Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana) is also called Dead Bug Pose and looks exactly like its name, whichever you want to use. It is a fantastic hip opener. Mobility in the hip joint is vital to healthy knee and back function. The freedom of movement classic in infants can be maintained throughout life with open hips. The hip joint is the meeting place of the upper and lower body. A healthy hip joint will be able to absorb the shock of walking or running and provide a steady base for the spine and internal organs. Hip openers also aid with digestion and circulation as you gently compress and massage the internal organs.
Happy Baby – Ananda Balasana
happy baby pose
Sit, grasping the inside of your feet with your hands
Roll onto your back, feet to the sky
Alternatively start lying on your back and bend your knees into your belly, then grasp the feet
You can stretch one leg straight keeping the thigh close to the floor while bending the other, alternating sides
Coo, giggle, and make happy baby noises, then roll back to sitting
If imitating a dead bug be sure to use appropriate facial expressions without the baby noises
Benefits: opens the hips, gently stretches the groins and lower back, calms the brain, relieves fatigue and stress
Here is a laughing baby video to bring a smile to your face and lighten your day.
Sesame Street revolutionized children’s television back in 1969 combining education with entertainment. Today it is the longest running children’s program on television and is well known for its lovable Muppets (Big Bird, Oscar, Kermit, Grover, Elmo, etc) and timeless songs (I Love Trash, Bein’ Green, Rubber Duckie, C is for Cookie, among others).
I love Sesame Street and so was thrilled when YogaDork posted this video and have been singing “Doing the (coo, coo) pigeon” all day. So press play and enjoy doing Pigeon pose with Bert. He now joins the ranks with Kermit as a true yogi. Can’t wait for Oscar the Grouch to find his bliss while doing Warrior pose.
I would love to have a pose-able Grover to take to classes. Already have a Babar which I have to wrestle away from my children, but I think Grover would be super flexible and lots of fun. Which childhood character would you like to see doing yoga and what would be their favourite pose?
February is Teacher Convention Month in Alberta, Canada. This is a time for teachers to enrich themselves personally and professionally. I teach various workshops to help teachers bring yoga into their schools and lives. Each workshop lasts approximately 75 minutes at conventions, but are ideally suited for 2-3 hour in-service sessions. Here are a few workshops which can be used for in-service or PD Days. If you are interested in learning more or in booking a workshop for your group/school please contact donna@yogainmyschool.com
Once Upon a Pose
Yoga stories for children fulfill numerous curriculum requirements and are a fun, fully interactive teaching methodology. Learn how to use basic yoga poses in story format to enrich the classroom experience, improve physical fitness, reduce stress, increase attention span, and engage students on a totally different level. Stories in French also provided. A fun, high energy workshop with great ideas to use today. Come prepared to actively participate. K-6 applications in Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, Art, Music and PE. Also meets the DPA Requirement.
Yoga for Teens
The ancient practise of yoga can have a tremendous positive impact on adolescents. Benefits include improved self-esteem, better academic performance, increased attention span, and greater stress management. This fully interactive workshop will progress through seven types of yoga poses (standing, balance, forward bends, back bends, inversions, twists and arm balancing) as well as include relaxation techniques and breathing exercises. Come prepared to actively participate and discover how to use yoga with your students. Applications to Physical Education, Fit for Life, CALM, Physics, Biology, Algebra, Social Studies, English, Foreign Languages, Drama, Counselling and school athletic teams.
Yoga with a Chair
Yoga with a Chair is a fun way to work yoga into your everyday routine. Reduce fatigue, prevent carpel tunnel, improve posture, strengthen your core, and open your hips all while using a standard chair. This workshop will surprise you as you discover the many adaptations to the poses and the incredible workout you can get while sitting down. Come prepared to participate and leave with numerous tips and techniques on how to use yoga at the office, in the classroom or while in a wheel chair.
These are just a few of the possible Professional Develoment workshops offered. For a complete listing of in-service workshops visit the In-service Page.
Light Connections Press has generously donated a copy of What I See, I Can Beto one lucky commentator. Leave a message below and enter to win. Draw date will be March 1, 2010. Good luck!
Janet William’s book What I See, I Can Be is a lovely guided yoga flow for children. The book is beautiful with engaging colour illustrations of each object and two sweet children, one boy and one girl, doing the corresponding pose. Some of the poses included are mountain, tree, triangle (kite), cat, cobra, child’s (mouse), bow, and seated forward bend (oyster). The yoga flow itself is well thought out and child appropriate, with step-by-instructions that are easy to follow.
Williams has done a lovely job of engaging children’s imaginations with her vivid descriptions. I especially like Bridge pose (drawbridge).
