Magical Garden Archive

Dia de los Muertos

Feliz Dia de los Muertos —  or “Happy Day of the Dead,” if you are an English-speaker.

Dia de los Muertos is a very important Mexican holiday for remembering loved ones and ancestors who have passed on, and it falls on November 1-2 each year. The holiday is a mixture of indigenous Mexican traditions and the religion of Catholicism, which celebrates All Saints Day on the same date, and was introduced when Spanish conquistadors invaded Mexico many years ago. Though the holiday falls right after Halloween, and the images we see that are related to Dia de los Muertos – like skeletons and skulls – may seem spooky, Dia de los Muertos is not a “scary” holiday. Rather, it is a beautiful tradition of celebration and joy to honor those we love and miss.

On November 1, families honor deceased children and babies, and on the 2nd, they honor adults who have died. Mexican people who celebrate the holiday may build a little altar in their homes to honor the memory of their dead, or they might take a picnic to the cemetery where their family members are buried and spend the night eating, drinking, playing music, and sharing memories of those they have lost. They may also exchange sweets and sugar skulls on the occasion, or leave them on the graves for their deceased friends and family members’ spirits to take back to the afterlife.

Many people associate sugar skulls with Dia de los Muertos. These are actually candies that are shaped like skulls and painted with pretty patterns in icing. Some people paint their faces like sugar skulls. On this Dia de los Muertos, do you have a special person to remember? What are your very favorite memories of those people?

sugarskulls

Sugar Skulls coloring page — digital version (small, jpg) – click to enlarge the image on the left.

Sugar Skulls coloring page — hi-resolution print (large, PDF) – click here for link

What is Gratitude?

You might have noticed a lot of people seem to talk about gratitude in the month of November — at least, they do here in the United States.

The definition of gratitude is “the quality of being thankful; showing appreciation for and returning kindness.”  Gratefulness, thankfulness, thanks, and appreciation are all synonyms (words that mean the same thing).

So, why do we set aside November for gratitude?

The answer is that we should be thinking about gratitude every day, but it’s kind of easy to put a spotlight on it in November because that’s when we celebrate the THANKSGIVING holiday. Get it? Giving Thanks!

1519537But WHY should we be grateful?

When you think about gratitude, it helps you stay focused on the things that are good in your life, instead of focusing on negative or bad things.  It actually changes your brain when you’re positive (happy), and it helps you lead a happier life.

Let’s do a little experiment:

Think about only the things you dislike about school. Perhaps there’s a kid who’s mean to you, or you don’t like the cafeteria food, or maybe there’s a class at school that’s really hard for you.

How does thinking about those things make you feel?

When I think about things I don’t like, or things that make me unhappy, I feel unhappy. My stomach starts to hurt, and I sometimes feel angry and sad. Does that happen to you?

Take all those things you dislike and tuck them away in a pretend box so you can forget about them for moment.

Now think about all things you love about your school: the friends you have there, that extra-special teacher, or the classes and subjects you LOVE.

How do those things make you feel?

When I think about things I love, I smile, I feel happy, and it makes my whole body feel happy. The way I feel when I think about my best friend, my favorite foods, doing something super fun, or my pets can’t be beat. And that’s not just a feeling in my head — when I feel happy, my body releases chemicals called hormones that affect every part of me!

You release different hormones when you think about unhappy things, and those affect your brain and body, too.

Which would you rather feel: happy or sad?

What should I be grateful for?

Anything good! Anything that makes you happy! Anything you have that another person might not…like:

Do you have enough to eat so that you don’t go hungry?  Do you love your dog or cat a lot?  Do your parents take care of you and keep you safe? Do you have good friends?  Do you live in a beautiful place?  Do you have a special talent?

There are so many things to be grateful for that I can’t possibly list them all!

 

How are you supposed to express your gratitude?

You can express your gratitude in a lot of ways.  Here are some suggestions:

  • Make a thank you card for a person you’re grateful for.
  • Silently think about things that make you happy
  • Sharing your gratitude out loud often helps other people to remember to be grateful…

And possibly the best way to share your gratitude is by sharing your happiness and resources (like money, food, or your helping hands) with a person who has less than you. Spreading your gratitude by helping others starts a gratitude chain reaction that can’t be stopped!

This season and EVERY DAY, be sure to remember what you’re grateful for…and don’t forget to SHARE!  🙂

 

What is Gratitude?

You might have noticed a lot of people seem to talk about gratitude in the month of November — at least, they do here in the United States.

