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Is Yoga Religion?

If I had a dime for the number of times someone in Alabama asked me if yoga were a religion, I would be a very wealthy woman. This question is one that arises a lot in all regions of the country, but especially in the Bible Belt where religion is a very important component of daily living. As a practicing yogini in the south, how does one address this question with a “yoga-like” answer? Well, it’s simple…yoga is NOT religion.

To answer this question, I respond by looking to the roots of yoga. Yoga began over 5000 years ago as a philosophy, or a science, and a spiritual and physical practice. The very word “yoga” means to “yoke” or to unite the body and mind in harmony. Yoga, as a practice, seeks to correlate all aspects of living as it relates to those around us. Yes, there are some spiritual commonalities between the practice of yoga and of most organized religion, but yoga has no gods to worship or services to attend. Yoga has no statement of religious beliefs. There is no profession of faith. Yoga has no institutional structure or leaders or rules.

What yoga, in the classical tradition, DOES have, however are the Yamas and the Niyamas. These are the moral and internal restraints that regulate our inner lives. The five Yamas are non-violence, truth, not stealing, moderation, and non-greed or hoarding or to take only what is necessary. The Yamas are the moral virtues that, if attended to, purify human nature and contribute to health and happiness of society. The Niyamas are personal observances. They refer to an attitude that we adopt for ourselves to live soulfully and joyfully no matter our circumstances. The Niyamas include purity, contentment, disciplined use of our energy (keeping our bodies fit and healthy), self-study or self-reflection, and celebration of the spiritual.

The Yoga Sutras, the most commonly cited text that forms the foundation for all forms of yoga, make no specific theological claims. The non-sectarian nature of this text has allowed it to remain solid for over 1500 years and allows freedom from religion, therefore making yoga a positive for anyone. The adaptability of modern yoga makes it diverse and flexible enough to be practiced with religion or with no religion. There are as many reasons why people do yoga as there are types of people that do yoga. They range from the secular, practical, body-oriented people to the most spiritual people and anything and everything in between. Yoga serves all these types because its teachings are universal.

Yoga in schools, in the south, especially, is a hot topic because many people do not understand the facts and have a fear of the unknown. However, research demonstrates that yoga can have a direct influence on children’s physical and mental health, as well as concentration and self-awareness. Yoga can awaken a child’s brain and promote creativity and a sense of calmness. Yoga, for just 10 minutes a day, in the classroom can benefit the social and emotional well being of our children. By giving the gift of yoga to children we give them tools to carry with them for the rest of their lives. So, my question to the naysayers is, why wouldn’t you support the overall nurturing of our children? Check out a YogaKids class before you cast your stones.

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How to Grow Your Yoga Business

by Julie Pate

“Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.” – Mahatma Gandh

Earning a yoga certification is a challenging journey; hours are spent learning poses and alignment, and working on proper transitions and class sequences. When learning to teach kids, there are many additional elements that come into play, such as classroom management, teaching to kids of different ages, communicating with parents and teachers, and keeping children engaged.

When I graduated from the YogaKids program I felt extremely qualified to teach yoga to children, and already had a few well-established classes before I even graduated. When I wanted to expand my teaching schedule and make teaching yoga to children more of a career, one that would allow me to help support my family, I had to learn a whole new skill set: how to run a business.

Below are my top 10 tips for growing your business…

1. Be Authentic
In The Yoga Sutras, Patanjali shares with us a guide for living; he leads us on a path to compassion, truth, generosity, and moderation. To authentically teach yoga, you need to actually practice yoga yourself both on and off the mat. You also need to love what you do which will translate into great classes. Kids can read energy. If you enjoy being there, love teaching, they will pick up on that and want to come back.

2. Create a Website
A web site is essential for marketing yourself, your classes, and any other related services you are providing. A web site will help you establish yourself in the marketplace, educate, and connect to your

3. Create Your Brand
You are unique, your services are unique. As Dr. Seuss said, “There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” Convey your unique services in all of your marketing materials. Create a business name, logo and promotional materials that represent you well.

