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.

Halloween Lesson Plan

AGES:  2-6, 7-11

MATERIALS

  • Halloween music and something to play music (i.e. speaker)
  • Halloween coloring  pages
  • Markers or supplies for decorating mini pumpkins
  • Witches hat

OBJECTIVES/GOALS/INTENTIONS
Use imagination and get the kids excited about Halloween!

MUSICAL MUSINGS
Play some scary or fun Halloween music in the background for either parts of or the entire lesson.

CONNECTING CIRCLE
1. The YogaKids Pledge or, take a minute to clearly explain your expectations regarding participation and behavior.
2. Introduce the Theme “Halloween Night in <your town>”
3. Welcome song (sung to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down)
Sit in Pretzel and do torso circles right and then left while you sing,
Welcome to YogaKids
YogaKids….YogaKids
Welcome to YogaKids
So glad you’re here!

QUIET QUESTS
Magic Witches Hat Breath – Inhale hands in prayer over head, and exhale hands to heart. (several rounds)

POSES AS PATHWAYS TO LEARNING
Surya Namaskar – Do any variation of sun salutations you like. A sun salutation is one way of thanking the sun for coming out every day, for providing us with warmth and light and vitamin D. Vitamin D gives us healthy bones, allowing us to grow and stay strong. It allows our food to grow for us to eat, giving our pumpkins and apples color and vitamins. This dance makes us strong, flexible, alert, and coordinated. And it’s good for the heart! Ecological Echoes, Body Benefits

Sunrise, Sunset – The sun is setting on Halloween night, and we are ready for a night of fun. The moon is bright, and shining down on our Halloween night. Poses as Pathways

Mountain (Witch’s Broom) – We are witches broomsticks! Take in a deep breath, and then float around the room on the broom stick, blowing out all our air. When all our air is out, our broom turns into a mouse.

Child’s Pose (Mouse) – Repeat Witch’s Broom to Mouse a few times.

Now, it is time for our witch to make her special Halloween Witches Brew. Stand in a wide stance Mountain and begin stirring the pot clockwise then counterclockwise. What will our witch put into her brew this Halloween? First, she puts in two handfuls of bugs! And stir the pot!

Bug Pose or Happy Baby
Stir the pot! Next she adds 4 large green lizards.

Lizard – Can you say, “Large Lucky Lizards Land in our Witches Brew?” Laughing Language
Stir the pot! Next our witch puts in two twisted twigs from her Oak tree.

Tree Pose
Stir the pot! The witch reaches deep down into her pocket and plucks out two eyeballs and throws them into the brew.

Ball pose – Have the children roll back and forth on their mats.
Stir the pot!

Next the witch puts in the skull of an eagle.
Eagle Pose

And a handful of feathers from a wise, old owl.
360 Degree Owl
And stir the pot!

The witch then puts in two wings of a magic butterfly…
Butterfly

Ask the children if they have anything they want to put in, going around the circle and putting in their ideas with or without doing yoga poses to go along with what they come up with.

The last thing the witch puts in is two shells of a snapping turtle.
Turtle – Turtles have been on the earth for more than 200 million years. Several species of turtles can live to be over 100 years old. The oldest documented turtle lived to be over 200. Ecological Echoes

The witch laughed. She was pleased that all her ingredients were in. <BIG LAUGH!> She put on her magic Witch’s hat.

Stay sitting with wide legs and stir making big circles in both directions. Then, do a Magic Spell together, saying softly at first, then repeating getting louder and louder.
“Double, double, toil and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron bubble.”

Witches Hat Pose (Down Diggity Down Dog) – Have the kids make a triangle out of themselves in this pose.
The witch’s companion, her dog, howled at the moon with excitement.

Up Uppity Doggie Up – Howl at the moon.
Go back and forth between Witch’s Hat to Updog several times howling.

Now that her work was done, it was time for the witch to rest.
Rest in the Pumpkin Patch – Have the kids lie down and take 13 breaths. Expand the belly like a pumpkin
It is time for us to celebrate Halloween with some Trick or Treating.

