If you are looking for a creative and engaging way to teach children to respect their bodies and the environment, it has arrived. Whale Yoga by Next Generation Yoga founder, Jodi Komitor, is sure to be a hit with children aged 2-8.

Inspired by the humpback whales off Maui, Jodi created a series of yoga poses imitating the behavior and movements of these OMazing animals. The photos and videos of whales and the ocean help children to identify with these beautiful creatures and increase their imaginative play as they become whales through fun and creative yoga inspired activities, which include: Whale Breath, Swimming Whales, Ocean Waves, Sleeping Whale, Breaching, Humpback Pod, and more.

The love Jodi has for children is evident in all she does. Her smile, engaging demeanor, playful attitude and easy to follow instructions will resonate with young yogis. They will also enjoy the sweet child yogi models who accompany Jodi on her Whale Yoga adventure providing a wonderful example of how children perform the poses.

In addition to the 20 minute yoga class, this DVD includes a Whale Yoga flow ideal for older children or once your child is familiar with the poses, an interview with Jodi, and a music video for the song ”Wild and Living Sea” by Ron Franklin and the inspiration for Whale Yoga.

This DVD is perfect for teaching appreciation for the ocean and respect for the amazing creatures with which we share our world. Homeschooling parents and teachers will easily be able to incorporate this DVD into lessons plans and science curriculums. My own children now have listed a whale watching tour as their top pick the next time we visit the ocean. I especially liked the video footage of a momma and baby whale waving their tails. My youngest and I were glued to the screen as we waited for the baby to imitate it’s mother’s actions. Too cute!

Watch this trailer of the splashing good time that is Whale Yoga.

Next Generation Yoga generously provided a copy of this DVD for review as well as the giveaway.

Whale Yoga is available for $18 USD with 2% of proceeds being donated to Save the Whales. Buy it here.

Enter to win a copy of this DVD by leaving a comment telling of an experience you’ve had with whales.

Additional entries:

• Follow Whale Yoga on Facebook & leave a comment back here
• Facebook Entry: Share on FB including the link to this review and a @Yogainmyschool.com insertion in your facebook post – multiple entries allowed
• Tweet it including an @DonnaKFreeman mention – multiple entries allowed: “Amazing Whale Yoga DVD #giveaway http://bit.ly/b4Huok @DonnaKFreeman @NGYoga”

Draw date is November 30, 2010 at 10:00 am MST. Enter often and share the Whale Yoga love.

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I am a children’s Yoga Teacher and have been approached by a mom on how to work with her 5 year old son on a certain behaviour. He will be in a quiet zone and suddenly has an outburst of energy which he manifests physically and verbally inappropriately by exaggerating movements and using a very loud voice. This happens in the class at times and at home.

Disruptive behaviors are a fact of life for most children, and are especially prevalent with children with ADHD and Autism. Learning to control those behaviors is an on-going and often frustrating process for them, their parents, teachers and care-givers. Here are some pointers to assist in correcting disruptive behaviors in yoga class and at home.

1. Communicate Expectations: Children need to know what is expected of them. Talk to them. Tell them what appropriate behavior looks like, sounds like, feels like. Repeat often. This will make them more mindful of their actions. I did this every time we went to the grocery store or ate at a restaurant with my little ones. The same is true for yoga class. Be sure your students know what is expected of them and when. Remember to make time for fun, noise & play.
2. Teach Respect: The yoga concepts of ahimsa (non-violence), brahmacarya (conservation) and tapas (self-discipline) all relate to respecting self and others. Teach respect through conversations and stories. Congratulate children when they show respect. Remind them when they forget. Show respect in your own life, especially when dealing with a disruptive individual. As tempting as it is, this is not the time to lose your cool. Practise Take 5 together as needed.
3. Reward Appropriate Behavior: Build in rewards. Often disruptive children only receive attention for their inappropriate behaviors. Instead catch them being good. Praise often specifically mentioning what they are doing well. Choose a child who is behaving appropriately to be the teacher’s assistant for a pose/activity. Trade off yoga ’work’ with a yoga ‘reward’; if they can focus on the class poses/meditation then they get to play a yoga game/sing a song. I often reward my children for good behavior with a trip to the Pet Store after running errands.
4. Follow Through: Children thrive when they know what to expect. Establish consequences and always follow through, even when it is inconvenient or embarrassing. This may mean taking a child to the side and reminding them of expectations. Sometimes a calming hand, a whispered comment or providing responsibilities will engage the child and turn a negative into a positive. Some classes provide a quiet corner when children can go if they need some alone time or a breathing break. If negative behavior persists ask the child to remove themselves temporarily. Briefly talk things over away from prying eyes and ears and then return to normal activities, leaving the incident behind.
5. Practice Patience: Remember that each child is growing and learning. They will outgrow and learn to manage disruptive behaviors with time and consistency. Work on one behavior modification at a time. Stick with it and keep expectations realistic (5 minutes of good behavior for many is a triumph). Set children up for success, then celebrate those successes lavishly.