4. Email Marketing
Each time a student attends one of your classes, capture an email address for that child. Compile a list of students, and potential students and use this list to regularly connect with parents and kids. Sending a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly email will help you stay connected with parents and students, communicate, and educate. Share what you are doing in your classes, successes and schedule changes. Include photos… You might ask parents to work on some techniques at home to reinforce what you are doing in class — possibly a bedtime relaxation exercise or a morning energizing pose sequence.

5. Establish Yourself in Your Community
Make sure everyone you meet knows that you teach yoga to kids. Invite them to invite the children in their lives to attend your classes. Print business cards and brochures, and put them in businesses that your target audience frequents such as children’s clothing shops, libraries, toy stores and recreation centers. Establish local partnerships with these businesses and cross-promote.

6. Communicate Value
Use research studies to help sell your program. On the YogaKids website (yogakids.com), under the Tools for Schools tab, we have a research section:https://yogakids.com/toolsforschools/research. Use this resource to access many studies on the benefits of yoga for children, and share these studies with parents of your students or potential students. The research speaks for itself: yoga has many

7. Build Relationships
Yoga is about connection. Building relationships with your students and their parents is vital to your success. Be approachable, kind, and communicate well. Remember your students’ birthdays or the families’ important life events. Share childrens’ success stories or progress with parents. “Jordan stayed on her mat today” or “Lucas mastered a new pose today”. This will solidify in the parents’ minds the value of your services and they will be more likely to continue and refer your class.

8. Referral Programs
Make sure every parent of every child in your classes knows that you depend on referrals to survive. A simple statement of “I appreciate your referrals! Does Jake have any friends who you think might enjoy yoga as much as Jake does?” I taught a class that was literally transformed by one family. One student’s mom referred either directly or indirectly 12 other students. If you aren’t getting referrals, then offer incentives. Offer one free class for each referral, or what ever works for your budget and time schedule.

9. Think Outside the Box
Birthday parties are a real parent and child favorite, and will bring several new children to your studio. Make sure that party guests join your email list, leave with a class schedule, and are offered a free or discounted class to come back.

Girl/Boy Scout Troops are another avenue to reach a large group of kids. Contact your state’s main office and provide your business information. Once you teach a troop, set a schedule for additional classes and ask if the troop’s mothers/fathers can refer you to other troops in the community.

Summer camps are a great way to get exposure and grow your marketing list. Many camps are looking for special themes, or additional before/after camp options for families. This is a great way to get in front of a large numbers of kids

Sports teams are looking for ways to improve performance, and enhance their team’s abilities. Yoga fits perfectly into any sport program. Approach team sports in your area from soccer to football to swimming. Offer your services for a quick after-practice cool down, a full session, or a once-a-week addition to what they are already doing. Most parents are willing and able to invest in any activity that will enhance their child’s performance.

PTA/PTO: Many local area school parent-teacher groups are looking for before/after school programs that will benefit their kids. Parent groups might decide to draw an income from your classes, or supplement your classes as a benefit to their families.

9. Take time to breathe.
Sit quietly in nature and visualize the career you want. See yourself positively impacting the lives of the children and families in your community.

Get the support of YogaKids in your kids yoga business!

Stop the Homework Hassle

by Alicia Mauldin

Children today are busier than ever. This morning, my 9 year old son woke up early, ate breakfast, went to school for 7 hours, had a snack, played outside with a friend, rushed to lacrosse practice, ate dinner, got ready for bed, read a few pages in his favorite book and then went to sleep. Oh yeah, he also had to squeeze time to complete his homework and study for an upcoming spelling test!

While sitting at the kitchen table, he was very frustrated after a long day at school and the last thing he wanted to do was review his spelling words. Sensing his frustration, though cliché, I advised him to take a few deep breaths, walk away, build something with his Legos (to redirect his thoughts) and then come back to the table five minutes later.

When he returned, we practiced Take 5 Breath together and repeated it five times. Deep breathing helps to relax the nervous system as well as oxygenate the brain. Children are in their optimum state for learning when they are both relaxed and alert. Now that he was more relaxed with his mindful breathing, it was time to awaken his mind. We started to do Punching Bag Pose, punching our hands across our bodies all the way to the floor, then back up again. Crossing the mid-line of the body helps the left and right sides of the brain to communicate. Bending forward not only has a natural calming affect on the body, but taking the head below the heart, helps to get more freshly oxygenated blood to the brain. We then balanced on one foot in Tree Pose to help focus the mind. We concluded with some Eyes Around The Clock making big eye rolls in one direction and then the other direction, to continue to awaken the mind. One more deep breath together and he was ready to tackle his spelling words.

