Yoga Chanting for Kids & Teens

Often when I visit a class for the first time a number of kids come in right away, sit cross legged, hands in the air, thumb and index finger joined, and spontaneously chant “om.” Their natural curiosity and receptivity always makes me smile. They are so adorable in their sweet innocence as they connect with this universal sound and mudra (hand position).

Teaching Om

Now for a little guidance.

One of the easiest, and most approachable, ways to teach “om” is to break it down into A-U-M.

Sit cross-legged, place your hands on your knees in gyan mudra (thumb and index finger forming a circle, other fingers elongated). Aum is generally considered to have 3 1/2 measures: A, U, M and silence. Close your eyes, inhale then exhale as you perform Aum, repeating three times. The sounds ahhhh starts in our chest at the heart center, moves upward with the ooooo sound in the throat center, and ends with the sounds mmmmm, which vibrates the higher centers in the head. (~Once Upon a Pose, p. 4)

It’s fun to play around with variations in volume, pitch and timing. As with any yoga practice, approach “om” with curiosity and openness to see what feels right to you.

Three Symbols of Om

If you’d like to go all Hindu with your students you can explore the symbolism behind the sound. According to the Mandukya Upanishad,

Om is the one eternal syllable of which all that exists is but the development. The past, the present, and the future are all included in this one sound, and all that exists beyond the three forms of time is also implied in it.

Each tone of “om” relates to a time of life, a power and a Hindu deity/philosophy.

A = birth, creative power (Brahma)

U = life, sustaining power (Vishnu)

M = death, destructive power (Shiva)

silence = bliss, pure consciousness (Turiya)

How do you teach “om” to kids and teens?

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It seems difficult to leave the comfort of bed, maybe just for few minutes, before actually beginning to execute the ‘to-do’ list. But if you can wake up in the quietness and soothing calm of a refreshing morning, you will be delighted to find its charm. A warm cup of water with lime can get your digestive system going. Try giving a similar dose to your mind as well.

Everyone seems overwhelmed with daily chores; whether it is managing the ever-demanding boss, creating portfolios to channel your hard earned money or catering to the big requests of children. Reasons are endless. But within the busy and tight chores, finding some time for your self is imperative. An open secret that it is, the body and mind needs replenishment. And this goes beyond taking a healthy diet! Spending exclusive moments with self is not a tall order. Determination is the key.

What to Include

Yoga is an inexpensive tool when working for a better mind and body.

Working when the rest of the world sleeps can give an immense satisfaction and contentment. When beginning try moves and stretches to prepare your body for more elaborate postures which follow. Balasana can start your session, followed by other stretches like Cat-cow. Thereafter, you can move on to the more extended postures. For resting, Sukhasana is appropriate. And when performing each of the postures, watch the breath going in and out of the nose.

Finding a morning yoga schedule is recommended. It will encourage an active and complete yoga session, concluding with Savasana (Corpse Pose). While some postures are energizing, others, like forward bends, are calming. Sun Salutations produce heat and flowing movement linked to breathing. Standing poses can help in building strength and stamina. For improving concentration, balancing poses are appropriate. You can also practice twists, which detoxify the body relieving stress in the head, neck, and back. If you want to examine the world with a different dimension, inversions (upside down) are apt postures.

The Benefits

The short, yet meticulous, session is meant to work not only for the muscles but also the nerves. Early morning practice helps in setting the tone for your entire day. Sessions can be one reason to leave the bed few minutes before your usual timing, a natural compulsion. For many yogis early morning hours are lively and energetic. Your yoga session can potentially connect you to the energy, contributing to a healthy living.

A dedicated morning practice certainly produces encouraging results, boosting up your energy to meet the demands of the day. Irrespective of the day, try to maintain a similar structure in your practice sessions. When you can stick to the format, penetrating further becomes easier. Some find it helpful to incorporate a ritual blend in their practice sessions, giving a more meaningful and tempting edge to the early morning practices. Sun Salutation is a popular choice.

Before grabbing that aromatic cup of tea or coffee and the newspaper, spend a few moments with yourself. A good beginning is kick-start your day.

About the author: Bethany is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on environment and technology. Beside this she is fond of books. She recently read an article on nail care and liked it a lot. Few days ago she bought some Bathroom Lighting for her home.

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Yogainmyschool.com is thrilled to announce the release of The Pet Store, an interactive Kids Yoga Flipbook.

This flipbook is a wonderful way to share the joys and benefits of yoga with kids. Enjoy imitating animals found at a Pet Store – kittens, puppies, parrots and more – using yoga poses. With engaging full color photos and detailed pose instructions little yogis will be captivated and eager to participate in this child friendly yoga practice. Visiting the Pet Store will never be the same.