Row Row Row Your Boat – Repeat the mantra as you do the pose:
Trick or Treat (clapping feet on floor), Smell My Feet (hands and soles of feet clapping)

Freeze and Flow – If you have time, include the Yoga Freeze and Flow game. When the music stops, take turns having each child wear the Witch’s hat and teach a yoga pose to the group.

Sunrise/Sunset – The sun is setting on our spooky Halloween night, time for us to sleep.

Twist and Blow

Savasana

VISUAL VIGNETTE
Have the children color a Halloween coloring page, or decorate pumpkins.

 

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Walking on Sunshine

Sun-Coloring-Sheets

AUTHOR: Chelsea Keller
AGE GROUP: 2-6, 7-11
MATERIALS: Blank sunshine coloring sheets, markers, crayon, stuffed animals/breathing buddies, The Yoga Garden Game, marbles
KEY ELEMENTS:  Ecological Echoes
SHORT DESCRIPTION/TOPIC
Students will have fun in the sun with this class!! With uplifting sun music, a sun salutation, and interactively playing in our yoga garden.
DISCUSSION POINTS

  • Sun, seasons, how plants grow, photosynthesis
  • Patterns (in explaining sun salutations) for 2-6 age group

CONNECTING CIRCLE
Students begin lying down with legs spread in a V with feet touching, connecting around the circle and arms overhead.  Students make a sun, each representing bright rays of… SUNSHINE!  Bridge of Diamonds

POSES AS PATHEWAYS/INTEGRATE THE ELEMENTS

Transformer Series/Sun Salutation   Sun salutations are poses linked together to form a pattern.  Have student share examples of patterns. Show patters perhaps with colorful flowers or other items.  The sun is very healthy for us? It gives us Vitamin D which helps prevent many diseases including:   Type 1 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.  The sun also gives us energy and happiness!  Math Medley, Body Benefits, Ecological Echoes, Musical Musings

Play Reach for the Sun, By YogaKids Fitness Fun Tunes

  • Mountain
  • Reach for the Sun (4 or 5 rounds)
  • Exhale into Rag Doll
  • Inhale/Step back into Down Diggety Doggy Down
  • Exhale into Lizard
  • Inhale into Cobra/Snake
  • Exhale onto all fours
  • Inhale into Cow/Moo
  • Exhale into Cat/Meow
  • Inhale/Push up into Down Diggety Doggy Down
  • Exhale/Walk the dog up to Mountain, ready to repeat!

 

Mountain  “I am strong, I am stable” The sun is shining bright. What could grow? Affirmations, Ecological Echoes

Acorn to Tree  (child’s pose to tree)  Trees grow as a result of sun and water.  This is called photosynthesis, from the Greek phōs, “light”, and synthesis, “putting together”.  Trees convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy that can be later released to fuel the trees activities (energy transformation).  Ecological Echoes

Root and Rise  (squat low and then rise up like a tree growing tall)  Our roots keep us connected to the earth, and grounded – just like a tree. Feel your roots, and reach your branches tall towards the clouds and the sun. Ecological Echoes, Bridge of Diamonds

Walking with my Animal Hat (walk with a stuffed animal on the head) (Play Walking on Sunshine or other inspirational music) This pose helps us improve our balance, posture, and concentration. Body Benefits, Musical Musings

Circle of Friendship Flower (Hold hands, childs pose, rise up onto the knees and spread arms)  What type of flower are you (for older group) or what color is your flower (for younger group).  We all Win

Marble Toes  (Pick up marbles with the toes)  Plant seeds in the yoga garden.  Set up hula-hoops around the room as the flowerbeds. Play Hula Hoops by  Omi  We All Win, Musical Musings

The Yoga Garden Game (Available at yogakids.com) If time allows We All Win

 

VISUAL VIGNETTES  Sun coloring sheets, or have students create their own.

QUIET QUESTS

Savasana & Peace Breath
Close your eyes. Relax your body. Feel how comfortable it is to relax your body on the comfort of your own mat, or your wonderful sunshine that you walked on today. Soak up the sunshine, soak up those rays, and enjoy the heat, energy, life and love the sun provides you. Breathe your belly up and down. Take a deep breath in, and breathe out and whisper peace. As you say peace, feel all the peace that fills your body. Sense all the peace that is filling the room. Send peace to the animals, the tress, the plants, and the beautiful flowers in our world. Send peace to your family and friends and everyone you love. Always remember to enjoy the peace and sunshine in your life.

