http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/13/kids.yoga/index.html
This is a great article and video on yoga for kids! check it out!
10 Inexpensive Yoga Props for Kids Yoga Teachers to Use in Class July 7, 2009
If I’ve learned anything in my teaching, it is to keep things fun and new (for myself and the kids!) I Nothing seems to spruce up a yoga class better than some new props! Sometimes I feel like I have to spend lots of money on expensive, fun props, but sometimes the cheapest really are the best… Here are some great, inexpensive props all under $20 and some for free:
1. Pom-poms -
Use them to have kids do breath work. Put them on the ground and blow them, or blow at them through a straw. My preschool kids go bananas for these!
2. Bubbles – Great breath play, and you can usually get a package of bubbles at a party supply store or at Oriental Trading Company.
3. Paper plates- A paper plate can be a steering wheel in Car Pose, a shell in Turtle Pose, a plate in Table Pose, a sun for sun salutations, a dish of milk in Cat Pose, a bowl of Dog Food in Dog Pose, and on and on… Decorate them with markers as a fun craft- make your own mandalas. For less environmental guilt, get them at Whole Foods where they are biodegradable or recycled.
4. Easter Egg Shakers-
Take large dried lima beans and put them in plastic easter eggs- viola! Musical egg shakers to dance and move with.
5. Tulle- A long streamer of tulle (sp?) is a fun dance streamer. Fun for music and creative movement.
6. Dry erase paperboard- Use these over and over, for drawing crafts, visual displays, card games, etc…
7. Music- Download a fun song or two off of I-Tunes, or get a CD that you know you will use all of the songs over and over again to get your money’s worth (like Kira Willey’s Dance for the Sun on redyogamat.com, or any of the Laurie Berkner CD’s)
8. Library books- lots of fun books can be found at the library, and they are free! Just remember to return them on time (I seem to have trouble with that…)
9. Nature- Go on a nature walk at the beach, in the woods, etc. Gather anything that you might want to use in a yoga class as a prop. Rocks are fun focuses for balances and can be used to create worry stones or inspirational paperweights (decorate with words like “peace”, “love”, “Namaste”.) Or simply gather some flowers, feathers, driftwood, etc that would make a nice altar for the class. Of course, be respectful with what you take and use… Also, a bouquet of gerbera daisies are one of my favorite props. They cost only a few bucks, and can be wonderful for gazing meditations, or a gift at the end of a yoga class for each child. There is something magical about yoga and fresh flowers combined!
10. Stickers- Print your own or find fun packs. Use them as rewards at the end of class, as focus points for balancing, or use them on hands and feet for right and left.
Have fun!
Namaste,
Carolyn Clarke
www.sdyogakids.com
www.redyogamat.com
YogaKids Summer Camp July 1, 2009
This is the first summer that I’ll be offering a summer yoga camp! I hope that your child can join us! My friend, Amanda Perez, a social worker specializing in children, and I will be co-leading the camp at Point Loma Assembly. We’ll have lots of time to do yoga and fun summer activities. Call me if you have questions about it at 858-752-2950.
Monday July 27th – Friday July 31st, 2009
1pm-4pm
Ages 5 and up
Point Loma Assembly Building, 3035 Talbot St, San Diego
Cost: $150 (includes all materials and a healthy snack!)
Bring a yoga mat or a towel.
Yoga, Breathing, and Relaxation! Games! Creative Movement! Theater Games! Journaling! Arts and Crafts! Cooking Healthy Snacks! Music!
YogaKids of San Diego is proud to unveil RedYogaMat.com! December 5, 2008
I’m super excited to announce RedYogaMat.com, a new online children’s boutique ! It’s been a big project creating an e-commerce site, but we are up and running! Here are some of the great things you can find at RedYogaMat.com:
For the young yogi:
1. Natural Rubber Kid-Sized Yoga Mats!
2. Relaxation Eye Pillows!
3. Fun Music for Yoga Practice!
4. The Yoga Garden Game!
5. YogaKids Silly to Calm DVD!
For your child’s elementary or preschool teacher:
1. YogaKids Toolkit (Yoga flashcards for the classroom)
2. The Silly to Calm DVD for rainy days (ages 3-6)
3. Fun Music for the Classroom
I know that many people’s holiday shopping budget’s are tight, so each gift needs to be that much more meaningful and special. Kids are feeling the stress of the times right now, too, and yoga inspired toys combine play AND relaxation, two things great for kids! Why not give kids the gift of well-being through yoga!
So start shopping at www.redyogamat.com!
