Musical chairs meets yoga. A fun, inclusive version of the classic game combining upbeat music, kids favourite yoga poses and loads of energy. This will be a hit with your group and can be played with any age, including teenagers. It is especially fun for Family Yoga and with groups of varying ages and abilities. Musical Mats is an enjoyable way to improve listening skills and social skills.

Musical Mats

Teacher Prep

Set out one yoga mat per participant. I often do this in a circle, oval or large rectangle with all mats facing into the center. Onto each mat place a yoga pose card. Try ABC Yoga Cards for Kids, The Kids Yoga Deck, Elevator Series Pose Cards, or make your own using our alphabetical list of poses. Have a bunch of fun, upbeat music uploaded to your iPod.

How to Play

Before beginning to play, review all poses to make sure everyone knows what they are expected to do and how to practice the poses properly and safely. Have students stand in a circle on the outside of the mats. When music plays students walk, skip, hop, walk backwards, etc. (something different each round is fun) around the mats. When the music stops each student claims a yoga mat and performs the corresponding pose on the mat’s yoga card. Encourage students to find a new mat each time.

Teacher’s Assistant Variation

Put out enough mats for one per student minus one (i.e. 15 students, 14 mats). Each time the music stops one student will be left without a mat. They are the Teacher’s Assistant and get to help everyone else perform their pose, giving suggestions and encouragement. Sometimes children will delay choosing a mat in order to be the Teacher’s Assistant. Make it understood that everyone will only get one opportunity to be the assistant. If someone really doesn’t want to be the assistant make a pose into a partner pose and go onto the next round.

Partner Poses Variation

Choose a partner. As the music plays walk together around the mats, holding hands or arms linked if desired. When music stops claim a mat and perform the partner pose which corresponds to that mat. This is great fun for a Family Yoga class or anytime you want to build connections and develop cooperation and social skills.

Themed Musical Mats

Pick a theme and choose only yoga poses and music which correspond to the theme. This is great for birthday parties, to reinforce concepts in a school unit (Insects, Shapes, Amazon, etc) or for seasonal yoga classes (Valentine’s, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween, etc)

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I teach a lot of pre-school to Grade 3 students and am always developing fun, engaging, and educational yoga classes for this age group. When I received a set of the Learn With Yoga ABC Yoga Cards for Kids I knew this resource was a winner.

Conveniently packaged in a sturdy box, these 52 over-sized cards (two for each letter of the alphabet) are easy to use, kid friendly and packed with educational potential. I’ve used this card deck extensively over the past month. Every time it has been a hit with students, educators and parents, many of whom have asked where they can pick up their own set.

Research shows that learning is enhanced through movement. The ABC Yoga Cards for Kids helps parents, teachers and yoga instructors develop age and ability appropriate lessons which are fun and meaningful.

What sets this card deck apart is the accompanying instructor card which corresponds to the pose card. Here you’ll find all kinds of helpful suggestions for developing reading readiness, questions to stimulate further discussion and inquiry, and early learning skills helps such as categorization, attributes, opposites and spatial concepts.

Developed by Christine Ristuccia, a Speech-Language Pathologist, this deck of cards goes above and beyond the ABCs of yoga for young children. To truly explore the many ways this resource can be applied to language learning Ristuccia has poured an immense amount of knowledge and skill into the accompanying ABC Yoga Card for Kids Instructor Guide. What I really appreciate is the breakdown of exactly how to use yoga to enhance language skills into ages, from 12 months to 8 years old. I swear the entire Chapter 2 of this manual is highlighted in my copy.

Addriya has generously provided a Learn with Yoga Package Set (retail value of $54.95 USD) to one lucky Yogainmyschool.com reader. This set includes:

• one deck of ABC Yoga Card for Kids
• a copy of the ABC Yoga Cards for Kids Instructor Guide
• a Yoga for Kids Classroom Border

These products can be purchased separately or as a set from the Addriya on-line store.

To enter to win leave a comment below telling how you’d use these resources.

Additional Entries:

• Follow Addriya Yogaon Facebook and comment back here
• Share this review on Facebook with an @yogainmyschool.com mention (multiple entries allowed)
• Tweet it including an @DonnaKFreeman mention (multiple entries allowed): “ABC Yoga Card for Kids #giveaway @DonnaKFreeman @addriya“

Draw date is January 31, 2011 at 8:00 pm MST. Enter often – you definitely want this in your kids yoga library of resources!

Update: Congrats to Bryan who won the Learn with Yoga Package Set. Upon learning of his good fortune he said:

I’m always thrilled to find new ways of bringing yoga to children — I’m actually on my way to lead a yoga and art class for 1st and 2nd graders, and can’t wait to bring the yoga cards in with me next week “Once Upon a Pose” seems to come with me to every kids yoga class I teach, too, so thanks a bunch for all these great resources.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this give-away. Watch for our monthly reviews of great yoga resources to use in your classes.