CLOSING CIRCLE
Re-create the connecting circle sunshine created at the beginning of class. This time, ask students to shine their rays even brighter, and reach reach reach their arms all the way to the back of their mats.

Namaste

A Mother’s Sweet Goodnight

YogaKids Teacher Julie Pate wrote this poem after a guided meditation taught at a YogaKids Transformations Training while on her journey to become a Certified YogaKids Teacher. Julie shares that her YogaKids journey transformed her life by transforming her career and relationships . Learn how you can transform your life and become a Certified YogaKids Teacher HERE

A Mother’s Sweet Goodnight
By Julie Pate

The sun has long since set on our day; we sit together as sleep approaches
It is dark, except for the soft glow of the bathroom light in the distance
The fan above gently brushes the warm air against our skin

Love floats through the room resting softly on his nose, and then my shoulder
So fully present in these moments; it feels as if the love can be touched, and held

With the day’s distractions gone, we can finally be here together
and savor each moment, like the last few tastes in a bowl of ice cream

His voice is young and full of wonder as he shares his triumphs and dreams
Tenderness passes from mother to son and back again
We close the day with a thankful awareness
and a hope for another day, to love some more.

A note from the author: “I hope this poem inspires you to cultivate a quiet moment with someone you love today.” And when you are in that moment, may you pause in awe of just how beautiful it is.

 

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Winter Lesson Plan

winter

Winter officially starts on December 21, and ends on March 19.. In this fun YogaKids lesson plan we will explore the winter season’s animals, characteristics and interesting facts while practicing yoga in a fun, safe and educational way.

AGES:  2-6, 7-11

MATERIALS
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle, paper, scissors, markers, tape or glue

KEY ELEMENTS
Ecological Echoes

SHORT DESCRIPTION/TOPIC 
We will explore the winter season’s animals, characteristics and interesting facts while practicing yoga in a fun, safe and educational way.

DISCUSSION POINTS
“Winter officially begins on December 21 and ends on March 19.  What happens towards the end of fall that lets us know winter is getting closer?”  (Weather gets colder, leaves fall, days become shorter etc… )

CONNECTING CIRCLE
Share what you like about winter
Peace Breath –As you say the word “Peace”, feel the peace inside you.  Affirmations Element, Quiet Quests
“This pose Increases oxygenation and triggers the relaxation response in the body” Body Benefits Element

POSES AS PATHWAYS TO LEARNING
“During winter, the sun’s rays hit the Earth at a shallow angle, which minimizes the amount of energy that hits any given spot. Additionally, long nights and short days prevent the Earth from warming up”. Ecological Echoes  “Let’s warm up by saluting the sun.”
Sun Salutation  – teach any variety of a sun salutation

“What do people do to prepare for the winter season?”  (Chop wood, buy winter clothes,)
Wood chopper- “Time to chop wood to keep our house warm” – Chop back and forth several times. “We need 10 logs for the fire, let’s count 10 chops.”
Note:  for older kids, count by 5’s or 10’s.  Math Medley Element

“Over winter break, many people visit their relatives, do any of you?  Let’s take an imaginary trip to our Grandmas on a boat.”
Row your Boat – sit up on the tailbone, balance the legs in the air, row your arms in a circle.

