Magical Garden Archive

Tea with a Triceratops

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/mgvids/Tea+with+a+Triceratops.mov

by K.T. Wiegman

Almost three-quarters of Earth’s surface is covered by water. The planet stores moisture in oceans, lakes, glaciers, ice caps, groundwater – even inside you. No matter what form the water takes, it’s still the same water, changing from liquid to vapor and back again in what we call the water cycle.

It all starts with the sun. Heat from the sun warms up the oceans and lakes and rivers. Some of the water evaporates, rising invisibly through the air. The higher it goes, the cooler it gets. When it gets cold enough, the water sticks to tiny bits of dust or ice in the air, condensing into clouds.

Clouds may look huge, but the water droplets in them are very light. But those droplets can bump into one another and combine, making bigger and heavier drops. When the drops are too heavy to stay in the sky, they fall to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. That’s called precipitation. Some of that precipitation is absorbed into the ground. Some is frozen into snowpack, ice, or glaciers. The rest is collected by oceans and lakes and rivers, where it gets warmed up by the sun, and the cycle begins again.

The total amount of moisture on Earth doesn’t change. The water in your bottle right now might have been drunk by a dinosaur 65 million years ago. It’s just changed shape over and over in the endlessly repeating water cycle.

Sun Salutations are a cycle too. The next time you do Sun Salutations, try being a drop of water. Starting in Namaste, feel the sun warm you. Raise your arms and evaporate, stretching upward into the sky. Fold forward and let yourself come to Earth like a gentle rain. Lunge with your leg out long and graceful as a river. Push your hips into Down Dog like a snowy mountain peak.  Collect yourself back into Namaste and you’ve completed the cycle.

Congratulations, water! Now take a break.

 

Tea with a Triceratops

by K.T. Wiegman

Almost three-quarters of Earth’s surface is covered by water. The planet stores moisture in oceans, lakes, glaciers, ice caps, groundwater – even inside you. No matter what form the water takes, it’s still the same water, changing from liquid to vapor and back again in what we call the water cycle.

It all starts with the sun. Heat from the sun warms up the oceans and lakes and rivers. Some of the water evaporates, rising invisibly through the air. The higher it goes, the cooler it gets. When it gets cold enough, the water sticks to tiny bits of dust or ice in the air, condensing into clouds.

Clouds may look huge, but the water droplets in them are very light. But those droplets can bump into one another and combine, making bigger and heavier drops. When the drops are too heavy to stay in the sky, they fall to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. That’s called precipitation. Some of that precipitation is absorbed into the ground. Some is frozen into snowpack, ice, or glaciers. The rest is collected by oceans and lakes and rivers, where it gets warmed up by the sun, and the cycle begins again.

The total amount of moisture on Earth doesn’t change. The water in your bottle right now might have been drunk by a dinosaur 65 million years ago. It’s just changed shape over and over in the endlessly repeating water cycle.

Sun Salutations are a cycle too. The next time you do Sun Salutations, try being a drop of water. Starting in Namaste, feel the sun warm you. Raise your arms and evaporate, stretching upward into the sky. Fold forward and let yourself come to Earth like a gentle rain. Lunge with your leg out long and graceful as a river. Push your hips into Down Dog like a snowy mountain peak.  Collect yourself back into Namaste and you’ve completed the cycle.

Congratulations, water! Now take a break.

Check out the Tea with a Triceratops water cycle video on YKTV!

Our Galactic Community

by Christian Huber

On your way to school you glance at the Sun. This gets you thinking about something you learned in your science class: you and everyone else on the planet are whirling around the Sun at a whopping 65,000 miles per hour!

Talk about getting nowhere fast! And Earth sure knows how to keep its distance: 93 million miles!

93 million miles is far, but the distance from your classroom window to the nearest star (besides ours, of course) is 20 trillion miles, or 4.22 light years. (A light year is the distance light can travel in a year). And that’s but a short distance when it comes to the size of our Milky Way: 100,000 light years across!

But did you know that our Milky Way is but part of a massive community of galaxies?

Scientists only recently discovered just how large our neck of the woods really is.

The Milky Way is just one galaxy located within a system of galaxies known as a “supercluster.” Scientists have named our supercluster Laniakea, which, in Hawaiian, means “immeasurable heaven.”

So just how big is our home supercluster of galaxies? It is actually measureable, and it’s the probably one of the biggest numbers you’ve ever heard.

From end to end, it’s five hundred million light-years across! So our Milky Way galaxy is just a tiny suburb of this vast “city” of galaxies – there are 100,000 of them! Think of Laniakea as a tree house that sits on a crowded branch within a sprawling Tree of the Universe overflowing with tree houses!