Enjoy this audio version of My Favourite Colour Guided Visualization - text accompanies corpse pose.

If you’re looking for a hardcopy, a PDF version is also available HERE for only US$1.97.

Discover how to teach yoga using children’s picture books during our upcoming teacher training webinar: Yoga for Literacy Pt 3: Ohmazing Children’s Literature, Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012, 9:00pm EST/6:00 pm PST.

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the Instructor’s Guide for The Pet Store filled with additional information on the what, why and how of using thematic yoga adventure stories when teaching yoga to kids. You’ll also get monthly tips and updates on all the fabulous Yogainmyschool.com resources.

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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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Thanksgiving Yoga Playlist

• Turkey in the Straw
• Over the River and Through the Woods
• Thanksgiving Day by John McCutcheon
• Thank You For the Music by ABBA
• Thank You by Dido
• Kind & Generous by Natalie Merchant
• What a Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong
• I Thank You by Sam & Dave
• The Thanksgiving Song by Mary Chapin Carpenter
• Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole
• Thank You, Mom by Good Charlotte
• Thanksgiving Theme by Vince Guaraldi from “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”
• Beautiful by Marillion
• Sanctuary by Donna De Lory

Thanksgiving Kids & Teens Yoga Class

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What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is an umbrella term for a spectrum of conditions that include fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), fetal alcohol effects (FAE), alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). All of these are caused by maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. There is no cure for FASD. However early detection and proactive interventions have been found to be effective in improving the functioning and quality of life for children with FASD.

What are the symptoms of FASD?

There is a wide range of severity of symptoms with FAS from mild to severe. These are the most common symptoms.

• slow growth
• deformities of the joints, limbs and fingers (especially the 4th & 5th fingers)
• poor co-ordination
• vision and hearing problems
• learning disorders
• heart defects
• kidney problems
• short attention span, hyperactivity, poor impulse control, extreme nervousness, anxiety

Benefits of Yoga for FASD

Yoga is an effective adjunct therapy for FASD thanks to its personal adaptability. Due to the varying nature of symptoms of FASD individualization is essential. Spend time talking with parents, other care givers and most especially the child, getting to know them, their interests, the specifics of their diagnosis, etc. This is essential to creating a yoga routine tailored to meet their needs and abilities.

Yogic breathing techniques are an effective way of helping children with FASD increase awareness and reduce stress. Keep the exercises fun and of short duration, repeating often.

Children with FASD learn best in concrete, hands-on learning environments. Focus on basic yoga poses keeping instructions simple and specific with lots of activities. Repeat poses often. For example teach a few key poses, read a book which incorporates those poses and play a game with the poses. Use visual aids and music. Develop a routine and structure to each session to help with retention and predictability.

Social skills are acquired as children interact with the instructor, therapist and other children. Partner poses are a wonderful way to connect with others, develop verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and teach participants how to interact one with another. These are keys skills in building friendships which is often a challenge for children with FASD.

Yoga sessions for children with special needs should be positive, engaging and joyful. This is therapy with heart which considers the whole child as an amazing, incredible individual with much to offer. Be patient and trust that the skills you are teaching will assist the child throughout their life.

Yoga for Children with Special Needs

For more information on Yoga for Children with Special Needs sign up for our newsletter (right hand side) for information on our upcoming webinar training series for Special Needs including yoga for ADHD, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome. Also check out our extensive library of articles under the Special Needs category.

You may also want to consult Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Kids Yoga on Young Yoga Masters.

photo by o5com

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Gaint Yoga Board Game

Using sidewalk chalk create an over-sized game board with squares that are at least 18″. Alternatively use carpet samples from carpet retailers who discard samples regularly. Create a game board using a circle, oval or figure eight: this makes it less competitive as there isn’t a start or finish. You will need double the number of squares as participants, minimum. If you have a class of 10 kids then your game will need at least 20 squares.

Make one or two over-sized dice out of cereal boxes, the bigger the better. Paint them white, or cover with white paper, and add dots. You can use one die if you have a smaller group or want to make a smaller game board. Using two dice requires a looping game board with 24+ squares.

You can vary the game squares according to age and ability of the players. Little ones will be happy playing and moving. Using photos clues (picture of a tree for tree pose) helps pre-readers and those with special needs. Older players will want more of a challenge.