“Many people take car trips to visit relatives:”
Driving My Car:  Sit in a “L” sit and pretend to be driving a car, move forward by lifting up your tail right then left, then move back.  “Think of a place you could drive to in your imaginary car that starts with the same letter as your first name, Marsha Memphis, or Don Denver Julie Jacksonville” (Note:  For younger students, the teacher should create the locations for the kids) Laughing Language Element

 “Snow falls in many parts of the country in the winter, imagine cool snowflakes softly falling on you”
Finger Dancing– Move from the head to the toes pretending that snow is falling all over you.  Quiet Quest

“Birds migrate south for warmer weather in the winter.  Let’s practice a bird pose”
Eagle –Squat down make an “x” out of the arms.  Brain Balance Element, Ecological Echoes

“Geese fly in formation and work together as a team; we will now practice a pose that takes teamwork”
Circle of Friendship flowers – Hold hand in a circle.  Sit back in child’s pose, inhale and rise up opening the arms wide, exhale back to child’s pose.  We all Win Element

Polar Bear – Sit in child’s pose, make a cup out of your hands, rest your nose in the cup.  “Polar Bear is a cold weather animal There are five nations with polar bears: U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Greenland, and Norway.”  Ecological Echoes

 Reading Comes Alive with Yoga Element
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle – Teach the following poses while reading the book:
Lion – Sit in child’s pose, rise up and open the back of your throat as you breathe out with a quiet, throaty “Rrrroar.” Quietly roar.  Practice this pose round robin style and have one child start, by rising up and doing a unique roar, have the children repeat this, one by one until everyone has done the pose. Bridge of Diamonds Element
Flamingo – stand with one leg and the opposite elbow bent, switch sides.
Cobra- lie on the belly, push into the hands and rise up into a back bend.  “A snake’s backbone is made up of many vertebrae attached to ribs.  Humans have approximately 33 vertebrae and 24 ribs.  Snakes have between 200-400 vertebrae with as many ribs attached! That is what makes them so flexible and helps them move along! Ecological Echoes Element, Awesome Anatomy Element

VISUAL VIGNETTES
Cut two large circles, and 3 small circles for each child in advance.  Let the children paste the two big circles on to a piece of construction paper to form the polar bears face.  The Three small circles will be the ears and nose.  Let the children decorate the eyes and mouth.  Be creative!

QUIET QUESTS – Guided Visualization
“Lie down on your backs and get comfortable, close your eyes.  Listen to the sweet sound of your own breath ….in…..and out……Feel the gentle rise and fall of your belly as you breath…….pause………..Imagine you just spent the day sledding or skiing with your family and now you are resting.  You can hear the snow as it gently hits the walls and roof of your house….pause…….Once again feel the gentle rise and fall of your belly.  Up…..and down…….pause several minutes.  Now bring your attention back to the room, gently wiggle your fingers and toes…..slowly roll onto your right side and rest….gently push yourself up to sitting.

CLOSING CIRCLE
Fountain of Oms – Everyone chants OM at their own pace and rhythm. We start together, but everyone’s duration is different. Just let the OMs keep coming at various intervals; some short, some long.

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New Years Lesson Plan

It’s time to celebrate a new decade and welcome in 2020  — Take your YogaKids on a trip through 2019 and into 2020 through movement with this FREE New Years Lesson Plan from YogaKids! It’s the perfect teaching tool for the home, studio or classroom.  Help your little Yogis set good intentions for the new year.

AGE GROUP:  3-6, 7-11

MATERIALS:  music, construction paper, crayons/markers, black fine tip markers, white craft glue or glue stick, scissors, magnet strip (optional)

SHORT DESCRIPTION/TOPIC:  To celebrate the passing year, and the beginning of a new one and to set positive intentions (resolutions).

DISCUSSION POINTS:  We are going to take a journey through 2019, and experience some of the highlights of the year.  We will also welcome in 2020, and set intentions for a good year.

CONNECTING CIRCLE:  Sit in easy sit and do torso circles while you sing the Welcome Song (sung to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down)

Welcome to YogaKids, YogaKids, YogaKids,
Welcome to YogaKids
We’re so glad you’re here!
Musical Musings

YogaKids Pledge:
“I will stay on my mat!”
“I will keep my hands and my feet to myself”
“I will always do my best”
(Include any pledges that would be appropriate for your group)

Peace Breath – Hoping for peace in the coming year; send peace to the circle, to your town, to the world.  (Inhale and on the exhale quietly say the word “peace”) Quiet Quests