Where have ya been? November 10, 2008
I haven’t been posting a whole lot lately… Wanted to share what’s been taking up my time and keeping me from writing on this blog…
- YogaKids Tools for Schools Program Launch- I’ve been launching a program called YogaKids Tools for Schools in San Diego County. I’ve been reaching out to teachers and inviting them to workshops where they learn how to use yoga in their classroom. It’s had a wonderful response so far!
- Children’s yoga boutique- I’m launching a children’s yoga boutique soon. It’s going to have hand selected yoga-themed items for kids, and you are just going to love it! It’s been a busy time, learning about e-commerce, sales tax, and UPS shipping rates (all things that don’t usually go hand in hand with teaching yoga to kids!!!)
- My book- Oh, yeah, I’ve also been writing a book!!! It is a book of relaxation stories that I use in my yoga classes during savasana. It’s been a project that I’ve been working on for years, and it is finally coming into its last stages…. So here’s an excerpt:
Making Friends with A Tree
Imagine that you are walking through a magic forest.
Any tree you can imagine is here in this forest.
Apple trees, maple trees, palm trees…
Sycamore trees, banana trees, orange trees…
Even imaginary trees are here in this magic forest, like candy trees and trees that grant wishes.
Now pick any tree that you like, and imagine walking over to it.
Touch its bark. How does it feel?
Sniff its leaves. How do they smell?
If it has fruit, take a bite and see what it tastes like.
Now imagine yourself climbing its branches.
When you reach the top look out and see all of the trees in this forest.
Now climb back down and sleep in your tree’s shade.
Take some time to enjoy being with your new tree buddy.
Trees breathe out what we breathe in.
So, take a deep breath full of oxygen,
And then slowly let it out so the tree can breathe too.
So that’s it in a nutshell… It’s been an exciting time, and I’ve been writing lots and lots for my book and my new website, but I haven’t been writing here. Didn’t want you to feel neglected!!! I’ll keep you posted on everything… Tomorrow I have a photo shoot for the book and website, so I’ll try to post some pics soon!!!
Namaste,
Carolyn
YogaKids Tools for Schools Workshops November 10, 2008
In August and November of this year, San Diego had its first YogaKids Tools for Schools workshops! Education pioneers from across the county joined me at 3 hour workshops that showed how to use yoga in the classroom, and how to integrate yoga into their existing curriculum. It was inspiring to see how enthusiastic these teachers were to bring yoga back to their classroom, and everyone seemed to agree that stress relief is such a necessary part of school today…
The teachers went home with a Teacher’s Manual with lesson plans to use in their classrooms, along with pose cards that have a picture of the pose along with classroom integration ideas. Many teachers said that they planned on punching holes in the cards and putting them on an O ring so they could easily use them throughout the day.
Future workshops are planned for 2009, so keep an eye out for registration information on http://www.sdyogakids.com/tools.html
Yoga in Italy November 10, 2008
I am a bit behind on getting all my posts up on my blog… Went on an amazing yoga retreat in September in Tuscany Italy. We were at Il Borghino villa, outside of Lucca. Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Lots of wonderful food, amazing wine, and of course fantastic yoga! I was really able to deepen my own practice and commit to daily yoga. It can always be a challenge to squeeze in my own yoga when I’m focusing on bringing yoga to others, but it is SO important. I was inspired to do some fun Italian themed yoga with my kiddos in class too:
Pizza Pose (Sit on floor with your legs open like a wedge of pizza!)
Spaghetti Pose (Wiggle your body, make it loose and floppy like Spaghetti)
Leaning Tower of Pisa (Crescent Moon Pose!)
Making “Grapejuice”
Curl your body up in a ball- we’re all bunches of grapes!
Now act like you plucking grapes from the vine- pile them up in the center of your mat
Grape smashing with your feet (Imagine that you are squeezing grapes with your toes- helps stretch out your toe muscles)
Duomo Pose- Lots of cities in Italy have a duomo- Extended Mountain Pose
City Wall Pose- Lots of Italian cities are walled, like Lucca! Join hands as you do various standing poses- Mountain, Tree Pose, Warrior 3, etc
Tree Pose- At the top of a tower in Lucca, there are trees growing!
Have fun with these, and Ciao!!!
Carolyn Clarke
http://www.sdyogakids.com
How to Make Flip Flops out of Yoga Mats July 31, 2008
I’m always looking for things to do with yoga mats once they are no longer in good enough shape to take to my classes. Here’s a video someone made about making flip flops out of yoga mats!!! I can’t wait to make my first pair.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAFoNy2-nF8
Happy Crafting!