Ah, finally. It’s after school. You’ve done your homework. You have some free time. You walk outside or stand by the window. Time for Yoga! You start with Reach For The Sun. You plant your feet in Mountain Pose. Arms at your sides. Then you reach high with your right hand, as high as you can…

Except now you’re not just reaching for our Sun.

You are reaching for this… our home supercluster of galaxies known as Laniakea.

For we are here…[/vc_column_text][/mk_custom_box][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Our Galactic Community

by Christian Huber

On your way to school you glance at the Sun. This gets you thinking about something you learned in your science class: you and everyone else on the planet are whirling around the Sun at a whopping 65,000 miles per hour!

Talk about getting nowhere fast! And Earth sure knows how to keep its distance: 93 million miles!

93 million miles is far, but the distance from your classroom window to the nearest star (besides ours, of course) is 20 trillion miles, or 4.22 light years. (A light year is the distance light can travel in a year). And that’s but a short distance when it comes to the size of our Milky Way: 100,000 light years across!

But did you know that our Milky Way is but part of a massive community of galaxies?

Scientists only recently discovered just how large our neck of the woods really is.

The Milky Way is just one galaxy located within a system of galaxies known as a “supercluster.” Scientists have named our supercluster Laniakea, which, in Hawaiian, means “immeasurable heaven.”

So just how big is our home supercluster of galaxies? It is actually measureable, and it’s the probably one of the biggest numbers you’ve ever heard.

From end to end, it’s five hundred million light-years across! So our Milky Way galaxy is just a tiny suburb of this vast “city” of galaxies – there are 100,000 of them! Think of Laniakea as a tree house that sits on a crowded branch within a sprawling Tree of the Universe overflowing with tree houses!

Ah, finally. It’s after school. You’ve done your homework. You have some free time. You walk outside or stand by the window. Time for Yoga! You start with Reach For The Sun. You plant your feet in Mountain Pose. Arms at your sides. Then you reach high with your right hand, as high as you can…

Except now you’re not just reaching for our Sun.

You are reaching for this… our home supercluster of galaxies known as Laniakea.

For we are here…[/vc_column_text][/mk_custom_box][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Help! I’m Being Bullied at School!

Dear Ms. Yoga…

I’m being bullied in school. What should I do?

Signed,

Scared in School

 

Dear Scared,

First of all — I want you to remember this basic fact — no one deserves to be bullied. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, what you’ve done — NO ONE deserves to be bullied.

Unfortunately, this fact doesn’t stop bullying from being a major problem in schools. Remember this too — you are not alone. Many kids — just like you — have the same problem.

So what can you — and others like you — do about it? Here are a few strategies for dealing:

  • Imagine you can send a wave of powerful, energy right through the person who is acting like a bully. Like imaginary water that can put out their fire. He or she is just acting out an insecurity of their own. Anything that they are saying to you might just be a projection of what they are really feling about themselves. You can be strong, compassionate and smart enough to not get caught up in the drama.
  • Practice visualization. A bully’s words are only as powerful as YOU allow them to be. Imagine the bully shrinking down in size or that the words he or she is using are an alien language of gibberish. Pretend there’s an invisable wall around you and watch the bully’s words bounce off the wall
  • Tell an adult you trust about the bullying. This can be a teacher, counselor, coach or parent —  as long as it’s someone who will take you seriously and listen to you. This can be really hard, but if you’re frightened, it’s an excellent course of action. An adult can support you and help with ways to change the situation.
  • Recite a mantra. A mantra is a word or statement that you can repeat that gives you strength and courage. Reciting a mantra in your head can give you power when you feel weak or frightened. Try repeating “I am fearless. I am strong. I am loved.”
  • Be brave. Bullies prey on weakness. When bullies see that you aren’t weak, they’ll be less interested in you. Stand tall, laugh it off, and remember your mantra. Do the Warrior Pose at home to feel strong.

Bullying is a real problem (and the problem isn’t YOU). Yoga can be part of the solution. It can help you develop self-esteem and coping strategies. Another great thing about yoga is that it can actually change the BULLY. If you know the bully’s teacher — talk with him or her. Suggest adding some yoga into the classroom. Most bullies are acting out of a need for attention or a sense of power and authority. Yoga can help curb these needs and change the bully’s negative energy into something positive.

Stress Less!

by Susan Rose

Clean your room!  

Do your homework!

Don’t do that!

Sometimes it makes you want to scream!

It’s called stress, and everybody has it. Moms, Dads, teachers, and especially kids all have stress.

What is stress? It’s different for each person, but usually it means too many things to do and not enough time or energy to get them done.

What does stress feel like? It might feel like a pain in your belly, or a headache. It might feel like you are going to explode, or like you just want to go back to bed and hide under the covers. It might feel like you are really mad and want to hit something. But getting mad or hiding aren’t really going to make the stress go away. In fact, it might make it worse.