The definition of gratitude is “the quality of being thankful; showing appreciation for and returning kindness.”  Gratefulness, thankfulness, thanks, and appreciation are all synonyms (words that mean the same thing).

So, why do we set aside November for gratitude?

The answer is that we should be thinking about gratitude every day, but it’s kind of easy to put a spotlight on it in November because that’s when we celebrate the THANKSGIVING holiday. Get it? Giving Thanks!

1519537But WHY should we be grateful?

When you think about gratitude, it helps you stay focused on the things that are good in your life, instead of focusing on negative or bad things.  It actually changes your brain when you’re positive (happy), and it helps you lead a happier life.

Let’s do a little experiment:

Think about only the things you dislike about school. Perhaps there’s a kid who’s mean to you, or you don’t like the cafeteria food, or maybe there’s a class at school that’s really hard for you.

How does thinking about those things make you feel?

When I think about things I don’t like, or things that make me unhappy, I feel unhappy. My stomach starts to hurt, and I sometimes feel angry and sad. Does that happen to you?

Take all those things you dislike and tuck them away in a pretend box so you can forget about them for moment.

Now think about all things you love about your school: the friends you have there, that extra-special teacher, or the classes and subjects you LOVE.

How do those things make you feel?

When I think about things I love, I smile, I feel happy, and it makes my whole body feel happy. The way I feel when I think about my best friend, my favorite foods, doing something super fun, or my pets can’t be beat. And that’s not just a feeling in my head — when I feel happy, my body releases chemicals called hormones that affect every part of me!

You release different hormones when you think about unhappy things, and those affect your brain and body, too.

Which would you rather feel: happy or sad?

What should I be grateful for?

Anything good! Anything that makes you happy! Anything you have that another person might not…like:

Do you have enough to eat so that you don’t go hungry?  Do you love your dog or cat a lot?  Do your parents take care of you and keep you safe? Do you have good friends?  Do you live in a beautiful place?  Do you have a special talent?

There are so many things to be grateful for that I can’t possibly list them all!

 

How are you supposed to express your gratitude?

You can express your gratitude in a lot of ways.  Here are some suggestions:

  • Make a thank you card for a person you’re grateful for.
  • Silently think about things that make you happy
  • Sharing your gratitude out loud often helps other people to remember to be grateful…

And possibly the best way to share your gratitude is by sharing your happiness and resources (like money, food, or your helping hands) with a person who has less than you. Spreading your gratitude by helping others starts a gratitude chain reaction that can’t be stopped!

This season and EVERY DAY, be sure to remember what you’re grateful for…and don’t forget to SHARE!  🙂

 

That Makes Me Smile!

October 3rd is World Smile Day, this is a special day that encourage smiles and acts of kindness around the world on that day.

How can you make people smile?

Here are a few ideas:

  • Say something nice to a friend, like, “I am glad we are friends”.
  • Help your mom with chores around the house
  • Bring your teacher an apple
  • Share something with your brother or sister
  • Smile at everyone you pass on the street
  • Write a letter or email to a relative you haven’t seen in a while

We hope these tips inspire you to come up with some of your own ideas to spread kindness on October 3, or any day!

That Makes Me Smile!

October 3rd is World Smile Day, this is a special day that encourage smiles and acts of kindness around the world on that day.

How can you make people smile?

Here are a few ideas:

  • Say something nice to a friend, like, “I am glad we are friends”.
  • Help your mom with chores around the house
  • Bring your teacher an apple
  • Share something with your brother or sister
  • Smile at everyone you pass on the street
  • Write a letter or email to a relative you haven’t seen in a while

We hope these tips inspire you to come up with some of your own ideas to spread kindness on October 3, or any day!

Caprese & Seasonal Eating

Caprese is a simple, delicious Italian salad. It is pronounced: kah-PRAY-zeh.

Caprese is one of my favorite summer dishes, and it’s best enjoyed when the ingredients are in season. What does that mean – “in season”?

When you eat foods that are in season, that means you are eating food that is naturally growing and being harvested at the time you’re eating it. For instance, tomatoes are harvested throughout the summer, so that is the best time to eat them. Although you may still see tomatoes in the store in wintertime, they are not in season at that time. The reason they don’t taste great is because they must be shipped from a place where they ARE in season, and since they must be transported by truck, they have to be picked before they are fully ripe. So the tomatoes you eat in the winter are not-fully-ripe fruits that have been sitting in boxes from the moment they came from the greenhouse — or even a different continent* — and have been through a long road-trip to get to you.