POSES AS PATHWAYS/INTEGRATE THE ELEMENTS

Sun rise/Sun set – The sun rose on a January 1st day 2019, one year ago.  (Sit on your heels with hands by the right foot, rise up, lift the arms up and drop over to the left side) Ecological Echoes
Sun Salutation – Play Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves and teach any variety of Sun salutations you like appropriate for your group.  Musical Musings

January brought snow, and cold winds, we warmed our noses with Polar Bear Pose.  (Child’s pose – make a cup out of the hands and bury the nose in the hands) Ecological Echoes
Fun Polar Bear Facts

  1. Polar bears are not white, the hair of a polar bear is actually transparent, and reflects light.
  2. They’re great swimmers and spend a lot of time in the water, some scientists classify them as marine mammals.
  3. They have tantrums. Experts have observed frustrated polar bears throw chunks of ice, kick piles of snow or growl in disappointment after losing prey they’ve been trying to catch.

February came and we celebrated Valentines Day by spending time with people we love.
Partner Pose – Sit and Twist (Sit cross-legged in front of your partner with your knees touching. Put your right arm behind your back, reach out with your left hand and grab your partner’s right hand. turn away from your partner, twist your spine, and look over your right shoulder.  Unfurl and change sides.  Bridge of Diamonds

 March brings a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.  We looked for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Rainbow Pose (side plank lift up the hip and drop the head making a rainbow shape, modify with knee down) Ecological Echoes
Fun facts to share about rainbows,

  1. “Roy G. Biv” is a way to remember the colors of the rainbow; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
  2. Rainbows have relaxing and healing qualities and are the universal symbol of peace and harmony

In April we celebrate the rain, and the blossoming plants and flowers with Acorn to tree – Tap on the backs of each child while they are in acorn (Child’s Pose) to symbolize the rain, once they are tapped, they grow into a tree (Tree Pose).  Ecological Echoes and We all Win

We Reach for the Sun and welcome in May (Reach the right arm up, bring it to the solar plexus as you say “Ha”, repeat left) Bring the warm energy of the sun into your own energy center. Ecological Echoes

In June we go for a Boat ride on the lake.  (lean back, lift the feet of the floor and balance, circle the arms and pretend to row your boat.)  Share fun facts about muscles.  Awesome Anatomy

  1. The largest muscle is the gluteus maximus, the muscles of the buttocks.
  2. One of our strongest muscles is the tongue

In July we celebrate the birth of our country, The United States of America

Happy Birthday Candle Series (Easy sit to plough to shoulder stand, back to easy sit) Have the children hold their shoulder stand, and let each child blow out the candles.  Have the student’s count the candles as they blow them out.  Older students can count by 5’s or 10’s.  Math Medley

In August we head to the sea shore for vacation where we find many fun sea creatures:

Crab – crabs have been around since the Jurassic period, 200 million years ago. (walk sideways on hands and feet, like a crab)
Seal – Because they can spend months at sea, seals can sleep underwater.  (from sitting, click heels together, roll back and click the heels and “Arf Arf” like a seal) Laughing Language, Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

In September we head back to school, and greet old friends we haven’t seen all summer  Namaste – (bow to each child in the circle and say “Namaste”) Bridge of Diamonds

In October we celebrate Halloween.

Pumpkin – A French explorer in 1584 first called pumpkins “gross melons,” which was translated into English as “pompions”. (roll like a ball using your fingers on the top of your head as a pumpkin’s stem.)  Poses as Pathways, Laughing Language

In November we celebrate Thanksgiving, and give thanks for all that we have to be grateful for.  Let each child share something they are thankful for. Bridge of Diamonds

December is the time to celebrate New Year’s Eve with Party Blower Breath  (have the children pretend to blow slowly into a party blower, and take several silent breaths)  Quiet Quests

It is time to set some resolutions for the new year.  Resolution Magnet Visual Vignette

How to make it:  Cut a sheet of white construction paper in half.  Across the top write “I RESOLVE”.  Choose your resolution (i.e. “to keep my room clean”).  Draw a colorful picture depicting your resolution below the words.  Glue your artwork to a piece of construction paper.  Glue a magnet strip to the back of your resolution art and hang on the refrigerator.