Carolyn
Facebook Group- Yoga in the Classroom June 27, 2008
I recently formed a group on Facebook called Yoga in the Classroom. If you are a member of Facebook, you should join it! It’s in its infancy right now, but I plan to put regular info on the site about how to use yoga in the classroom, so it’s a perfect spot if you are a teacher and you have a facebook account. If you don’t, it’s a free social networking site. You can join and then become members of groups where people have common interests (like yoga in the classroom!). You may also find some old friends that you have lost touch with…
Here’s the link to the site, and don’t forget to join the Yoga in the Classroom group!
How to Talk and Listen April 24, 2008
There’s something so appealing about the book’s title, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and How to Listen So Kids Will Talk. As soon as I saw the book, I knew that it would be helpful during yoga teaching. I can’t count how many times it has felt like I was talking to the walls during class…
This book has several topic-based chapters filled with advice, scenarios, quick summaries, and even cartoons. I have found many of the recommendations helpful, so here are some bits and pieces from the book and how I have used them in class.
Dealing With Feelings
A basic premise of this book is that we need to accept and respect children’s feelings. This can be done by listening quietly or acknowledging their feelings with a word or two- “Oh, I see….” You can also do this by naming the feeling for them- “That sounds upsetting/frustrating/like it hurt your feelings etc.”. Another option is to give children their wishes in a fantasy world (“I wish I could take a magic wand and create another yoga mat, but since there aren’t enough for everyone, you’ll need to share!”) The book explains that all feelings can be accepted, but actions can be limited. “I understand how angry you are that she stole the Beanie Baby, but you need to tell her that in words, not with your hands.”
Engaging A Child’s Cooperation
I am always looking for ways to get children in class to cooperate. Although the book gives many ideas that are particularly helpful for parents, the suggestion that I have used most as a teacher is to say what you are asking for in a single word. I get tired of hearing my voice explaining to the same kid over and over that they need to participate with the rest of class, go back to their mat, etc… So now, when I feel like I have repeated myself over and over to Little Johnny, I say, “John… Mat…” and I point his mat. It’s been helpful, and it has kept me from going hoarse.
Punishment Alternatives
This book also has a chapter on punishment alternatives. My favorite is giving the child a choice. “You can do yoga poses with the rest of the class or you can sit out and Take 5. You decide.” Another suggestion is to state your behavior expectations. “I expect you to walk to a mat quietly and sit in Pretzel Pose until class starts.” This has worked well for me when I am talking to the whole group instead of a single child.
Encouraging Autonomy
I particularly enjoyed the section in this book about encouraging autonomy. We have so many opportunities to do this within a yoga class. It suggests letting children make choices. (“When you grow from your seed become a flower or a tree.”) It also recommends showing respect for the child’s struggle. (“Tree Pose can be hard to balance in. Try standing next to the wall and using your arm for balance if you need to…”). Another suggested way to encourage autonomy is to keep from rushing in to answer questions. So if Susie asks a question you can say, “Hmmm… What do you think?” This also gives you a little more time to think if it is a particularly challenging or uncomfortable question.
Giving Praise and Boosting Self-Esteem
How to Talk also gives some great recommendations on giving praise and boosting self-esteem. At times I feel like I robotically say, “Good job”, after every pose in a yoga class. I didn’t realize I how often I said it until I heard a little girl in one of my classes parroting back “Good job, good job.” The book suggests to describe instead of evaluate what you see. “I see long straight spines, arms on our sides, and I don’t hear any talking. Look at these strong Mountains.” Summing up good behavior with a word is also recommended. “John, you gave some of your marbles to Susie when she ran out. Now that’s what I call sharing! I’ve even starting teaching the yamas and niyamas with this technique. “Jane, you were happy with the purple flower even though your favorite color is pink. That’s what we call santosha in yoga.”
Freeing Children From Playing Roles
The book finishes with talking about how to get children to stop playing the roles in which they have been cast (by parents, teachers, etc.) I know that I’ve come to expect certain behavior from certain kids in my class, and they do tend to play the role of the troublemaker when I think that way. How To Talk gives lots of recommendations to help free kids from these roles. One way is to show the child a new picture of themselves- “You’ve been sitting quietly in Pretzel Pose after turning in your Beanie Baby.” Another is to put a child in a situation where they can see themselves differently- “John, can you collect all the ABC Yoga cards and put them in the basket?”. The book also suggests that you let children overhear something positive about them. I try to say something positive to a parent in front of the child if I have previously had some problems with them.
How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and How To Listen So Kids Will Talk is a book that I would highly recommend for a boost in classroom management ideas. I’ve pulled a few of my favorite tidbits, but I suggest picking up a copy at your local library and reading it from cover to cover. It’s a quick read, and I think you’ll end taking notes on the summary pages to easily remember some of the words of wisdom. You might even end up using it with adults… “Honey, the garbage!”