So what CAN you do when you are feeling stressed? The number one best idea is to breathe!  Do Take 5, or Peace Breath to help your body calm down. Breathing can be done anywhere you are: at home, school, on the car, or on the playground. You can even ask your mom or teacher to do it with you. Doing yoga poses can also help you get rid of stress. Poses like Volcano can help get rid of some of the yucky feelings in your belly. Tree Pose can help you feel strong, centered, and focused.  And when you really feel like going back to bed and hiding under the covers, try doing Child’s Pose for a few minutes. Of course, all these poses are great for adults, too.

After your body and mind are calm, it will be easier to handle whatever tasks were giving you stress. So the next time you feel stress taking over, take a break and do some yoga!

Stress Less!

by Susan Rose

Clean your room!  

Do your homework!

Don’t do that!

Sometimes it makes you want to scream!

It’s called stress, and everybody has it. Moms, Dads, teachers, and especially kids all have stress.

What is stress? It’s different for each person, but usually it means too many things to do and not enough time or energy to get them done.

What does stress feel like? It might feel like a pain in your belly, or a headache. It might feel like you are going to explode, or like you just want to go back to bed and hide under the covers. It might feel like you are really mad and want to hit something. But getting mad or hiding aren’t really going to make the stress go away. In fact, it might make it worse.

So what CAN you do when you are feeling stressed? The number one best idea is to breathe!  Do Take 5, or Peace Breath to help your body calm down. Breathing can be done anywhere you are: at home, school, on the car, or on the playground. You can even ask your mom or teacher to do it with you. Doing yoga poses can also help you get rid of stress. Poses like Volcano can help get rid of some of the yucky feelings in your belly. Tree Pose can help you feel strong, centered, and focused.  And when you really feel like going back to bed and hiding under the covers, try doing Child’s Pose for a few minutes. Of course, all these poses are great for adults, too.

After your body and mind are calm, it will be easier to handle whatever tasks were giving you stress. So the next time you feel stress taking over, take a break and do some yoga!

Kitchen Safety – It’s Important!

Kitchen.

Making food can be super fun and awesome, and to keep it that way, it’s important to practice a few safety tips when you’re in the kitchen. Having adult backup, knowing how to sterilize and clean your work area, and understanding the proper way to handle different types of foods are all things you need to know and do.

Grown-up Back-up

Before you get started, make sure you get permission to start your cooking project. Let your parent know if your recipe uses knives, a stove or any other appliance used to heat food, or other types of kitchen appliances (blenders, food processors, and other stuff like that), you need to ask an adult for help, especially when you’re just learning.

Having an adult helping you while you cook will help keep you safe, and make sure you have the ability to act properly and quickly if something goes wrong. Besides, it’s always great to have a second set of hands in the kitchen…even the professionals have assistants, and sometimes even whole teams!

Wear an apron to keep your clothes clean and avoid staining. Make sure your shirt, especially, isn’t too large and baggy, as loose fabric can get caught on moving appliance parts, catch on fire, and create other hazards.

Big Bad Bacteria

When you’re working with raw food (even vegetables), you have to keep your kitchen, your cooking gear, and yourself — CLEAN. When you keep your materials clean, it keeps bacteria from contaminating your food.

BACTERIA is what makes you sick (germs), CONTAMINATION is what happens when dirty stuff (like bacteria) gets into clean stuff (like your food).  Food doesn’t have to LOOK dirty to BE dirty, so it’s important to:

Practice the following SUPER IMPORTANT safety tips all the time

  1. Before you start, wash your hands with soap and clean water
  2. Wash your hands before and after handling raw meat, poultry, egg, and fish products. < Really important
  3. Wash your cutting board, knives, and surfaces, especially in between switching from meat to raw veggies and fruits
  4. Make sure all your fruits and veggies are thoroughly washed (you can fill up the sink with water and a couple Tablespoons of white vinegar to make a good veggie wash)
  5. Clean as you go
  6. Don’t eat raw eggs, or foods that have uncooked eggs in them (like dough)
  7. Wash your hands before you eat
  8. Have an adult help you properly store leftovers

Sharp and Hot – PAY ATTENTION!

Always ask your grown-up if you can use appliances with cutters, blades, or heating elements. If they say it’s ok to use a knife, point the blade away from your body and keep your fingers away from the blade when you’re cutting. And watch it when you’re not using it, too. Be careful where you wave that thing!

Pay Attention! Give 100% of your attention to what you’re doing at all times.