I lie on my back and I place my feet on the ground. I bring my feet close to my bottom and my knees point to the sky. A ship is ready to leave the harbour and head out to sea. I put my hand on my back and lift my tummy high into the air. I breathe as the ship slowly sails under the bridge. I am a Bridge. When the ship is through, I slowly lower the Drawbridge by bringing my back flat onto the ground.
I fully appreciated the included audio CD as it enabled my five year old to follow along independently doing the poses with the book at the front of her yoga mat. When asked which pose was her favourite, she answered, “The lying down one” referring to the Meadow page where the children are lead through an active progressive muscle relaxation while in Corpse pose. I think this age is ideal for the book and they will enjoy the calming music while being able to do yoga all by themselves. The book is aimed at children 3-9 years old.
The series of supporting materials is one of the great things about this book. A colouring and activity book, poster of poses, and teacher resource materials help round out this resource for teachers, parents, day-care providers or health professionals who may not have a back ground in yoga but want children to enjoy its many benefits.
Williams firmly believes in promoting healthy and active children. This book is a wonderful way in which to do exactly that.
The book has a special introductory price of $23.97 CAN +taxes and is available at Childrens Yoga Books.
Dancer Pose (technically Lord of the Dance Pose) is a balance pose combined with a back bend and chest opener. As with all balance poses, Dancer Pose develops concentration and focus while improving posture. This beautiful pose brings to mind the grace, flexibility, and freedom of movement inherant in dance. This pose opens the heart and gaze to the heavens and allows the body and mind to delight in expression. Dance is an integral part of ceremony, ritual, celebration and entertainment and helps to convey emotions and stories. Delight your inner dancer with this wonderful pose.
Dancer Pose – Natarajasana
dancer pose
Stand, feet hip distance apart
Bending the right knee, grasp the inside of the right foot with the right hand
Raise the left hand overhead
Lift the right foot behind and up, allow the torso to move forward, opening the chest, balancing on one foot
Repeat on the opposite side
Benefits: improves balance, stretches the chest, shoulders, thighs and abdomen, strengthens the legs and ankles
Partner Variation
Stand facing your partner a few feet apart, too close and you will bonk heads. Both partners raise their left arms to touch each other above their heads. Grasp the inside of the right foot with the right hand and begin to hinge forward, kicking the right foot behind you. Smile at one another and keep your balance. Release and repeat on the other side. (Warning: Often causes laughter & giggling)
Trees are beautiful, nourishing, strong, flexible, and provide many of our basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, medicines and tools. Trees also purify the air we breathe via photosynthesis and are essential to life on earth. Tree pose is a basic balancing posture which is deceptively difficult. Young children especially will have challenges with this pose until they develop their ability to balance on one foot (usually around age 5). Tree pose teaches awareness of the mid-line of the body – the vertical axis that runs straight down your body from the crown of your head, bisecting your face & neck, through the center of your core, to the mid point between your feet on the ground. It also teaches basic physics as the arm positions alter the center of gravity.
Tree Pose – Vrksasana
tree pose
Stand, feet together; find something on the floor two feet in front of you to focus on
Extend your arms at shoulder height out to the side (wide center of gravity makes this the easiest arm position for balancing)
Lift the right foot, turning the knee out; place the right foot above or below the knee
Imagine your toes are the roots grounding into the earth, your standing leg is the trunk strong and tall, your arms & bent leg are branches reaching outward and upward toward the sun
To test your balance:
Bring your arms to Prayer position in front of your heart (narrow center of gravity)
Raise your arms overhead (narrow and long centre of gravity)
Look up to your hands (changing the focal point increases the difficulty)
Often when teaching Tree pose I encourage each participant to become whatever tree they want to be: oak, apple, palm, Christmas, weeping willow. The entire body dynamics change respectively and children are allowed to express their creativity and emotions. You could take this a step further and discuss the symbolism of each tree then have students become physically whatever tree they relate to that day.
Oak: strength & courage
Maple: balance, promise & practicality
Apple: magic, youth, happiness
Cedar: healing & protection
Aspen: determination, overcoming fear & doubt
Fir: springtime & immortality
Palm: peace & opportunity
Willow: magic, inner vision, dreams
Tree Pose Partner & Group Variations
Once you have practiced tree pose individually you may want to try these variations.
Partner: Stand facing one another a few feet apart. Both partners lift their right leg and give it to their partner to hold in their left hand. You will make the shape of an H. Balance and then lift the right hand up overhead. You can add a twist at this point by looking over the left shoulder or reaching for your partners right hand and pulling your torso around. Repeat on the other side.
Group: Making a Forest – Have everyone stand in a circle facing inward. Everyone lifts their right foot and gives it to the person to their right to hold. See if you can succeed in linking the entire circle into a forest before someone loses their balance. Repeat with the left leg. This usually results in lots of giggles and then a tumble or two as we lose our balance but is a great way to build unity and cooperation.
A fantastic resource for teachers and parents interested in exploring trees is Tree World, also available in French.