Some suggestions for game squares include:

• poses – tree pose, warrior pose, mountain pose – standing poses work well as no mat is necessary
• create a pose
• chant ‘om’
• trace a labyrinth
• color a mandala
• sun salutation
• draw a flower, tree, rainbow, superhero, etc.
• move forward 2
• move backward 3
• roll again
• chant “Sa Ta Ma Na“
• gratitude – write things you are thankful for in a notebook
• volcano, flower power or bunny breathing
• blow bubbles
• yoga card deck
• stuffed animal yoga
• Babar does yoga – I have a pose-able Babar figure that kids love to move into various asanas. Check out his vinyasa flow sequence.
• pebble pickup – pick up small rocks or marbles with your toes putting them into a container
• mindful eating – use raisins or other small, tasty, healthy, non-allergy snack
• singing bowl
• hoop yoga
• self massage – hand or foot massage works well
• eagle pose with a feather
• balance on a yoga block
• read a kids yoga book
• trivia challenge – various cards with yoga related trivia (Who is BKS Iyengar? What does ‘yoga’ mean? etc) question on one side, answer on the reverse.
• trade places with another player

How to Play

To begin have every child stand on a different square. Choose an order for turns (youngest to oldest, whatever works). Whoever is first rolls the dice and moves the required number of squares. Once on the new square they perform the action. Child #2 takes their turn, followed by child #3, etc. I try to create squares which allow for the child to continue the action while everyone else has a turn so they don’t have too much down time or get bored while waiting. If two players land on the same square let them share and perform a bonus partner pose or bump one forward.

Play the game until children lose interest or time is up. Be sure to include time for savasana so that players are able to integrate and reflect upon their experience before sending them on their way. Everyone is a winner!

If you enjoyed this post be sure to subscribe (RSS or e-mail) to get new content and ideas on teaching yoga to kids and teens direct to you. You will also want to explore our Yoga Games page which has loads of fabulous ideas.

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It can be very difficult for parents to remember what it was like back in the day when they were teens, so if you have a teenager or two in your household, they may seem like aliens from another planet. The biggest problem with teenagers, the problem from which nearly every middle and high school kid issue arise, is their inherent lack of self-confidence. And while self-esteem usually comes with time, it must absolutely be actively built. Here are some easy-to-follow tips to better understand your teenager, and to help her grow into a mature and confident adult.

1. Remind yourself that there is a physiological reason for lack of confidence in teens.

One of the primary problems that causes adults and teens to clash so harshly and so often is that we and our teens are in completely different stages of life, both emotionally and physiologically. Teens so often lack self-confidence because their hormone levels are fluctuating constantly and they are usually going through some physical and psychological growing pains that initiate the proverbial “awkward phase.” As such, it is important to be understanding of this before you try to help your teen build self-confidence.

2. There is a big difference between building self-esteem and over-praising. Do the former.

One big mistake that many parents make is that, in their anxiety to help their teen emotionally develop, they praise every single good deed that their teen accomplishes. While praise is absolutely instrumental in building confidence, when given too much, it completely loses its value. Subsequently, over-praised teens will be the diametrical opposite of self-confident adults. They will never learn to accept criticism, work out their own problems, or deal with failure, all of which are necessary components of healthy self-esteem.

3. Solid diet, hygiene, sleep and exercise habits play a much bigger role in naturally building self-confidence than you think.

If you are a consistent practitioner of yoga, then you probably understand the importance of developing good health-related habits. At the same time, however, teens will often not be as interested in maintaining a good diet, sleeping regularly, and engaging in a consistent exercise routine. As a parent, it is vital that you establish and enforce a daily schedule that emphasizes a holistic and healthy lifestyle. Teens are most able to build their self-confidence when they’ve slept and eaten well. Rigorous exercise is not a must, but engaging in light but, most importantly, consistent exercise, like yoga, swimming, or simply walking, does wonders in regulating mood and performance.

4. A healthy social life is absolutely instrumental. Help your teen build a close-knit network of friends and family.

Especially in modern and developed countries like America, many other things in life take priority over strong social relations. Whether for good or ill, we are an isolated society. Many of the developmental problems that teenagers undergo arise from a sense of isolation. As a parent, you are often charged with the task of guiding your child’s social life. While you can’t necessarily pick your teenagers friends, encourage your child to participate in activities that foster a sense of community and togetherness. Spend quality time with your family, even if your teen doesn’t appreciate it at the moment. They’ll thank you later.

Raising a self-confident teen obviously does not happen overnight. It can be a very exasperating process, but emphasizing the right habits and principles will reap plenty rewards, the dividends of which you will still see once your child becomes a full-fledged adult.

This guest post is contributed by Barbara Jolie, who writes for online classes. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: barbara.jolie876@gmail.com.

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Original Air Date: June 30, 2011

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Lavender Foot Scrub

1/4 c Sea Salt/Epsom Salt

2 Tbsp oil (any vegetable oil will do)

1/8 c baking soda

3-4 drops of lavender essential oil

Peppermint Foot Balm

1/4 c shea butter

2 Tbsp coconut oil

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 oz piece of beeswax grated

10 drops peppermint essential oil

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