OBJECTIVE
To experience a day at the circus through yoga poses!
MATERIALS
- music player with music prepared
- face-painting crayons
- paper, crayons or other writing and drawing utensils
- YogaKids stickers or little inexpensive trinkets as prizes for the end of class
- matching color stickers for opposite hands and knees, hula hoop, clown noses, beanie babies or little stuffed animals
DISCUSSION POINTS
- To present a fun, integrative unit on the circus and the various components which comprise this age-old event.
- To move, groove, and explore all the color, tastes and smells of the circus.
- To align and balance our brains to keep us smart, alert, and steady.
CONNECTING CIRCLE
- Present the YogaKids Pledge with hand movements.
- Ride the Camel
- Discuss our amazing brains and all that they do for us.
- Ready our brains and body to go to the circus:
- Neck Rolls Both directions
- Diamond Breath
- Brain Hemisphere Check
- Switch Breath
- Hemisphere Recheck
CREATE THE MOOD AND TONE
Try to get into the space at least 10-15 minutes before the children, so you have plenty of time to prepare and are not feeling rushed. You can create an altar, meditate, smudge, set your intention, put on music, review your lesson plan, put out your materials and be clear and ready when the YogaKids arrive. Your centered-ness will make a difference in the outcome of the class. For young children, dress colorfully and silly like a clown, if that fits your personality and comfort level. Play circus music if you have some.
POSES AS PATHWAYS/INTEGRATE THE ELEMENTS
1st Act: Explore the Circus (Brain Balance)
- Bow and Arrow – To win a prize on the Midway
- Reach for the Sun – Can you reach the top of the tent?
- Elbow to Knee/Reverse – Use colored dots or stickers on hands and feet.
- Throw and Grab – Be a juggler.
- Punching Bag – Get psyched up for the circus.
- Ladder to the Clouds – Climb to the top of the circus tent. Get ready to walk and balance on the tightrope in the next act.
2nd Act: Tight Rope Walking and Balancing
- Tight Rope Walking
- Walking with my Animal Hat
- Stork
- Flamingo
- Eagle
- 360 Owl
3rd Act: Animal Fun
- Elephant – Make a trunk and walk like an elephant. Link your trunk around the leg of the person in front of you. Can you walk together on the elephant train? Bridge of Diamonds, We All Win
- Donkey
- Seals (optional) – Use balls or child size foam blocks from hands to feet and back.
- Lion – Be the trainer and give directions to roar, roll over,and jump through the hula hoop. What else can you think of? We All Win
- Bug Pickin’ Chimp
- Snake and Snake Charmers
- Spouting Dolphins
- Alligator
Intermission: Refreshments and Snacks
- Om a Little Teapot Triangle (use the YogaKids song)
- Swizzle Sticks Brain Balance
- PB & J
- Pizza
- Popcorn
4th Act: Clowning
- Pedal Laughing Ride
- Driving My Car
- Caterpillar
- Rock n’ Roll
5th Act: Laughing Language
- Write silly similes about the circus. Examples: “Crazy clowns croon like a can of worms”, “Elephants are tiny and light” “Silly seals walk the tightropes in bikinis”
- My Body Knows the ABCs – Perform in groups and spell the word circus. We All Win
6th Act: Fairway Rides (We All Win)
- Rocking Horse – Ride the carousel. Sing the Rocking Horse Song (use the YogaKids song).
- Circle Coasters
- Roller Coaster
- Pendulum Kicks
- Handstands
Do partner wheels and connecting poses. Invent some of your own too. Then create an obstacle course by creating group body challenges for them to maneuver through, around or over together.
6th Act: Visual Vignettes
- Face Painting
- Breathe and Draw
7th Act: Magic Cloud Carpet (Quiet Quests)
Swim Ducky Swim – Place a stuffed animal of one of circus animals (if possible) on their tummies. Guide them in a visualization that sums up all of the wonderful memories and activities of the circus and brings them back home.
CLOSING
- Namaste Song – Include and honor all the clowns and animals in your circle of singing.
- Grugging