Relaxation and guided visualization – Take the class on a journey of the past year, ask them to think of an experience they had that they really enjoyed.  Have the students re-live that experience.  Ask the students to share their experience if they wish.  Quiet Quests

Fountain of Oms (Chant several “Om’s”) Quiet Quests

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Holiday Lesson Plan

It’s that special time of year again! It’s time to celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Diwali, Chinese New Year, and Las Posadas. Teach your YogaKids the story of these special holidays through movement with this FREE Holiday Lesson Plan from YogaKids! It’s the perfect teaching tool for the home, studio or classroom.

 

Holiday Lesson Plan

AGE GROUP:  7-11, 12 +

MATERIALS:  Cotton balls, straws, Christmas tree cutouts, markers or crayons.

KEY ELEMENTS:  Poses as Pathways

SHORT DESCRIPTION/TOPIC:  Children will learn about holiday traditions around the world.

DISCUSSION POINTS:  We will learn about holiday traditions from different areas around the world including Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Diwali, Chinese New Year, and Las Posadas.

CONNECTING CIRCLE:  Share a holiday tradition in your family.

POSES AS PATHEWAYS/INTEGRATE THE ELEMENTS

Peace Breath – Send peace to peoples of every nation Quiet Quest, Bridge of Diamonds

Sunrise/Sunset – The winter solstice occurs when one of the earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern).  Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Cat/Cow – In Iceland, there’s a special Christmas tradition that involves a very special cat that roams the streets one time per year.  Poses as Pathways, Ecological Echoes

Downward Facing Dog (Inn pose) – Las Posadas means “the inn” or “the lodging” and is a Mexican Christmas tradition that symbolizes the Biblical journey of Mary and Joseph as they searched for shelter in Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus.  Poses as Pathways

Warrior Series with Affirmations – Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights and symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.  “I am the light” “I share my light”.  Affirmations, Poses as Pathways

Tree Pose –Evergreens are a symbol of eternal life and rebirth. Latvia is home to history’s first decorated Christmas tree, back in 1510.  Ecological Echoes, Poses as Pathways

Half Moon Pose – Chinese New Year is the Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between January 21 and February 20.   Poses as Pathways

Star (Jumping Jacks) Wise men from the east were inspired by the star of Bethlehem to travel to Jerusalem to meet baby Jesus.  Ecological Echoes, Poses as Pathways

Caterpillar to Butterfly – In South Africa, every December locals feast on a seasonal delicacy, deep-fried caterpillars!  Poses as Pathways, Ecological Echoes

Birthday Candle Series – The menorah is the nine-branched candelabra used during the celebration of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Poses as Pathways

Circle of Friendship Flowers – The poinsettia is native to Mexico and Central America, where it was known as “Flower of the Holy Night”. It is believed to have been used as a holiday decoration as early as the 17th century.  Ecological Echoes, Poses as Pathways, We all Win

Table of Contents – Kwanzaa is a week-long annual celebration to honor African heritage and is celebrated with gift-giving and a feast.  Poses as Pathways

Bubble Fish – The Feast of the Seven Fishes is part of the Italian-American Christmas Eve celebration.  Don’t push too hard on your cranium which is part of the skull.  Poses as Pathways, Ecological Echoes, Awesome Anatomy

WE ALL WIN

Traveling Snowballs – Have students blow a cotton ball across the circle with a straw, have them see how far they can move their cotton ball.  Quiet Quest, We all Win

VISUAL VIGNETTE

Have the kids color Christmas tree cut outs making two that match perfectly.

MUSICAL MUSINGS

Play “Let it Snow”, “Frosty the Snow Man” or any holiday song while the kids draw.

WE ALL WIN GAME

Partner Christmas Tree Matching Game – Lie the Christmas trees face down and have the children take turns trying to find two trees that match.