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Mindfulness Games for Kids and Teens

Ever felt alone in the world? We all have. These feeling are usually temporary but can become overwhelming at times, especially for tweens and teens who are trying to find their way and discover who they are. In reality we are all connected, one to another. The universal human condition, the inhalation and exhalation, impact us all. This game uses this connection to focus and enjoy trying to connect with someone far away. It will help reduce feelings of isolation and imprint uplifting thoughts for others and self upon the soul. So whenever you are feeling alone, send joy and notice how quickly you feel better.

Sending Joy

You can do this activity anywhere, anytime: during meditation or while sitting waiting for the traffic light to change.

Sit quietly for a few minutes. Focus on your breath, the rhythmic rise and fall of the inhalation and exhalation. Bring to mind a far away country…one you know little about so that your mind is not clouded by preconceived notions of economy, politics, etc. Simply know that in that country there is a person who would benefit from more joy in his or her life.

Imagine that person: their age, how tall they are, what they do for a living, the colour of their hair, etc. Add as much detail as you can.

Now imagine that he or she is suddenly feeling happy for no particular reason, simply because he or she was sent a dose of joy from you. Wish them a brighter smile, a lift in their walk, a sense of well-being. Image them stopping during their hectic day to enjoy something wonderful: a butterfly, a snowflake, the smell of freshly baked bread. Imagine that person appreciating their life just as it is right now. Imagine their surprise at the sudden good feeling inside and how that makes them be kinder to others, who in turn pay it forward. Your good intentions have set off an avalanche of joy.

Marvel at how good it feels to send joy to a complete stranger.

Variations: Do this for someone you know but don’t ever tell him or her. Or feel the joy others are sending you.

You have to listen inside yourself…just the way you strain to hear the dog barking in the hills, or the train rushing by in the night, or the rustle of birds in the leaves of the trees, or the church bells from a chruch you can’t see, or a boat whistle in the fog. If you listen hard you’ll feel someone far away sending love to you. ~exerpt from If You Listen by Charlotte Zolotow

 Visit the Yoga Games page for more ideas on fun, engaging and interactive ways of sharing yoga with kids and teens.

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Mindful Breathing Focuses Energy

Pranayama, yogic breathing, is a wonderful way to focus and balance energy. Being aware of one’s breath is a way of pulling in scattered energy and mindfully focusing it. This is a great game for teenagers to take advantage of this simple technique by playing it whenever they need to center themselves and regroup. This game helps to deliberately focus attention so that you become aware of being present in each moment. It also helps teens become aware of how easy it is to get distracted and how to get back on track.

Ten Breaths

In this game you pay attention to your breathing for the next ten breaths. This is not purposeful, controlled breathing, but an awareness exercise of simply observing the breath.

On the first inhale, say to yourself, “I’m breathing in one.” As the body exhales, mentally observe, “I’m breathing out one.” On the next inhale say, “I’m breathing in two,” followed by, “I’m breathing out two,” and so on.

You’ll probably notice that different breaths have different rhythms. Sometimes they will follow at regular intervals, sometimes there may be long gaps between breaths. Some are shallow, others deep. All you do is observe and name the number.

This is much easier said than done.You’ll probably go on mind trips, getting distracted by passing thoughts. That’s okay. Congratulate yourself on noticing the detour and get back on track starting at the beginning: “I’m breathing in one.”

The fun and challenging part is to see how far you can go before you mentally tune out. Some days it may be the fourth breath that you can’t get past before forgetting what you were doing. Other days it will be easy to focus and you may go for longer than “Ten Breaths.”

Variations

Sensory Awareness: While waiting for the body to breath in or out, use that moment to notice what your senses are experiencing. Hear the sounds. Feel the temperature. Notice the air movements. Become aware and part of the environment.

Counting Steps: If sitting won’t work for you try going on a walk and counting each step. Become aware of the sensation of your feet as they push off from the ground and then land again. How your body transfers weight from one side to the other. Feel your arms swing by your sides. Concentrating on your steps is calming and helps you to stay present with the walking experience.

Take Five is a fantastic breathing game/exercise for younger yogis. Be sure to visit the Yoga Games page for many more ideas to inspire you and your kids to play yoga today.

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Routine With Variety Key in Kids Yoga Class

Recently I received this e-mail.

My name is Maureen, I am a pre-school teacher of children ages 2-5 and am bringing my love of yoga to my school this year. I have taught adult yoga for more than 11 years. I am certified through Kripalu and have done many other understudy programs. I am also qualified to teach kids…but with kids this young I am having trouble getting them started. I have tons of games, ideas, props, songs and stories…but I am having trouble, in these first introductory classes…starting the classes. Getting them not so much to be quiet or even pay attention, but how to help them understand what is going on and what we are doing. Today we learned  Namaste and the Namaste song. This was easy for a very first class. But from here on out I don’t really know how to get them ready for the class, how to start the class. Have any suggestions or thoughts that may help me out?

