The Bendy Blog

 

beach ball

Beach Ball Yoga

June 21 is the first official day of summer! Celebrate the season with this super-simple We All Win game! You can play it with 2 or more people -- all you need is a marker, a beach ball, and knowledge of a few YogaKids poses! Perfect for classes and parties! ...
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Dragon Breather Craft

Dragon Breathers

From Certified YogaKids Teacher Melissa McDonough,  this Visual Vignette is a perfect addition to any dragon-themed class. Don't forget the inclusion of the YogaKIds Dragon Breath Pose -- a child-friendly variation of Kapalabhati that tones the abdominal muscles and energizes the entire body. Dragon Craft Instructions Begin with toilet paper ...
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ozone craft

Ozone Shield Craft

A Visual Vignette classroom idea for integrating important Earth science from YogaKids Apprentice Rebecca Lizotte: Stand in Mountain Pose with the Earth (a print out, globe, or ball) in the center of the group. Imagine your climbing a gigantic ladder up to the cloud into the stratosphere. (Ladder to the ...
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Julie Pate

My YogaKids Journey

When I started the YogaKids training, my two sons were two and four; I was knee-deep in diapers, temper tantrums, and playgroups. I would often sit, buried in piles of brightly colored plastic toys and wonder if I would survive the toddler years. Days would pass slowly, filled with an ...
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girl in butterfly pose

Spring Time Yoga Poses

Spring is such a magical time... and here in the Magical Garden, we LOVE IT so much! The weather gets warmer and flowers begin to bloom. It's a time for bunnies, butterflies, and flying kites. Join us in celebrating spring with some of our favorite YogaKids poses! Reach for the ...
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Lemon Toes pose

Help Children Experience More Joy with Lemon Toes

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) was developed by Dr. Edmund Jacobson, and is a technique in tensing and relaxing the muscles. This technique leads to an increase in relaxation throughout the entire body, essentially, physical tension melts, which in turn relaxes the mind and emotions. YogaKids creator Marsha Wenig developed the ...
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Little girl playing with blocks at home

Teaching English Language Learners

Yoga benefits our students physically, mentally, and emotionally, but yoga for learning language? Let’s explore how yoga promotes language acquisition in English Learners. English Learners (ELs) are people whose native language is one other than English. They are learning the culture of a new country, academic language in school, and ...
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butterflies and flowers

Spring Is in the Air (a free YogaKids class plan!)

What better way to celebrate the spring season than with a fun-filled YogaKids spring-themed lesson plan? Perfect to use in the home, studio or classroom, this FREE class plan includes a spring craft, a We All Win yoga game, an original yoga flow, poses perfect for the season, and much ...
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child screaming

Yoga Tools for Temper Tantrums

When my son was 3, he was diagnosed with a dairy allergy. Not long after the diagnosis he had a meltdown over a Sponge Bob ice cream cone at a local zoo. Despite my efforts to entice him into a non-dairy treat, he insisted on the ice cream, and as ...
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child in crow pose

Facing Fear and Anxiety with Challenge Poses

At a small amusement park along the Jersey shore, waiting with my kids for a turn on the ride, my eyes and ears were drawn to one particular child. High excitement could be felt from the kids in line anticipating glimpses of the ocean, onlookers, and sand sailing by as ...
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children in pedal laughing pose

Helping Kids Choose Happiness

I recently saw an interview on TV of a new mom with her baby. The reporter asked her what she wanted for her child.  “I just want her to be happy,” replied the mom, an answer that probably most of us would give. As new parents we give our baby ...
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Child in Bubble Fish pose

Open Your Heart

Our fourth chakra is the heart chakra. A healthy heart chakra is defined by one's ability to experience compassion, love, generosity, and kindness. Help kids open up their heart chakras with these YogaKids poses! Bubble Fish: Lie on your back with your arms at your sides. Bring the bottoms of ...
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