QUIET QUESTS – Winter Meditation

Lie down, close your eyes, and begin to relax.  Each time you exhale, feel more and more relaxed.  Pause.  Imagine lying in the snow in your back yard on a cool winter night.  You are all bundled up with your warm winter clothes, so you aren’t cold, you feel warm and safe.  Pause.  You look up and see the night sky full of stars.  Pause.  Each star sparkles bright in the dark sky lighting up your whole yard.  Pause.  Imagine feeling safe and warm, as if each star is protecting you.  Pause.  Imagine that it starts to softly snow.  Pause.  You feel soft, wet snowflakes fall on your cheeks…..your chin….and each hand.  Pause.  Imagine feeling safe and warm.  Pause.  Stay and rest here for a few minutes.  Pause.  Now bring your attention back to the room, wiggle your fingers and your toes.  Slowly roll onto you side.  Come to sitting.

 

CLOSING CIRCLE

Share Time – allow the children to share their experience during the meditation.  Quiet Quest

Grug – Hugging releases pleasure hormones, it makes you feel good.  Body Benefits, We all Win

 

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Car Yoga

Family on Road Trip Together

My husband likes to take family rides in the car, as a way to spend time together and get out of the house. But, the minute I think of our three young kids cooped up in our mini-van, I immediately see into the future and hear “Stop kicking my seat,” “I’m bored,” “I’m hungry/thirsty,” or the ever so popular “Are we there yet?” This is where car yoga comes in!

Driving in the car is not an appealing adventure for our kids, unless there is an exciting destination. We can listen to music and play a few car games, but after an hour or so, their attention shifts and bothering each other becomes their primary focus. Car yoga helps to redirect their energy and calm their minds and bodies.  My kids are familiar with the YogaKids breaths and poses, so they can typically adjust them for the car as needed.

I begin by explaining why we need car yoga in that moment– and it is usually because someone is upset or bothered by their sibling. We might begin with “Peace Breath” and after a deep inhale, we exhale and whisper the word “peace.” We begin to imagine peace inside the car, peace between siblings and peace in the world.

We then want to bring our attention to parts of our bodies that have been still since sitting in the car. We might do “Eyes Around the Clock” to exercise our eyes; looking up and down with our eyes a few times, while keeping our heads still. Then looking left and right a few times. We can then start at the top of the ear and gently squeeze or massage down the curl of the outer ear to the lobe and back up. This is a great way to bring their attention to their ears and be sure they are listening to and respecting their siblings.

Keeping our eyes and ears open, we can do a modification of “360-Degree Owl” pose. We turn our heads slowly from side to side stretching our necks and wrap our arms behind us, so that we can open our chest. Followed by “Lizard Tongue,” we flick our tongues in and out as we pretend to catch a bug for a snack. This helps release tension in the jaw and bring our awareness to our mouths and our words – remembering to be impeccable with our word choice.

Lastly we do a seated “Lemon Toes” exercise. We imagine we are sipping sour lemonade up from the bottom of our feet to every part of the body and then breathe out and relax. Doing this a few times, helps release the physical tension that was build up in their bodies. With the kids’ attention redirected, we can keep driving and hopefully reach our destination before they get bored again!  Learn all these car yoga poses in the YogaKids book, available in the YK Shop!

YogaKids Poses:

  •   Peace Breath
  •   Eyes Around the clock
  •   360-Degree Owl
  •   Lizard Tongue
  •   Lemon Toes

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Celebrate the Season with Edible Poses

Girl in Swinging Pretzel Pose

If you’re planning a kids yoga class about Thanksgiving, you might want to include a few fun facts about the holiday. You may also want to include poses that are inspired by food! Here are some facts to share and some of our favorite YogaKids’ “edible” poses! In addition, you can include this very cool Mandala coloring page featuring a few of our favorite healthy foods!

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 edible poses are your favorite?

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The Importance of Connection

YogaKids class in Circle of Friendship Flowers Pose

YogaKids creator Marsha Wenig knew the importance of connection when she created the YogaKids program over twenty years ago. Marsha created 14 original Elements that YogaKids teachers weave into their classes to create fun, educational, creative lesson plans that are designed to help children thrive. Several of these Elements along with many poses, activities and techniques are designed to help children connect to each other, the world and to their own unique goodness.

Extensive research shows that having good-quality relationships can help us to live longer and happier lives with fewer mental health problems. A sense of connection helps children feel emotionally and physically safe and valued; they develop healthy social abilities and have a sense of sharing and caring for each other. The centerpiece of opening our heart is to remember that we belong to each other.