It does not always work and there is not magic formula for homework time to run smoothly every day. Sometimes children (and even adults) are just too tired or emotional to come back to a place of being both relaxed and alert. But as we practice these skills with our children, they begin to learn them on their own and they can begin to regulate their own energies. When my 10 year old daughter, who has been exposed to yoga most of her life, gets annoyed with her brothers, she begins to breathe deeper and knows it will naturally calm her down. What a great tool for our children to have! And by the way…these poses work to help calm and focus adults too!

Take 5: Sit cross-legged. Lift one finger at a time as you breathe in through your nose and count in your mind: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Pause for a second with your hand up. Slowly breathe out through your nose and count backward – 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, putting down one finger at a time for each number. Repeat.

Punching Bag Pose: Sit comfortably on your heels or cross-legged. Clench your hands and form fists. In tandem with your breath, punch across your body one arm at a time, like you were swinging at an imaginary punching bag. Stay focused, as your head and eyes turn from side to side watching the punch of the arms. Try to keep the punching action at shoulder height.

Tree: Begin in Mountain Pose. Lift one foot and press your foot against the inside of your other leg. You can use your hand to place your foot anywhere between your ankle and inner thigh. Avoid the knee joint. As your balance gets stronger, you’ll be able to raise your foot higher up your leg. Bring your hands to your chest, palms together in Namaste position. Then raise your arms up above your head. Stretch them out wide, like the branches of a tree. Separate your fingers. Balance and breathe. Now repeat on the other side.

Eyes Around the Clock: Use this technique anytime you need to soothe and rest your eyes.Take any seated position. Rub your hands together until they feel hot, then place the palms of your hands over your eyes. Let them soak up the heat. Keep your fingers close together so no light comes through. You can keep your eyes closed or open. Imagine a clock hanging in front of your eyes. Move your eyes to each position around the clock like this:

Look up and down, from twelve o’clock to six o’clock and back to twelve o’clock;
Look right to left from three o’clock to nine o’clock and back to three o’clock;
Look diagonally from one o’clock to seven o’clock and back to one o’clock;
Look from eleven o’clock to five o’clock and back to eleven o’clock.
Now start at twelve o’clock and look at each number around the face of the clock.

Then, start again at twelve o’clock and move in the opposite direction. Circle the cock clockwise three times, then reverse. Try to keep your head still and move only your eyes.

Learn ALL the YogaKids poses and their benefits as a Certified YogaKids Teacher!

Lessons from Preschool Yogis

by Helen Anne DiMeglio

Create a Routine

In my experiences with preschoolers, I’ve embraced the freedom to keep classes simple. For example, the first thing I did was create a simple routine: a ritual opening, a set of warm-up exercises, a few poses that relate to a theme (this is the variety from week to week), maybe an activity or a book, and a Savasana ritual.

Teach the Base Poses

A big difference I see between preschoolers and older kids is how you give instructions. A simple pose, such as Cat/Cow, needs step by step direction at this age. They don’t all know what it means to “get on all fours.” I look around and see them mooing and meowing from child’s pose or Down Dog or something in between. So the first two weeks of each school year, I teach the base poses. Then, we practice how to go from a base pose to another pose.

Identify Body Parts

Another important point to remember is that preschoolers don’t all know the names for body parts yet, such as heels, palms of hands, or wrists. So we identify body parts before we place them. I make it fun by incorporating Mrs. Yoga Says and they laugh a lot as we try to move quickly to the pose I call out.

