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School Kids Take on the Mannequin Challenge: Yoga Style!

School Kids Take on the Mannequin Challenge: Yoga Style!

I  love visiting schools and enjoy talking to the students about being an author and introducing them to yoga. Recently I spent a wonderful morning at the Paton-Churdan Elementary and Junior High Schools speaking to the students about writing and publishing books.

We also learned some fun yoga poses and practiced them with games. A favorite game was the Mannequin Challenge.  At the time this challenge had taken over the internet and the students were so excited to be a part of this sensation.

You can view our entertaining Mannequin Challenge below. The kids were very excited about this and I was amazed at their determination and focus to stay as still as they can. Being still isn’t easy when you are packed in tightly next to your classmates, but when you include some balance poses as well, it is even more challenging! The junior high kids are first in the video, followed by the preschool and elementary.

I spent this morning speaking to the students about being a writer and playing some yoga games.You can view our entertaining Mannequin Challenge below

The school kids definitely rocked this yoga mannequin challenge! The preschool and elementary tried their best. It’s hard to be still! No matter what, everyone had fun!

Check out our Mannequin Challenge video below.

 

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Beat the Heat! Yoga for Kids is a Cool Thing To Do!

Beat the Heat! Yoga for Kids is a Cool Thing To Do!

Summer is in full swing. If you’re looking for something different to do with your kids this summer, skip the pool for once and try some yoga poses instead. They will love it.kid poses

Kids yoga is on the move! Washington’s Lifestyle news has excellent ideas on how to enjoy some summer yoga with your kids. They will get fit and have fun!

“Yoga has become increasingly popular among children. According to a survey from the National Institutes of Health, 1.7 million American youth practiced yoga in 2012 (that’s up 429,000 from 2007). Research has shown that yoga can improve mental and physical health in children, and because of this, more schools are introducing elements of the ancient practice in their classrooms.

“One of the main benefits is that it increases their focus and concentration … holding those yoga poses really helps them get that laser focus,” said Teresa Anne Power, an internationally recognized children’s yoga expert and author of “The ABCs of Yoga for Kids.”

Yoga also helps strengthen fine and gross motor skills in children, while increasing body awareness and self-control.

Want to introduce your little ones to yoga? Power says there’s no better time than the summer, since the activity can be done indoors on hot days, in the backyard on cooler nights and even on the beach during a family vacation. Here are her top tips for familiarizing your family with yoga”

Read more here…

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I haven’t met the author of this article from Huffington Post about teaching yoga to kids, but I would love to meet her and give her a copy of Go Go Yoga Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga with Kids.

Olga sounds like a great mom. She remembers doing yoga as a young adult and how it did wonders for her self-esteem. Now as a mom, she is looking for a way to connect with her kids and get in shape.

After a few tries, she realized that yoga with kids is different than with adults. The benefits are equally substantial, but she realized how teaching yoga to kids is busy, active and so much fun!

Here is Olga’s story…

…I decided to let go of my expectations. And this is where we start having fun.

We even make up our own yoga poses and sequences: The Head-Bump Pose (stand opposite of each other and then try to bend down and bump your heads in the process), followed by Rolling on the Floor Laughing. We lie on the floor, all three of us together (and sometimes there is a baby lying on my belly), and we hold hands and laugh some more. There are plenty of Cuddle Poses, I’m sure. I stop caring whether the yoga pose is perfect or whether it lasts as long as it should.

Instead, I focus on the fun stuff.

Like roaring like a lion, and making “ssss”-sounds like a snake, and stretching our necks like a giraffe. Now this is something the children can actually relate to, and they want to join me!

We’re finally having fun and connecting.

I love that! That is what it is all about! Having fun, being healthy and connecting with your kids. All at the same time! Read more of Olga’s story here.

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yoga for kids videoIf you are already teaching kids yoga or even if you are just beginning to learn some yoga poses, you have probably already experienced, read or heard about the benefits of yoga for all ages. Why wouldn’t you want to introduce it those you care about most? Your family and loved ones need to know about this!

I love how yoga actually lets you connect with your child and is something you can actually do with them as opposed to being a spectator to such as soccer games, dance recitals, piano recitals, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I love cheering my kids on at any of their sporting events or competitions, but the memories are made when you actually do something with them.

It doesn’t need to be a big orchestrated event, just get down on the floor and be engaged. They will love it!

Easy Ways to do Yoga At Home With Your Kidstree pose in yoga

  • Make it a Routine: Doing some yoga poses together does not need to take long. Incorporate some little ways to use yoga at the same time every day. It could be first thing in the morning or by doing some bedtime calming stretches each night. These are good places to start!
  • Use Props: Grab some beach towels or yoga mats to lay out and sit on. Kids love having their own space and this will give them boundaries and a sense of ownership. Include your child’s favorite stuffed animal and have it participate along with you.
  • Pick a Card: I love these Yoga Pose Cards and they are great for providing a visual. Let them pick 3-5 yoga pose cards at a time to learn, practice and have fun with. Make sure that you participate as well and gain all of the benefits too.

Teaching kids yoga at home doesn’t need to take long. Just have fun with yoga together and make it a part of your life. There is no right or wrong way, but the simple fact that you are together, learning and moving will create lasting memories with your children!

For more ways to teach yoga to your kids visit here.

Remember Memorial Day: Celebrate Our Freedom with Eagle Pose

Remember Memorial Day: Celebrate Our Freedom with Eagle Pose

 

“The greatest glory of a free-born people is to transmit that freedom to their children” —William Harvard

There is no other symbol of our freedom than that of the American Eagle! Try practicing Eagle Pose with your kids. It is wonderful for balance, core strength and detoxing as you hold this twisty tricky pose.

How to Hold Eagle Pose

  1. Begin in a standing position. Cross your right thigh over your left leg.
  2. Try to tuck your right foot behind the calf of your left leg.
  3. Bring your arms straight out in front of you, and then cross left arm over your right arm at the elbows.
  4. Bend left arm at the elbow and bring palms of hands together. If palms do not touch, then have the backs of hands touch.
  5. Bend your knees and hold your arms out in front of you with fingertips toward the sky.
  6. Squeeze everything tight.
  7. Repeat on the other side.

The Benefits of Eagle Pose

  • Stretches shoulders and upper back
  • Strengthens legs, hips and ankles
  • Increases calm, focus, and concentration
  • Works on balance and stability
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