Professor Brene Brown says, “A deep sense of love and belonging is an irresistible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong.” The YogaKids program helps teachers offer children this sense of belonging and connection. Whatever we practice gets stronger and when children practice compassion and love, that part of them grows immensely and they tap into that part of themselves that is full of light, full of love.

The Ecological Echoes Element connects children to plants, animals and the environment. This Element allows teachers to weave in fun facts while teaching poses. In Downward Facing Dog pose, children might learn that dogs have the ability to detect changes in the human body and are used to help diabetic and seizure patients. While in Tree pose, students might learn that California holds the record for the oldest living trees, with some thought to be 4,000-5,000 years old. Children get the physical benefits of these poses, but also learn to understand their connection to the world.

The Bridge of Diamonds Element teaches children that they are like a diamond: unique and brilliant in their own way. And every child can build a “bridge” from themselves to the larger world. Many YogaKids poses can be transformed into partner or group poses. For example, in Tree pose, children can hold hands and notice how getting a little help from their friend helps them find balance. Bridge of Diamonds poses and techniques give children the confidence to open their hearts and connect to others.

Connecting poses help children feel a sense of community. Many YogaKids activities offer children the chance to work together, while simultaneously celebrating their own unique qualities. In Circle of Friendship Flower (pictured above) children kneel in a circle, holding hands. They inhale and reach arms up, then exhale and fold down into Child’s Pose.  In this pose, when children rise up and back bend, it symbolizes opening their hearts to life. Often when we get hurt, we fold in to protect ourselves, and in the effort, we close ourselves off to life and love. YogaKids helps us to teach children to rise up and stay open to life, open to love and open to seeing their own brilliance.

Poet Thomas Merton said, “Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another.” YogaKids helps children find their true destiny and bask in the beauty of their own true nature.

Discover all the YogaKids Elements in our Certification Program!

 

 

Count Your Blessings Craft

Gratitude Jars

It’s so important to count your blessings! Our Blessings Jar began several years back on November 1s. We would nightly write what we were thankful for on a slip of paper and place it in the “Blessings Jar” that rested on the kitchen table. We would watch our blessings grow as the jar became fuller and fuller. One evening, my daughter asked if she could write more than one blessing to be placed in the jar. Of course!  Write down all your blessings.   

On Thanksgiving ,we would read what everyone had written in the weeks prior. However, one Thanksgiving about two years ago, we visited our out-of-town family for Thanksgiving and didn’t bring our Blessing Jar with us. Upon returning home, my oh-so-smart daughter said “let’s not read them but wait till New Year’s Eve and watch the jar get fuller.”   

Our once Thanksgiving Blessings Jar is now an Everyday Blessing Jar. On January 1st we empty the jar to remember all our Blessings from throughout the year. I have to admit it was a GREAT way to start the new year. As we eat dinner each of us choose a “blessing” (slip of paper with a blessing written on it) from the jar, read it aloud then passed the jar to next person to continue till the jar was empty and our hearts were full.   

I was in complete awe listening to what others found important, blessed or special in the months prior.  There were even days and events that I had forgotten. Not only was this a great way to “count our blessings” but also a nice revisit to the special and everyday events we all encountered.  

When we were finished revisiting our blessings, I place the small blessings paper in a special envelope marked “2013 Blessings.” In the years to come, it will be fun to return to the envelop to listen to our blessings and see our child’s handwriting, vocabulary and spelling evolve.

I look forward to watching the jar fill, grow and runneth over with love and gratitude for all our blessings.

Join our tradition of the Blessings Jar.

  • Choose a jar of your choice – mason jar, recycle jelly jar, pretty jar from the store…  look for something that speaks to you.
  • Decorate your jar with your favorite colors, ribbon, yard, stickers. Be creative. Make it yours.
  • Place paper and pen next to your jar to record your daily blessings.
  • Or place a stone, marble or trinket into the jar every time they feel blessed to watch their blessing grow.  

Make this project yours. We would love to hear what you do or see a photo of your blessings jar. May you be blessed with love and gratitude,

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