Remember They Receive More Than You Realize

Generally my classes go very well. I almost always leave feeling happy. But as in all jobs, some days are better than others. Maybe it is my mood, maybe some of the kids were just not at their best, but there are days when I ask myself after class, “Really, what just happened?” Thankfully I am frequently given reminders that they are taking in much more that I realize. Reminders such as these are true gifts:

A mom of four boys tells me that in the middle of an especially chaotic morning at home, her youngest child sits on the kitchen floor in pretzel legs and starts to OM.
A parent at a sports event stops to tell me how much his child talks about yoga and does the poses at home. (This child is a daydreamer in my class.)
The child in class who finishes my sentences and gives the class directions to a pose.
The child who will not ever cooperate hugs and kisses my leg at the end of class.
My favorite text from a mom saying her daughter told her that she needs to lay down in Savasana.
In deep relaxing breathing, a child looks like she is truly breathing in the breath of life.
Kids remembering and requesting certain poses.

Yes, preschoolers do learn in yoga class and I am not spinning my wheels. Preschoolers keep me on my toes and make me laugh. They remind me why I love yoga and renew my gratitude for my YogaKids training and community.

Yoga in the Classroom: Promote Creativity, Comprehension, and Focus

by Mary Rountree

Children Doing Partner Pose While Sitting

As teachers, how do we harness our students’ energy for productivity within the confines of the classroom environment?

Yoga breaks can really help those high-energy students by giving them the tools to calm themselves and focus while at the same time channeling that energy in more appropriate and functional ways I’ve been using yoga in my classroom for several years now and the change in all my students is amazing.

Guided visualization fosters creativity and allows students to learn to visualize special places, people, and things that are important to them as well as use their vivid imaginations. Those children that are constantly complaining that “I can’t think of anything to write about” benefit by tapping into the creative side of their brain and, at last, have something to write about. This also helps in reading comprehension, as visualizing text is a strategy used to remember what they’ve been reading. Characters, stories, and setting come to life in the brains of all students.

I’ve found that my high-energy students are often some of the most creative thinkers of the bunch and benefit greatly from guided visualizations in many ways. Using their imaginations and writing and drawing about the experience keeps them focused and on task. The break from the normal often-boring routine of “typical schoolwork” allows them time to focus their energies on a different level.

Most students by third grade realize that they have little control over their impulses and un-channeled energy within the classroom — as they’ve already been told repeatedly by teachers to focus on their work, stop blurting out, and sit on their bottoms. For these students, it is virtually impossible. They certainly don’t want to be like this. Why would a child choose to be singled out for disruptive behavior?

Yoga breaks provide them an opportunity to exert some energy during the faster-paced movements. as well as focus during the movements that require balance and complete attention. Breathing exercises can help them to calm their bodies when they feel that their insides are moving so fast and their thoughts are like shooting fireworks in their brains.

After a few weeks of practice, these students use these tools without guidance and learn to self soothe at school as well as at home. Every year, students, upon being assigned to my classroom ask about yoga. They want it. Their parents want it for them — even in Alabama! Many parents do yoga and know the benefits that the focused postures, breathing and relaxation have to distress. Why wouldn’t they want that for their children?

Morning Glory

by YogaKids Team

Instructions

Begin in Child’s Pose.
Lift your face up to the sun, and sit upright with your legs still folded beneath you.
Lift your hands high and wiggle your fingers like leaves in the wind!
Take deep breaths and wiggle like a vine.

Activity Ideas for Home or Classroom

This is a great way to wake up and energize in the morning before school!

Powerful Warrior (also known as Superboy, Supergirl)

by YogaKids Team

You may have already become a Brave Warrior and a Bold Warrior, too. Now it is time to become a really powerful warrior. Make yourself as powerful as Super Girl and Super Boy.

Instructions

Jump your feet apart (Steps 1-6 are just like Bold Warrior.).
Stretch your arms straight out of the shoulders, palms down and fingers stretched.
Turn your toes toward the right.
Bend your right knee into a right angle.
Turn your torso forward.
Raise your arms alongside your ears. Feel the support of the earth underneath you and stretch your hands to the sky.
Shift your weight completely onto your front leg.
Pick up your back foot and stretch your leg behind you.
Keep both legs as long and strong as possible.
Stretch your arms forward. Fly.
Change sides.

Activity Ideas for Home or Classroom

Body Benefits
Many of our YogaKids also call this pose the Super Boy or Super Girl pose. They like to sway from side to side like they’re flying. Try this version and test your strength and balance.

