Do your kids like to twirl? Ever wondered why? Have you noticed that most parks include some type of spinning apparatus? Welcome to vestibular stimulation. The vestibular nerve is in the inner ear and is responsible for balance, sensing body position, and eye stability. Many kids crave vestibular input. Go for a twirl and enjoy improved balance and body awareness.
Donna Freeman, founder of Yoga In My School and host of the podcast, recently sat down and chatted with Joanne Spence about her new book Trauma Informed Yoga (release date March 9. 2021).
Listen to their conversation about trauma, the importance of becoming trauma informed, polyvagal theory and why it’s important, and specific tools that everyone/anyone can use to help self regulate.
Enter to win a copy of her book. Contest runs March 1-8, 2021. Open to all 18 years of age and over. Winner will be contacted via email. Multiple entries encouraged.
Using music in your kids yoga classes is extremely effective, engaging and memorable.
Here one of our online Teaching Kids Yoga Level 2 participants, Micha, shares a beautiful Can You Make a Flower Song to go along with Lotus Mudra. I love how she has used a familiar melody and has changed the word to perfectly suit a loving kindness flower.
My gift to you this holiday season. Daily doses of peace, calm, and connection. Enjoy 25 days of movement, mudras, and meditations that invite joy and reduce stress through short videos that foster calm and connection in your life.
Mindfulness in schools is a hot topic. Studies prove its effectiveness at helping children reduce stress, self regulate and focus.
Now available is a series of Mindfulness Moments board books to enable even the youngest child to cultivate skills to feel calm wherever they are. Musician, kids yoga expert and author, Kira Willey, joins us to talk about her latest endeavor to help children manage body, breathe and emotions.
Listen to the podcast here
Some topics we cover:
the importance of music, movement and mindfulness
the evolution of Kira’s career from musician to author
how to teach the littlest yogis mindfulness
ways to incorporate mindful moments into your day
Enter to win the giveaway
Enter below to win a signed copy of Mindfulness Moments for Kids: Breathe Like a Bear OR Mindfulness Moments for Kids: Listen Like an Elephant. Kira has one of each book. Two winners will be chosen. Multiple entries allowed. Contest open to resident of USA and Canada. Contest ends Oct 26 at 12:00 am.
Ideal for Mother’s Day this classic Dr Seuss book transforms into a fun kids yoga class. Grab a little yogi and practice together.
This version is quicker than I usually teach it – a sweet abbreviated version for your home practice. You can find the complete lesson plan HERE for Teacher’s Lounge members or in our online store HERE.
Kids Love Easter Yoga. Discover an easy way to take Bunny Breath up a notch by adding in developmentally appropriate levels to stimulate body and mind.
During our weekend workshop Yoga for Preschoolers and Kids with Special Needs we cover a lot of material having to do with developmental milestones and how you can assist children to meet these milestones in creative and fun ways. What is really inspiring is by adding in somatic techniques into your kids yoga classes you are also developing essential neurological pathways and helping the brain to organize itself. Truly a win-win.
This IGTV video explains why you want to add hopping to your Bunny Breath pranayama practice.
Bea is anxiously waiting for her friends to show up for her birthday party. Discover how Bea’s thoughts take over and what she does to find calm so she can enjoy her party.
We’ll discuss the rise in anxiety issues in youth, how mindful breathing and visualization can help manage anxiety, and the importance of mindfulness in schools to promote physical and emotional well-being.
Listen here
Enter to win a copy of Mindful Bea and the Worry Tree
Contest runs midnight April 12 to April 19 and is open to participants in the USA and Canada. Multiple entries allowed including daily tweeting. Enjoy and share!
Are you looking for ways to help kids be calm, overcome anxiety, and live happy, healthy lives?
Wynne Kinder shares her extensive knowledge on mindfulness for kids in her new book Calm. For years Wynne has been involved with developing amazing resources for schools and families to use to invite more mindful moments into their day. It’s a delight to reconnect with her and highlight the amazing work being done.
Join us as we talk all things mindfulness, ways to get buy in from reluctant participants, and goats. Let’s not forget the goats.
Listen here
US cover
UK cover
Wynne w her goats
Enter to win a copy of Wynne’s new book Calm: Mindfulness for Kids
This contest runs Feb 20 to Feb 26 midnight. Multiple entries allowed.
Sun Salutations with a large group of teens – oh YEAH!
Teaching large groups can be a challenge. This group of 70 grade 9 students learned Sun Salutations by taking apart the 9 poses which make up Surya Namaskar A and then putting them together again.
Love that these teens get to learn tools to foster a healthy mind and body as part of their school day.
Tips for teaching yoga to large groups
⭐️ set yourself up in the center of the gym to be more easily seen and closer to students
⭐️ to fill a gym filled with teens you’ve got to find your gym voice and project
⭐️ with younger teens pace your class on the quicker side. Keep them moving
⭐️ use lots of positive reinforcement
⭐️ have FUN – these guys loved saying CHATARANGA! with power and authority
⭐️ expect there to be chatter, help to keep students on task with engagement (questions), authenticity (walk the talk) and movement (do yoga, lots of yoga).
This is one of my favorite mindfulness techniques. I often use it at the beginning of class to set the tone and allow everyone the opportunity to slow down and check in. The activity can be done anywhere but this script is for a classroom where students are seated at their desks. I highly recommend it, especially for teens and tweens. Speak slowly, allow for pauses and space for participants to look inward.
Body, Mind, Mood, Breath
Invite everyone to get comfortable sitting back in their chair or with heads down on desks. Maybe eyes are closed or turned down to encourage focus and minimize distractions.
Turn the attention inward to how you are feeling.
What is going on in your body? Is there any tension? Softness? Aches? Openness? Just notice without judging or trying to change it.
Now observe your mind. What is it’s level of activity? It is busy? Calm? Stuck on one thing? Or jumping from thought to thought?
Now notice your mood. How are you feeling today? What are you bringing into class? Can you name the mood you are currently in? Allow whatever it is to be without judgement.
Now turn your attention to your breath. Notice the inhalation and the exhalation. Is it fast, slow, steady, ragged, smooth, warm, cool? Where in your body do you feel the breath?
Take two more breaths. Simply observe. When you are ready open your eyes.
Kids have big emotions. Often they don’t know how to manage these emotions, what to do, how to express themselves or how to find that place of calm inside.
Today’s guest on the Yoga In My School podcast is Sara Pletcher. Sara is a teacher and author passionate about helping teachers help kids. She writes about topics that lead to important conversations to foster awareness, self regulation and integration. Her latest book, Ride the Wind, is a colorful exploration of feelings and thoughts.In her creative way our heroine Genelle, taught by her Mom, shows us how to Ride the Wind through mindfulness and visualizations.
Join us as we explore contemplative practices for young children. Discover tips on teaching kids how to manage emotions and ways you can support your children in fostering mindfulness and meditation practices to last a lifetime.
Reading, Yoga Fables, and Neurodivergence June 24, 2022
In this episode Donna chats with Ashley Fontes, founder of Read and Yoga, a Mom, author, and yogi who combines her loves to share the joy and benefits of yoga with children. Ashley's neurodivergent children have inspired her to combine beloved children's books with movement to provide them with life skills of literacy and self […]