On the other hand, if you and your parents can go to a farmers market in the summertime, where the farmers pick the fruit they sell very close to when you buy it and bring it home, you will likely get better tasting produce that is in-season and ripe. Freshly picked summer tomatoes and basil will make the very best caprese.

*About food from different continents: For instance, in the autumn here in California, I often see spring fruits — like blueberries — at the store that have been shipped from Chile, which is in South America. The seasons in the northern hemisphere are opposite of the southern hemisphere. When it is winter here, it is summer in Chile; in fall here, it is spring in the southern hemisphere. Do you have a globe? Can you see how far away Chile is? Imagine the long drive those blueberries had to make! I wonder if they bugged their blueberry moms and dads the whole way here…

Do you know what types of fruits and vegetables can be grown where you live? Which ones are in season now?

caprese

Serves: 4

The shopping list:

  • 4 beautiful locally grown tomatoes (depending on season)
  • 16 ounces of fresh mozzarella (It might be labeled “Buffalo Mozzarella”)
  • 1 small red onion
  • 1 large handful of fresh basil
  • 4 teaspoons Extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • Kosher salt
  • Basil pesto (see recipe)

 

The Prep

  • Slice tomatoes into  ‘coins,’ that are the width of your pinky finger nail.
  • Slice your mozzarella the same size
  • Chop your red onion into small squares, the smaller the better… Very very small (parents may want to supervise or lend a hand here).

 

The Fun Part

Serving dish: One large white plate

  • With a large spoon, scoop a 1/4 cup of your previously made basil pesto onto the base of the plate. Smear the pesto around so that it evenly coats the center of the plate.
  • Layer the tomato and mozzarella on top of the basil pesto so that it covers the entire plate. You should have green on the edges from the pesto and nothing but beautiful layered white mozzarella and red tomatoes in the center.
  • Evenly drizzle both your olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top of your tomatoes and cheese.
  • Season lightly with salt and pepper
  • Garnish the plate with a sprinkle of red onion and lastly fresh basil leaves.

Caprese & Seasonal Eating

Caprese is a simple, delicious Italian salad. It is pronounced: kah-PRAY-zeh.

Caprese is one of my favorite summer dishes, and it’s best enjoyed when the ingredients are in season. What does that mean – “in season”?

When you eat foods that are in season, that means you are eating food that is naturally growing and being harvested at the time you’re eating it. For instance, tomatoes are harvested throughout the summer, so that is the best time to eat them. Although you may still see tomatoes in the store in wintertime, they are not in season at that time. The reason they don’t taste great is because they must be shipped from a place where they ARE in season, and since they must be transported by truck, they have to be picked before they are fully ripe. So the tomatoes you eat in the winter are not-fully-ripe fruits that have been sitting in boxes from the moment they came from the greenhouse — or even a different continent* — and have been through a long road-trip to get to you.

On the other hand, if you and your parents can go to a farmers market in the summertime, where the farmers pick the fruit they sell very close to when you buy it and bring it home, you will likely get better tasting produce that is in-season and ripe. Freshly picked summer tomatoes and basil will make the very best caprese.

*About food from different continents: For instance, in the autumn here in California, I often see spring fruits — like blueberries — at the store that have been shipped from Chile, which is in South America. The seasons in the northern hemisphere are opposite of the southern hemisphere. When it is winter here, it is summer in Chile; in fall here, it is spring in the southern hemisphere. Do you have a globe? Can you see how far away Chile is? Imagine the long drive those blueberries had to make! I wonder if they bugged their blueberry moms and dads the whole way here…

Do you know what types of fruits and vegetables can be grown where you live? Which ones are in season now?

caprese

Serves: 4

The shopping list:

  • 4 beautiful locally grown tomatoes (depending on season)
  • 16 ounces of fresh mozzarella (It might be labeled “Buffalo Mozzarella”)
  • 1 small red onion
  • 1 large handful of fresh basil
  • 4 teaspoons Extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • Kosher salt
  • Basil pesto (see recipe)

 

The Prep

  • Slice tomatoes into  ‘coins,’ that are the width of your pinky finger nail.
  • Slice your mozzarella the same size
  • Chop your red onion into small squares, the smaller the better… Very very small (parents may want to supervise or lend a hand here).

 

The Fun Part

Serving dish: One large white plate

  • With a large spoon, scoop a 1/4 cup of your previously made basil pesto onto the base of the plate. Smear the pesto around so that it evenly coats the center of the plate.
  • Layer the tomato and mozzarella on top of the basil pesto so that it covers the entire plate. You should have green on the edges from the pesto and nothing but beautiful layered white mozzarella and red tomatoes in the center.
  • Evenly drizzle both your olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top of your tomatoes and cheese.
  • Season lightly with salt and pepper
  • Garnish the plate with a sprinkle of red onion and lastly fresh basil leaves.

