MATERIALS

• Mats
• Mat cleaner/paper towels
• Music player and prepared music
• Eye pillows
• Black/white paint markers
• Focal point: silk flower or printed picture
• Name Tags

SHORT DESCRIPTION/TOPIC

Students will learn to appreciate their bodies. They will learn how to take care of themselves and why it is important. They will learn breathing techniques and yoga poses that will help them grow stronger, happier and more mindful.

DISCUSSION POINTS

• If we don’t take care of ourselves, who else will?
• Loving our bodies and their uniqueness! (No two bodies are the same.)
• Listening to our bodies without judgment.

CONNECTING CIRCLE

1. Lay a beautiful flower or pretty print at the edge of the mat for a focal point.
2. Recite the YogaKids Pledge.
3. Fill out name tags.
4. Introduce the class theme.
5. Student Introduction: Say your name and the one thing that you love about yourself!

BREATHING BEGINNINGS

Peace Breath – As you exhale “PEACE” send peace to your body. Send peace to your family. Send peace to your practice today. Breath in yoga is also called, pranayama. Breathing can increase energy and calm the mind. Quiet Quests, Body Benefits

Switch Breath – Try breathing deep and slow for 2 breaths. Speed up your breath now… notice how your body feels. Slow down again for a final breath. Quiet Quests

Opening My Wings – Notice how your body feels as you inhale on the upward movement and then as you exhale on the downward flow. Can you feel your lungs expand and contract (open and close)? Are there other parts of your body engaging? Just be present. Notice. Don’t Judge. Awesome Anatomy, Quiet Quest

POSES AS PATHWAYS/INTEGRATE THE ELEMENTS

Swizzle Stick – This pose calms the brain, relieves stress, reduces fatigue, anxiety, and headaches. What else causes us to feel fatigue? A poor diet (the wrong foods). Not enough sleep. Lack of exercise or physical activity. Stress. What do you think are the best foods for your body? What do you think are the worst? Body Benefits, Brain Balance

Warrior Series with Affirmations – This pose Increases concentration, focus, balance, posture and tones the abdomen. – “I am brilliant. I am beautiful. I am strong.” Affirmations, Body Benefits

Column of Courage / Flight of Fear – I want you to think of something that makes you feel strong! Notice how your body changes as you change your thoughts. When you think of what makes you feel strong, how do you feel? Strong! Now think of something that makes you feel fearful. When you think of what makes you feel fear, what happens? Do your shoulders slump? Do your legs waiver? Our thoughts affect how our bodies feel. Let’s end this pose by repeating I am strong! Say it 4 more times. Body Benefits, Math Medley

Tree/Leaf – Move to the front edge of your mat. Lift your arms until your hands touch the hands of the person beside you. Adjust, as needed. Lift into the pose. Notice the stability you feel as a group. You are strong and steady. A tree well rooted. Now lift your hands overhead. What happened? Did you sway to steady yourself? Did you lose your pose? It’s OK. Just notice the strength that came from the group. Bridge of Diamonds

Eagle – Eagles are a symbol of strength. The Bald Eagle has been the National emblem of the US since 1782. It is one of the largest raptors in the world weighing up to 15 pounds and when diving can fly up to 100 mph. Brain Balance, Ecological Echoes

Knees to Toes / Ladder to the Clouds – Play Soar by Christina Aguilera. Have fun and move to the music. Close your eyes. How does that affect your balance? Are you stronger and more stable on one side or the other? Brain Balance, Musical Musings

Swinging Pretzel – This pose strengthens the wrists, arms, and abdomen. While swinging think of ways to describe yourself in the pose. For example: Allison is aligned. Ellen is elevated. Laughing Language

Plough – Like Swinging Pretzel, Plough is a challenging pose. Be accepting of your body and what it can do. Don’t compare yourself to your neighbor. Just accept and appreciate your own beautiful body. As you roll out remind yourself, “I am beautiful.” Affirmations

VISUAL VIGNETTES

Pro Tip: Have background painted and let students create their own silhouette and add an affirmation to it. Use magnets on back so it can by hung in locker or at home on fridge. To Make: You will need 13 craft sticks per silhouette, glue, hot pink paint, purple paint, white paint, black paint, pen/pencil, and a black Sharpie and a black/white paint pen. Lay out 11 craft sticks to form base, place a full layer of glue on the remaining 2 craft sticks and lay them in the opposite direction of the 11 to secure your silhouette platform. Allow to dry completely. Paint entire base hot pink. Allow to dry. Paint top 2-3 craft sticks purple in varying pattern. Do the same on the bottom 2 using black paint. Using the white paint splatter the pink/purple area (or use a toothpick and dot in a sporadic pattern). Print a picture and carefully cut it out. Use a pen or pencil to trace silhouette and color in with black Sharpie. Allow student to pick affirmation and add to silhouette in either white or black paint pen.

QUIET QUESTS

Wind Chimes – Play Playful Metal Chimes (author unknown) or other relaxing music. Move in and out of your pose to the flow of the music. Open your eyes. Close your eyes. Breathe. Musical Musings

Twist and Blow – This pose massages the abdominal organs and improves digestion. It helps to clean our bodies from the inside. Body Benefits

Savasana – Relax your legs down to the mat. Arms at your sides, palms up. Feet relaxed and slightly open. Eyes closed. Take a deep inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, One more time. Now let your breath return to normal. Keep your eyes closed and your mind relaxed. (Keep quiet for 30 seconds and hand out eye pillows.)

Read Poem: You will not always be the smartest person in the room, and you will not always be the strongest or the funniest or the most talented. But you can always be brave and you can always be kind and these are the things you should be every minute of every day for the rest of your life. Because yes, those other things, they’re great things. But these things (braveness and kindness) are better.– source unknown (Pinterest) Stay here 1-2 minutes in quiet.

When you ready roll over to your side, lay your eye pillow on the mat and gently push yourself up into a comfortable seated position.

CLOSING CIRCLE

• What affirmation did you like most? Pick one we used in class today or make up your own.
• Hand out silhouettes.
• Have students write affirmation onto silhouette using paint pens.
• Did you have a pose that really made you feel relaxed? What was your favorite pose today?
• End with Namaste. The light in me bows to the light in you.