As Maureen has discovered teaching yoga to kids is a vastly different endeavor than teaching yoga to adults. Their attention span is short, they don’t want to sit for any length of time, and there is a wide variety of physical, emotional and mental abilities. It is essential that each class cater to these needs by including an assortment of activities to maintain interest and engage as many senses and learning modalities as possible.

Elements of a Kids Yoga Class Routine

• Class theme: For each class choose a theme. A thematic approach is essential at this age as it provides a mental framework and social/emotional/environmental reference for the yoga session. Link all your activities back to the theme. The book Once Upon a Pose includes 10 fully developed thematic yoga classes with music and literature in both English and French making this an easy task. For more ideas visit the Pre-school/Elementary Topics page.
• Introduction: Use something you feel will set the stage and let the little ones know it is time to start yoga class. For pre-schoolers this could be a song. In this instance Maureen taught them the Namaste song during their first class together. There are lots of great kids yoga CDs that you can choose from. Sing the song at the beginning of each class. Use this to help them know it’s time to go to their mats, join in with the singing and get ready for yoga.
• Breathing: Teach some form of child friendly pranayama. Remember Thich Nnat Hanh’s advice, “Smile, breathe and go slowly.” It is good for children to learn to calm and center themselves. With pre-schoolers this will take repeated and consistent effort. Go slowly and enjoy the journey.
• Asanas: The bulk of the lesson may be spent doing a variety of yoga poses. The Alphabetical List of Poses is a great place to start. The down-loadable FREE  e-book The Pet Store (see right side bar) is a wonderful tool as well. This will show you how to develop a thematic class which includes a variety of asanas. I enjoy allowing the children to generate the ideas spontaneously according to the theme whenever possible. In this way they take ownership of the pose and become more fully engaged in the class.
• Meditation & Chanting: If a simple meditation, such as the Meditation Owl, or a chant, such as Loka Samashta Sukhino Bhavantu, works into your theme by all means teach your class these valuable skills. Don’t be afraid to use Sanskrit even if your young charges don’t audibly repeat the words. The exposure to the exercises, rhythm of the language and feeling these activities generates will touch their hearts and minds.
• Crafts, Games, Books & More: Any number of supplemental activities, such as crafts, coloring pages, games, songs and books, can be used during a kids yoga class. These activities stimulate the senses and involve additional learning modalities. As well, they help to keep the pace moving and provide endless variety. I often hand out simple crafts or coloring pages to my students for them to complete at home if we don’t have time during yoga class.
• Final Relaxation: Savasana with a guided visualization which reinforces the concepts covered in class or a progressive muscle relaxation is the perfect way to end a pre-school class. Keep encouraging them to lie still, close their eyes, and keep their thoughts to themselves. You may have to move children away from a friend or encourage them to relax with a touch, a stuffed animal, an eye pillow, etc. Again this is a learned skill and all children will get better at it with practice.
• Namaste: Always end with the same respect and gratitude that you would in any yoga class.

By following this basic outline yoga instructors are able to supply the routine necessary for young children to understand what will happen each week in yoga class while providing enough variety to keep it interesting and engaging their minds, bodies and spirits. Good luck and enjoy playing yoga!

Be sure to subscribe to our articles via RSS or e-mail. Also check out the many fabulous ideas on YogaInMySchoolTV on YouTube.

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This game helps attune individuals to all the sounds in their environment. It is wonderfully versatile and can be played with one other person, a group, or all alone. In addition it builds concentration and memory. This game encourages open attention as it requires continual scanning of the environment. It is also a sensory game helping to focus on one sense at a timewhich is helpful when working with children with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD and other sensory challenges.

Do You Hear What I Hear

Before you leave to walk somewhere, especially if you are going on a route you’ve taken many times and want to engage the participants attention, ask the children to help you guess the number of different sounds you’ll hear along the way. Then while walking, say “I can hear a _____________” and wait until the others hear that sound too. Keep walking and let everyone have a turn identifying sounds. Keep a running tally of all the sounds. Can you recall each one? In order?

Alternatively you can do this game while stationary. Have everyone sit comfortably, or lay down, and close their eyes. Tune into the various sounds around you. The hum of the lights, music playing in the distance, a clock ticking, air conditioning or a furnace turning on or off, a friend’s breath, your own beating heart. Mentally note each sound, then move on, continually scanning for ones which weren’t even aware of before this moment. After a few minutes, open your eyes and share with the group the sounds you heard.

Do You See What I See Variation

Instead of “I can hear” use “I can see” and point out to each other anything interesting you see. You could also be specific and look only for a certain type of thing. Only red things? Only new things, such as a recently bloomed flower or newly painted fence?

For a complete listing of yoga and mindfulness games visit the Yoga Games Page.

Photo by cesarastudillo

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