Morning Glory

Happy spring, my bendy friends!

The first day of Spring is Friday, March 20, so I thought we could celebrate with a pose based on one of the flowers from the garden.

In the Yoga Garden game, you will see this pose listed as Morning Glory.

Morning glories are climbing plants that grow up, up, up toward the sun. At sunrise, morning glories bloom with delicate blue, red, white, pink and purple flowers. The beautiful blooms only last for a few hours before the edges of the petals start to curl up, and by late afternoon, most morning glory flowers will be closed.

Then they wake up and do it all over again!

Morning glory is one of my favorite morning time poses.

Instructions:

Start out in child’s pose, like this:

childs pose

Then, grow like a morning glory…

morning-gloryLift your face up to the sun, and sit upright with your legs still folded beneath you. Lift your hands high and wiggle your fingers like leaves in the wind! Take deep breaths and wiggle like a vine. This is a great way to wake up and energize in the morning before school.

Good morning, morning glory!

Morning Glory

Morning Glory Illustration

Instructions

  1. Begin in Child’s Pose.
  2. Lift your face up to the sun, and sit upright with your legs still folded beneath you.
  3. Lift your hands high and wiggle your fingers like leaves in the wind!
  4. Take deep breaths and wiggle like a vine.

 

Activity Ideas for Home or Classroom

This is a great way to wake up and energize in the morning before school!

YUM! Edible Poses for the Season!

by Julie Pate

Fun facts about Thanksgiving
• The first Thanksgiving feast lasted an entire 3 days
• The average American eats 4500 calories on Thanksgiving, 2500 more than most of us need.
• Turkey is the traditional dish served because in the 1600s, Turkeys were the most plentiful wild game.
• Speaking of turkeys, did you know they can drown if looking up while it is raining?!

November 27th is Thanksgiving which is a special day to spend time with family and friends, but most people associate this day with…EATING! Here at YogaKids we have many food-inspired yoga poses. To help you burn off some of the extra calories you will probably eat on Thanksgiving day; try this series of edible poses.


Peanut Butter and Jelly
Reach up and grab the peanut butter and jelly jars that have magically appeared in the air. Rub PB&J all over your hands and smear it between your toes. Spread PB&J on our legs and you belly. Wash you face and hair in peanut butter and jelly. Stretch your arms up again, fold forward at the hip hinge, and lengthen your spine and upper body over your lower body to make a peanut-butter-and- jelly sandwich. Press the backs of your legs into the floor. Press your chest into your legs. Squish those two pieces of bread together. Can you reach your toes to wash them clean?

Pizza
Sit with your legs wide apart. Get ready to make a delicious slice of Pizza. Roll out and stretch the pizza dough to the right by slowly sliding your hands down your legs from your right thigh to your right toes. Then repeat on the left side. Now spread some sauce on the slice by moving your hands from side to side on the floor in the space between your legs. Now let’s grate some cheese. Finger dance from the top of your head, to your chest, down your legs and sprinkle cheese all over that giant slice in front of you. Next add your favorite toppings. Make your pizza colorful and fun; olives, peppers, mushrooms, pineapple, red licorice sticks, whatever you want. Bon Appetite.


Popcorn
Start in child’s pose. Stay still and feel the warmth coming up from the popcorn maker beneath you. It is getting warmer and warmer. Your body is full of the heat and soon you will be ready to pop. Now if you are ready – jump high into the air and POP. POP. POP. Repeat and pop!

Table of Contents
Lie on your back. Bend your knees. Place your feet on the floor. Place your hands underneath your shoulders, fingers pointing towards your body. Press down with your hands and feet, lifting your body up until you are in table position. What is on your table? Set each other’s tables for a picnic, birthday party, smorgasbord, tea party, formal dinner, ice cream parlor, and any other ideas you can think of. Say each food or item aloud as you place it on your friend’s table.

Swinging Pretzel
Sit cross-legged. Take hold of your left ankle and foot and place them high up on your right thigh. Now you are in the half pretzel. If you can, do the same thing on the other side. When both ankles are on both thighs, you’re in full pretzel. Switch legs so that each gets a turn on top. Now swing your pretzel. Spread your fingers and palms flat on the floor just behind your knees. Press them down as you lengthen your arms. Lift your bottom and legs up off the floor. With strong arms and breathing, swing your pretzel back and forth.

Which pose was your favorite?