If you enjoyed this post share it with a friend and be sure to subscribe (RSS or e-mail) to receive future posts on this and other topics to make your kids yoga classes a roaring success.

You may also want to visit Young Yoga Masters post on Classroom Management ,ChildLight Yoga’s blog post How do I Manage Challenging Behavior in a Kid’s Yoga Class or Indra Singh’s post Is Your Yoga Class Out of Control.

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Slowly French began to seep into my brain. I quickly discovered I retained more the days I rode my bike to and from campus, which thank heavens was most days, even when it was -20° celsius and snowing. The language also opened an entire culture and the world became more reachable, the people more understandable.

Years later while living in Cape Town, South Africa I was introduced to yoga. It was love at first pose. Immediately I began to look for ways to incorporate my language background with this new endeavor. The interconnections between mind and body were like learning an entirely new language, this time the one spoken of by my mind and body. I began to more fully understand the Upanishads where it says:

It is not the language but the speaker we want to understand.

Combining my two loves I realized that yoga provides a wonderful avenue for introducing foreign language education to children and youth. There are two ways this is done. 1) Yoga in the second language classroom and 2) second language usage in the yoga classroom.

Yoga in the Second Language Classroom

It has been proven that exercise increases neural pathways and neurogenesis (see Brain Rules #1Exercise Boosts Brain Power). Increased movement makes us more alert, provides a better sense of well-being and improves memory. Using yoga in the classroom allows teachers to harness the power of movement and to create an enriched learning environment. Yoga is easy to incorporate into the classroom as it requires no additional equipment, is adaptable to all individuals, can be done alone, with partners or in a group, and has a flexible time requirement (as little as one breath to an entire period).

In addition yoga partner poses, such as Tricky Tree and Two Scoops, provide a unique opportunity to engage learners in cooperative work requiring communication (in the target language, of course). Yoga Jenga, Swami Says and other yoga games will also encourage students to use their bodies and communication skills while having fun. Using yoga in adventure stories will increase vocabulary and maintain interest and attention.

Second Languages in Yoga Class

Second languages are easy to incorporate into yoga class. In fact, most yoga instructors will use Sanskrit terms for poses (asanas,) breathing (pranayama) and relaxation (savasana). Where ever you go in the world Sanskrit is the international language of yoga. You may not know which pose is “l’aigle” but if they say “garudanasa” then you are set. If you are unfamiliar with the Sanskrit names the alphabetical list of poses provides the English and Sanskrit names for each. In addition, the Online Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide will prove invaluable to acquaint learners with proper pronunciation.

Other languages are also easy to incorporate into yoga class in creative and fun ways. Positive attitudes toward target languages and speakers will result, as will improved cognitive development. Second language acquistion promotes more complete and more complex connections between the right and left hemipsheres of the brain. So not only will children have increased body memory, they will also have improved communication skills and greater appreciation for the world.

Here are a list of resources which will prove useful when using yoga for foreign language learning.

Kids Yoga Resources in Foreign Languages

• Once Upon a Pose: A Guide to Yoga Adventure Stories for Children by Donna Freeman – English/French/Sanskrit
• Shanti Generation Yoga Skills for Youth Peace Makers DVD - English/Spanish/Japanese
• Yoginos: Yoga for Youth DVD - English/Spanish/Sanskrit
•  Yoga con cuentos: Como ensenar yoga a los ninos mediante el uso de cuentos
  by Sydney Solis – Spanish
• Karmakids – German
• Yoga pour les enfants by Liz Lark – French
• La casa nella prateria: Yoga Con I Bambini - Italian

BYKI is a great site to learn languages on line with free resources in 70 languages.

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Pumpkin: pumpkin breathing – inhale and make your chest nice and round like a pumpkin, exhale and image pulling out the seeds from deep inside, repeat 3-10 times.