Laughing Language
What makes you a Super Kid? Write down your words or have your mom or a grown-up help you. Here are some examples:

I am a Super Boy cause I can run really fast.
— Conrad, Michigan City, IN

My grandma calls me super girl because I love yoga and can bend in all different ways.
— Amy, New Buffalo, Michigan

I have a super cat and she can jump on and off the roof.
— Ruth, LaPorte, IN

We All Win
Try this pose with a partner and help each other.

Stand facing one another.
Stretch your arms overhead.
Bend forward at your hips and take hold of your friends hands, wrists or arms.
Balance together. Help each other. Smile at each other.
Switch legs.

Nutrition
Kids love to be fed with their airplane spoons when they were little. Their mouth was the hangar and the healthy sweets would come flying in. If your child needs some fun and incentive to eat healthy foods, play ‘Flying Foods.” Zigzag, loop-de-loop or circle her airplane spoon into her mouth filled with small, sweet, delicious fresh fruit pieces like strawberries, blueberries, bananas, mangos or papaya. Organic, naturally sweetened yogurts, whole grain cereals and raisins, currants or other dried fruits may also be appreciated.

Ankle-Heel-Toe Walking

by YogaKids Team

Let’s do some wacky walking, and find flexibility and fun with our feet.

Pose Instructions

Lift your heels and walk high on your tiptoes.
Lower your heels to the floor, lift your toes in the air, and walk on your heels.
With your feet flat on the floor, roll your ankles in toward each other. Balance on the inside edge of your feet (your arches) and walk.
Roll your ankles away from each other, balance on the outside edge of your feet, and walk around again.

Activity Ideas for Home and Classroom

Musical Musings Element
Put on your favorite music or make your own. Clap your hands to a beat or grab a pair of rhythm sticks like Devon and Kiva in the above photo. Listen to different types of music and ankle-heel-toe-arch walk to the various beats that your hear. Enjoy toe jamming with your feet.

We All Win Element
Play “Follow the Leader.” Mix up the four styles of wacky walking in various combinations and call out the directions to the children. Take turns being the leader of the ankle-heel-toe-arch walking brigade.

Awesome Anatomy
Your feet contain 52 bones, 66 joints, 38 muscles and 214 ligaments. One quarter of all the bones in your body are in your feet. This pose helps you locate the bones in your feet. Can you feel ‘em all ?

Body Benefits
Good posture starts with happy feet. The feet set the alignment of the body structure from the ground up. Flexibility and muscle tone in the feet is an important part of overall fitness.

Visual Vignettes
Have students trace their feet and label the parts: toes, nails, heel, arch, ball, and maybe even some reflexology points. Encourage them to add decorations like toe rings, tattoos, henna or nail polish to their drawings.

Brave Warrior

by YogaKids Team

Children feel strong and proud in this Brave warrior pose.

Instructions

Jump your feet apart.
Stretch your arms straight out of the shoulders, palms down and fingers stretched.
Turn your toes toward the right.
Bend your right knee into a right angle.
Turn your head.
Focus on a point beyond your outstretched fingers.
Come up.
Turn your feet to the left.
Do the pose on the other side.

Activity Ideas for Home or Classroom

Affirmations
Do you feel powerful in this pose? Repeat the following statements. Make up some of your won that make you feel like a Brave Warrior.

I am brave!
I am powerful!
I can do anything!

Reading Comes Alive With Yoga
Take your child to the library or bookstore. Find books that are about bravery and courage, like Secret of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman or Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott. Read the stories together and discuss the powers of the warrior.

Body Benefits
The Brave Warrior pose builds strong legs, as well as provides focus and develops strength and stamina.

Nutrition Tip
Invite your child to be a warrior with foods. Take chances. Try new tastes.

Make friends with a new vegetable, the next time you go to the grocery store. Have your child pick out a new vegetable at the store this week. Bring it home. Talk about the vegetable. Research the vegetable – where does it grow? What kinds of vitamins and minerals are in this vegetable? Find recipes and prepare them together. Slice it, steam it, use it in a salad. Add it to a stir-fry or eat it raw!!

Tea with a Triceratops

by YogaKids Team

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.