Don’t get burned

  • Use potholders or oven mitts when handling hot pots, pans, or baking trays. Don’t use your shirt, or a towel, or the cat.
  • Turn pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove so you won’t flip them over by accident.
  • Never try to relight the pilot light on a gas stove. Only an adult should do this. An adult should also light the burners for you and make sure to pay close attention when you’re near the stove so you don’t catch yourself, clothes, or utensils on fire.
  • Use only microwave-safe dishes in the microwave. Some dishes can break, crack, explode, or get too hot in the microwave. If you’re not sure if something is safe for use in the microwave, ask your grown-up.
  • NEVER put anything metal in the microwave. Even a little foil on a label can cause sparks and fire.

If you practice good safety and cleanliness, and pay attention to what you’re doing, cooking can be a grand adventure. If you have any questions about what’s safe and what’s not, ask your grown-up! Chances are, they know a thing or two about kitchen safety.

Kitchen Safety – It’s Important!

Kitchen.

Making food can be super fun and awesome, and to keep it that way, it’s important to practice a few safety tips when you’re in the kitchen. Having adult backup, knowing how to sterilize and clean your work area, and understanding the proper way to handle different types of foods are all things you need to know and do.

Grown-up Back-up

Before you get started, make sure you get permission to start your cooking project. Let your parent know if your recipe uses knives, a stove or any other appliance used to heat food, or other types of kitchen appliances (blenders, food processors, and other stuff like that), you need to ask an adult for help, especially when you’re just learning.

Having an adult helping you while you cook will help keep you safe, and make sure you have the ability to act properly and quickly if something goes wrong. Besides, it’s always great to have a second set of hands in the kitchen…even the professionals have assistants, and sometimes even whole teams!

Wear an apron to keep your clothes clean and avoid staining. Make sure your shirt, especially, isn’t too large and baggy, as loose fabric can get caught on moving appliance parts, catch on fire, and create other hazards.

Big Bad Bacteria

When you’re working with raw food (even vegetables), you have to keep your kitchen, your cooking gear, and yourself — CLEAN. When you keep your materials clean, it keeps bacteria from contaminating your food.

BACTERIA is what makes you sick (germs), CONTAMINATION is what happens when dirty stuff (like bacteria) gets into clean stuff (like your food).  Food doesn’t have to LOOK dirty to BE dirty, so it’s important to:

Practice the following SUPER IMPORTANT safety tips all the time

  1. Before you start, wash your hands with soap and clean water
  2. Wash your hands before and after handling raw meat, poultry, egg, and fish products. < Really important
  3. Wash your cutting board, knives, and surfaces, especially in between switching from meat to raw veggies and fruits
  4. Make sure all your fruits and veggies are thoroughly washed (you can fill up the sink with water and a couple Tablespoons of white vinegar to make a good veggie wash)
  5. Clean as you go
  6. Don’t eat raw eggs, or foods that have uncooked eggs in them (like dough)
  7. Wash your hands before you eat
  8. Have an adult help you properly store leftovers

Sharp and Hot – PAY ATTENTION!

Always ask your grown-up if you can use appliances with cutters, blades, or heating elements. If they say it’s ok to use a knife, point the blade away from your body and keep your fingers away from the blade when you’re cutting. And watch it when you’re not using it, too. Be careful where you wave that thing!

Pay Attention! Give 100% of your attention to what you’re doing at all times.

Don’t get burned

  • Use potholders or oven mitts when handling hot pots, pans, or baking trays. Don’t use your shirt, or a towel, or the cat.
  • Turn pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove so you won’t flip them over by accident.
  • Never try to relight the pilot light on a gas stove. Only an adult should do this. An adult should also light the burners for you and make sure to pay close attention when you’re near the stove so you don’t catch yourself, clothes, or utensils on fire.
  • Use only microwave-safe dishes in the microwave. Some dishes can break, crack, explode, or get too hot in the microwave. If you’re not sure if something is safe for use in the microwave, ask your grown-up.
  • NEVER put anything metal in the microwave. Even a little foil on a label can cause sparks and fire.

If you practice good safety and cleanliness, and pay attention to what you’re doing, cooking can be a grand adventure. If you have any questions about what’s safe and what’s not, ask your grown-up! Chances are, they know a thing or two about kitchen safety.

Orange Pops

popsicleThere is nothing better than a cold popsicle on a hot day!

The only problem is that most popsicles are filled with junk like dyes and artificial flavors. The only way to get around that is to make your own!

All you will need is a gallon of all-natural orange juice, a popsicle mold (found at any grocery store), and a freezer, an ice cave, or simply a very very cold place.

The prep is easy…

  • Pour your orange juice into the mold
  • Place the mold in the freezer
  • Let the juice freeze overnight
  • Enjoy next to a pool or under the sun in your backyard.
  • It is that easy, I promise.

Try this same method with your favorite juice (lemonade, watermelon juice, limeade, the sky is the limit). One of my favorite things to do is add a little coconut milk to the juice mix for a creamy, delicious summer treat.