Creaky Gate: Come into Gate pose by kneeling then extending the right leg out to the side. Place the right hand on the right leg and extend the left hand overhead. Creak your gate open by turning the chest up and looking behind you. Creak the gate closed by rotating the chest down while keeping the side ribs extended. Sound effects encouraged.

Witch’s Hat:A witch’s hat is shaped like a triangle. To do Triangle pose stand with your feet wide apart, turn one foot out, reach your arms wide at shoulder height, stretch toward your turned foot and then tip your arms to make a triangle. Repeat on the other side.

Witch’s Broomstick: Stand up tall, feet together (Mountain Pose), arms stretched overhead. Fly through the sky, first flying in one direction (lean slightly to one side), then the other (lean to the other side). Do a loop de loop around the moon or imagine that you are Harry Potter during a Quidditch match.

Troll’s Bridge: Our friend the troll needs some help building a bridge. Lie on the ground, bend your knees and place your feet close to your bottom. Slowly lift your hips up nice and high. Build a nice strong bridge as a home for troll. Perfect, now gently lower back down. Repeat.

Ghost: extend your arms as if draped with a sheet to make a ghost costume. Move like a ghost while singing this song.

If You’re a Ghost and You Know It

tune of-If You’re Happy and You Know It

If you’re a ghost and you know it, then say “Boo”

If you’re a ghost and you know it, then say “Boo”

If you’re a ghost and you know it, and you really want to show it

If you’re a ghost and you know it, then say “Boo”

Looking Beneath the Disguise: I published a lesson in self-awareness perfect for Halloween on elephantjournal. Encourage children to look upon the heart and come to know their true selves.

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Original Air Date: October 20th , 2010

Leah underscores the importance of creative and imaginative play for young children and explains how the Move with Me Action Adventure series are a valuable resource for parents and teachers. Each DVD  brings a movement specialist right into the room and engages children in story based activity which integrates self regulation exercises, mental development, emotional and social skills and much more.

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Loving Leaves: Yoga for Kids

Imagine you are a tree, standing tall, arms reaching high like branches, leaves hanging off of your fingers. Blow yourself in the breeze and return to standing.

Imagine that you are a leaf in autumn and that you are falling off the tree all the way to the ground.

Imagine that you are using a rake to rake a pile of leaves. Gather them from all sides. When you have a nice pile, put your rake down and jump into your leaves.

photo courtesy of elbphoto

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• “In order to be a teacher you have to be a consumate learner.” Shana’s power yoga practice.
• “Yoga is empowering” – benefits of yoga for kids, especially those with ADHD and Autism
• How to create yoga classes for various ages from 3-17, an incremental explanation of the purposes of yoga for different age groups
• Yoga for athletes at the CarPEDiem Sports Academy
• “Peace” yoga card game available on YogaVibes.com

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Rope Walking

Today we have three young yogis who are going to show you how to do rope walking.

For younger children (or those with special needs), they can walk on the path made in between the rope. Walking all the way to the center.

For older children, they can walk on the rope. This increases the diffficutly of the exercise and helps them to learn balance, body coordination. It helps them to teach where they are looking they want to place their feet. And is a lovely exercerise to teach them how to do a walking meditation. Of course, once they get really good at it they can do various activities such as jumping or walking a little faster.  But for the most part, simply walking along a rope is challenge enough.

And that’s how you do rope walking.

More yoga and mindfulness activities can be found on YogaInMySchoolTV on YouTube.

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Breathing with Pursed Lips

Breathing with pursed lips is a fantatic exercise for asthmatics who sometimes need to be able to regulate their exhales. This exercise focuses on the exhale, making it long and soft.

Greer is going to help me demonstrate how to breathe with pursed lips. What you do is you inhale and exhale, like you’re blowing out a candle. Can you do that again? You want to make your exhale as long and slow as possible.

A really good learning tool to do this is a glass of milk and a straw. So the goal here is to blow bubbles in the milk but try to keep them small and soft. Nice and steady. 

There we go, look at all those steady, long bubbles. Perfect. That’s exactly how you do it.If you can maybe fill the whole glass with little bubbles then you are doing this really, really well. And that’s how you breathe with pursed lips.

For more information on yoga exercises that help children visit yogainmyschool.com.

A complete listing of pranayama exercises for kids can be found on the Breathing Exercises Page.

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