Jungle Story from My First Yoga makes learning yoga fun and easy for pre-schoolers.

I was thrilled to read and use in #kidsyoga class Abbie Davies most recent contribution to yoga books for kids. Building from her delightful first book My First Yoga: Animals Poses, Abbie now takes us on an active adventure through the jungle in search of a monkey.

Attracting and keeping attention throughout with the colorful, uncomplicated illustrations, readers are asked if each animal they meet along the way is a monkey. They respond ‘No’ and tell us what animal it is (lion, flamingo, elephant, etc), then perform the accompanying pose. The three step instructions for each yoga pose keep them simple enough for even the youngest yogi.

From one animal to the next, children are invited to ‘March, March, March’ while seated. Ingenious! Kids love watching the train of explorers grow as each new animals is added, smallest to tallest. They don’t even realize that they are building mental and physical health and wellness.

From a literacy and learning point of view, the deliberate rhythm and repetition found in the book are ideal for emergent readers and young children. This provides wonderful opportunities to echo and practice language skills, building a firm foundation of ability and understanding.

Kudos to My First Yoga on producing another sweet, vibrant and well thought-out children’s book that improves strength, balance, flexibility and focus. I’m looking forward to your next addition to my #kidsyoga library.

Here are two coloring pages to accompany the book: Lion  and Flamingo

How to Enter the Give Away

We’re giving you four ways to enter and win a copy of My First Yoga: Jungle Story.

1. Leave a comment below about your favorite place to go for a yoga adventure – already been there or hoping to go someday
2. Like My First Yoga on Facebook - let me know you did this in a comment
3. Share this giveaway on Facebook with an @yogainmyschool.com mention – limit one per day
4. Share on Twitter with an @DonnaKFreeman tag – limit one per day

Contest closes May 25, 2012 at 9:00 pm MDT

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 My First Yoga for administrative purposes only.

Get your own copy of the Jungle Story on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

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.

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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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This is Part 2 in a four part series on Om for Kids and Teens. Watch for Part 1: The Sound of the Universe. Part 3: To Om or Not to Om and Part 4: The Benefits of Om coming soon.

Hello, my name is Donna Freeman, founder of Yogainmyschool.com. Today we’re here to talk about the wonderful sound OM.

Invariably when I go into a school or to teach children, somebody in the class who has never done yoga before will come in, sit down on their mat and go like this, “OOOMMMMM!” They are all excited to begin chanting. So, I’ll show you how to do that properly and the aspects of OM you can teach to children.

Today Alea has joined me. She is going to learn a few mudras, hand positions that you can do while chanting OM. As well as the different aspects of the sound itself.

Now when you chant OM, it’s really helpful because the vocalization changes the energy in your body, it provides healing energy. It enhances your overall health. It calms your emotions and quiets the mind while providing relaxation. And increases the sense of togetherness.

When you chant om, a lot of people, because of how it is written in English, think it is just two sounds O-M. I actually prefer the written form A-U-M, for OM, because that represents much better the sounds which you are producing.

There are three and a half parts to om. The first is down here in your belly. It is a big aaaahhh sound. And then the uuuuu sound is up into your chest. From there the mmmmm comes to your head. It’s like a buzzing bee. Then there is blessed silence. When you OM you have those parts to it.

The other part is a mudra if you are comfortable with that. The two most popular are anjali mudra, or namaste hands. Anjali meaning heart. So you can bring your thumbs to your sternum. The other would be gyan mudra where you make a circle with your index finger and thumb and the rest of your fingers are extended, and then you place that on your knees. You can choose whichever one of those you like. Or if you are not comfortable with either one you don’t need to do it either.

Join with us in oming three times. Close your eyes. Inhale.

AAAUUUMMMMM

AAAUUUMMMMM

AAAUUUMMMMM

Take a deep breath. Bow your head. And allow your eyes to fall open.

Very nicely done.

So I hope that helps for when you are teaching OM to children and teens and bringing the lovely sound of yoga into your life. Have a wonderful day. Namaste.

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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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This is Part 1 in a four part series on Om for Kids and Teens. Watch for Part 2: Chanting OM: How to Teach Kids to Chant (Video), Part 3: To Om or Not to Om and Part 4: The Benefits of Om coming soon.

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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Volunteering to teach kids yoga is a wonderful experience. Volunteering to teach kids yoga in Haiti, a country racked with poverty and struggling to provide even basic necessities for its citizens, is a life altering mission. Bridge of Diamonds, the YogaKids charitable yoga foundation, is sending three groups of volunteers to Haiti in January, February and March of 2012. Supporting self-empowerment and relieving stress for children and teachers while providing a source of fun and calm is a special gift to those who fight for daily survival. Join us to learn about these missions and be inspired by experiences in sharing the benefits of yoga with the children of Haiti.

Original Air Date: January 9, 2012

Donate to Bridge of Diamonds HERE. To get involved with the Bridge of Diamonds Haiti Mission contact:

or call 301-656-9606.

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Kids Yoga Paradise of Pets

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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At the beginning of each year I am struck with a sense of possibility. 365 days ahead in which to do, to create, to heal, to rejoice, to connect, to become. I know some people love to set resolutions, or intentions, or goals, or sankalpa for the New Year, others hate it. My one wish for you, no matter how you approach the New Year, is that you will value your time and use it wisely to come to know yourself, your potential, your uniqueness, and all the amazing things you are capable of. Be and share your best with yourself, your loved ones, your community, the world. Happy New Year!

To realize the value of One Year,

Ask a student who failed his or her AP exams.

To realize the value of One Month,

Ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of One Week,

Ask an editor of a weekly magazine.

To realize the value of One Day,

Ask a daily wage laborer who has six kids to feed.

To realize the value of One Hour,

Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of One Minute,

Ask a person who missed their train.

To realize the value of One Second,

Ask the person who survived an accident.

To realise the value of One Millisecond,

Ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

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