a tree represents balance as it reaches its roots down into the earth, and it’s branches up to the sky. Let them know that they have the balance of a tree inside each of them, and that this balance will help them live a healthy life. Practice saying together: “Breathing in I see myself as a tree, Breathing out I feel balanced.” Repeat 3 or 4 times, and then take one or two breaths silently together. Have them write along the bottom of their drawing Breathing in I see myself as a tree, Breathing out I feel balance. Optionally, on the other side of the card, they can draw a picture of themselves in tree pose.

3. The next element is a flower. Have the students draw a flower on their third index card, and have them choose a stone to represent flowers. Then come into flower pose. Tell them that a flower represents joy and beauty. Inside each of us is a flower that is always growing, keeping us joyful even during hard times. Practice saying together: “Breathing in I see myself as a flower, Breathing out I feel joyful.” Repeat 3 or 4 times, and then take one or two breaths silently together. Have them write along the bottom of their drawing Breathing in I see myself as a flower, Breathing out I feel joyful. Optionally, on the other side of the card, they can draw a picture of themselves in flower pose.

4. The final element that we will explore is still water. Have the students draw still water on their fourth index card. They might need more support with this drawing, and you can discuss still water being a lake or pond. Tell the students that still water represents calm and peacefulness. Inside all of us is a vast lake of calm still water that helps us keep our life peaceful. Have them hold their last stone, and come into savasana. Practice saying together: “Breathing in I see myself as still water, Breathing out I feel peaceful.” Repeat 3 or 4 times, and then take one or two breaths silently together. You can extend this element by allowing the children to rest in savasana either in silence or with some gentle music playing. Once they have come out of savasana, have them write along the bottom of their drawing Breathing in I see myself as still water, Breathing out I feel peaceful. Optionally, on the other side of the card, they can draw a picture of themselves in savasana.

5. After children have explored the feeling of these elements through postures and visualization, a journaling activity helps make the experience even more concrete and meaningful, and gives them time to reflect. You can use pages that you have created and photocopied for the students, or you can just have them write and complete the following thoughts in a journal:

Mountain: I feel strong when_________________________________

Tree: I feel balanced when___________________________________

Flower: I feel joyful when____________________________________

Still Water: I feel peaceful when________________________________

Jennifer Cohen Harper is a leading voice in the children’s yoga community and dedicated to making yoga and mindfulness practices accessible to all children regardless of circumstance. She is the founder and director of Little Flower Yoga. Based in NY, Little Flower directly serves over 700 children per week in NYC schools, and reaches many more through staff development, school consultations, and a world wide network of trained teachers. Jennifer leads the well respected Little Flower Yoga Teacher Training for Children program and frequently collaborates with other organizations to bring yoga for children to places as diverse as tent cities in Port-au-Prince and FAO Schwarz in Manhattan. Jenn is a  founding member of the Yoga Service Council, and an active member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and the Association for School Yoga and Mindfulness. Children love Jenn’s willingness to engage in mutual silliness, while also appreciating the genuine respect that she has for her students of all ages.

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